CHAPTER TWO:

ANALYSIS & DESIGN OF

FLAT SLABS
 INTRODUCTION
Concrete two-way slabs may in some cases be
supported by :
• relatively shallow beams (submerged beam)
•flexible beams, or
•directly by columns with out the use of beams or
girders.
 Such slabs are generally referred as column supported
two-way slabs.

 Beams may also be used where the slab is interrupted

as around stair, walls or at discontinuous edges.
 COLUMN SUPPORTED TWO-WAY SLABS
 Column supported two-way slabs take the following
forms:
– FlatPlate
–Flat slab
–Waffle slabs
Flat Plate:
– are flat slabs with flat soffit.
– have uniform thickness
– supported on columns.
– used for relatively light loads, as experienced in
apartments or similar buildings.
– most economical for spans from 4.5m to 6m
 COLUMN SUPPORTED TWO-WAY SLABS
Flat slab:
 are slab systems with load
transfer to the column is
accomplished by thickening
the slab near the column,
using drop panels and/or by
flaring the top of the column
to form a column capital.

 used for heavy industrial loads

and for spans of 6m to 9m
 COLUMN SUPPORTED TWO-WAY SLABS
Waffle slabs:
 are two-way joist systems with reduced self weights
 are used for spans from 7.5m to 12m.
 for large spans, the thickness required to transmit the
vertical loads to the columns exceeds that required for
bending
 As a result the concrete at the middle of the panel is not
efficiently used
 To lighten the slab, reduce the slab moments, and save
material, the slab at mid span can be replaced by intersecting
ribs.
 Near the columns the full depth is retained to transmit loads
from the slab to the columns
Figure 3.2.2 Flat slab construction details: (a) no column head; (b) flared column head;
(c) slab with drop panel; (d) flared column head and drop panel.
 FLAT SLAB
 For analysis and design purpose the panel in flat slab is
divided in to column strips and middle strips as shown below
(EBSC 2)
 A column strip is a design strip with a width on each side of a
column centerline equal to 0.25 Lx or if drops with dimension
not less than Lx/3 are used, a width equal to the drop
dimension
 A middle strip is a design strip bounded by two column strips
 The drop panels are rectangular (may be square) and
influence the distribution of moments in the slab.
 The smaller dimension of the drop is at least 1/3 of the
smaller dimension of the surrounding panels,
 the drop may be 25 to 50% thicker than the rest of the slab.
 LOAD TRANSFER IN FLAT SLABS
The floor carries a load of q kN/𝑚2 as shown in next
slide.
 The moment per meter width in the east-west direction
𝑙12
at section A-A is: m = q 𝑘𝑁𝑚/𝑚
8
 The total moment in the entire width of the floor is:
𝑙12
𝑴𝑨−𝑨 = 𝑞𝑙2 𝑘𝑁𝑚
8
 This is the familiar equation for the maximum moment in a
simply supported floor of width 𝑙2 and span 𝑙1 .
𝑙1
 Thus, the slab transfers a uniform load of q kN/m on
2
each beam (BEAM 1).
 LOAD TRANSFER IN FLAT SLABS
𝑙1 𝑙22
 Thus the moment at each beam is M = q . The total
16
𝑙1 𝑙22
moment in both beams is: M = q 8
 LOAD TRANSFER IN FLAT SLABS
 Therefore, these shows that the full load was transferred
east and west and then the full load was transferred north
and south.
 This, of course always must be true regardless of whether
the structure has one-way slabs and beams, two-way slabs
or some other system.
 To emphasize load transfer mechanism in two way slabs
using the column supported two-way slabs in Figure (next
slide)
 If a surface load is applied, it is shared between imaginary
slab strips 𝑙𝑎 in the short direction and 𝑙𝑏 in the longer
direction.
 LOAD TRANSFER IN FLAT SLABS
 Note that the portion of the load that is carried by the
long strips 𝑙𝑏 is delivered to the beams B1, which in
turn carries it in the short direction. That portion of the
load plus that directly carried in the short direction by
the slab strips 𝑙𝑎 , sum up to 100% of the load applied
to the panel. The same is true in the other direction
 LOAD TRANSFER IN FLAT SLABS
 Therefore, for column supported construction (one-
way or two-way), 100% of the applied load must be
carried in each direction, in the case of two-way
beam supported slabs, jointly by the slab and its
supporting beams
 PRACTICAL ANALYSIS OF FLAT SLABS
The two methods for the analysis of flat slabs are:
1. Direct Design method (DDM)
2. Equivalent Frame Method (EFM)

 For both methods of analysis, negative moments greater

than those at a distance hc/2 from the center-line of the
column may be ignored provided the moment M obtained as
the sum of the maximum positive design moment and the
average of the negative design moments in anyone span of
the slab
 PRACTICAL ANALYSIS OF FLAT SLABS
For the whole panel width moment can be calculated as:
𝑔𝑑 +𝑞𝑑 2ℎ𝑐 2
𝑀𝑜 = 𝐿2 𝐿1 − Where:
8 3
– 𝐿1 - is the panel length parallel to span, measured from
centers of columns.
– 𝐿2 - is the panel width, measured from centers of columns
– ℎ𝑐 - is the effective diameter of a column or column head
(SNS)

• The effective diameter of a column or column head ℎ𝑐 is the

diameter of a circle whose area equals the cross-sectional
area of the column or,

• If column heads are used, the area of the column head based
on the effective dimensions as defined below.
 PRACTICAL ANALYSIS OF FLAT SLABS
 There is no case shall ℎ𝑐 be taken as greater than 1/4 of the
shortest span framing in to the column

 The effective dimensions of a column head for use in

calculation of ℎ𝑐 are limited according to the depth of the
head.

 In any direction, the effective dimension of a head Lh shall be

taken as the lesser of the actual dimension 𝐿ℎ𝑜 or 𝐿ℎ,𝑚𝑎𝑥 ,
where 𝐿ℎ,𝑚𝑎𝑥 is given by:
𝐿ℎ,𝑚𝑎𝑥 = Lc + 2dh
 PRACTICAL ANALYSIS OF FLAT SLABS
For a flared head, the actual dimension 𝐿ℎ𝑜 is that measured to
the center of the reinforcing steel

Figure 3.2.4 Types of Column Head

 DIRECT DESIGN METHOD AS PER EBCS 2, 1995
According to the EBCS 2 specification, the direct design method
(DDM) of analysis is subjected to the following restriction

• Design is based on the single load case of all spans loaded with the
maximum design ultimate load

• There are at least three rows of panels of approximately equal span

in the direction being considered

• Successive span length in each direction shall not differ by more

than one-third of the longer span

• Maximum offsets of columns from either axis between center lines

of successive columns shall not exceed 10% of the span (in the
direction of the offset)
 DIRECT DESIGN METHOD AS PER EBCS 2, 1995
• The distribution of design span and support moments
depends on the relative stiffness of the different sections
which in turn depends on the restraint provided for the slab
by the supports

• Accordingly, the distribution factors are given in the following

table.
 DIRECT DESIGN METHOD AS PER EBCS 2, 1995
Table: Bending moment and shear force coefficients for flat
slabs of three or more equal spans.
 DIRECT DESIGN METHOD AS PER EBCS 2, 1995

Note:
• F - is the total design ultimate load on the strip of
slab between adjacent columns considered.

• L - is the effective span = 𝐿1 -2hc/3

• The limitations of Section A.4.3.1(2) of EBCS 2, need

not be checked

• The moments shall not be redistributed

 DIRECT DESIGN METHOD AS PER EBCS 2, 1995
 Division of Moments between Column and Middle Strips

 The design moment obtained from the above (or Direct

Design Method) shall be divided b/n the column and middle
strips according to the following table.
 DIRECT DESIGN METHOD AS PER EBCS 2, 1995

 Where the width of the column strip is taken as equal to drop

and the middle strip is there by increased in width, the design
moments to be resisted by the middle strip shall be increased
in proportion to its increased width.

 The design moments to be resisted by the column strip may

be decreased by an amount such that the total positive and
the total negative design moments resisted by the column
strip and middle strip together are unchanged.
 EQUIVALENT FRAME METHOD
 The direct design method is applicable when the
proposed structures satisfy the restrictions on
geometry and loading.

 If the structure does not satisfy the criteria, the more

general method of elastic analysis is the equivalent
frame method (EFM).

 In the EFM, the structure is divided in to continuous

frames centered on the column lines on either side of
the columns, extending both longitudinally and
transversely

 Each frame is composed of abroad continuous beam and a row

of columns.
 EQUIVALENT FRAME METHOD

Fig: Building idealization for equivalent frame analysis

 EQUIVALENT FRAME METHOD AS PER EBCS 2, 1995
According to the EBCS 2 specification, EFM of analysis is
treated as follows:
 The width of slab used to define the effective stiffness of the
slab will depend upon the aspect ratio of the panels and the
type of loading, but the following provisions may be applied in
the absence of more accurate methods:
• In the case of vertical loading, the full width of the
Panel, and
• For lateral loading, half the width of the panel may be
used to calculate the stiffness of the slab
 The moment of inertia of any section of slab or column used
in calculating the relative stiffness of members may be
assumed to be that of the cross section of the concrete alone.
 EQUIVALENT FRAME METHOD AS PER EBCS 2, 1995
 Moments and forces within a system of flat slab panels may
be obtained from analysis of the structure under the single
load case of maximum design load on all spans or panels
simultaneously, provided:
• The ratio of the characteristic imposed load to the
characteristic DL does not exceed 1.25.
• The characteristic imposed load does not exceed
5.0kN/m2 excluding partitions.
 Where it is not appropriate to analyze for the single load case
of maximum design load on all spans, it will be sufficient to
consider following arrangement of vertical loads:
– All spans loaded with the maximum design ultimate load, and
– Alternate spans with the maximum design ultimate load
and all other spans loaded with the minimum design
ultimate load (1.0Gk).
 EQUIVALENT FRAME METHOD AS PER EBCS 2, 1995
 Each frame may be analyzed in its entirety by any elastic
method.

 Alternatively, for vertical loads only, each strip of floor and

roof may be analyzed as a separate frame with the columns
above and below fixed in position and direction at their
extremities.

 In either case, the analysis shall be carried out for the

"appropriate design ultimate loads on each span calculated
for a strip of slab of width equal to the distance between
center lines of the panels on each side of the columns.
 SHEAR IN FLAT SLABS, AS PER EBCS 2
 The concrete section (thickness of the slab) must be adequate to sustain
the shear force, since stirrups are not convenient.
 Two types of shear are considered
1. Beam type Shear :
– Diagonal tension Failure and critical section is considered at d
distance from the face of the column or capital and Vc is the same
expression given earlier for beams or solid slabs.
Vc = 0.25fctdK1K2bwd
2. Punching Shear:
– perimeter shear which occurs in slabs with out beams
around columns.
– It is characterized by formation of a truncated punching
cone or pyramid around concentrated loads or reactions
 SHEAR IN FLAT SLABS, AS PER EBCS 2
Critical section remote from a free edge
 SHEAR IN FLAT SLABS, AS PER EBCS 2
 The shear force to be resisted can be calculated as the total
design load on the area bounded by the panel centerlines
around the column less the load applied with in the area
defined by the critical shear perimeter.

 The punching shear resistance with out shear reinforcement is:

𝑉𝑐𝑝 = 0.25fctd K1K2Ud
• K1 = (1+50𝜌) ≤ 2
• 𝜌 = (𝜌𝑒𝑥 + 𝜌𝑒𝑦 )1/2 ≤ 0.015
• U = perimeter of critical section
• d = ½(dx + dy), average effective depth
 SHEAR IN FLAT SLABS, AS PER EBCS 2
 Design Considerations:
 Details of reinforcement in flat slabs shall be as follows:
 The reinforcement in flat slabs shall have minimum bend point
locations and extensions for reinforcement as prescribed in next
slide.
 Where adjacent spans are unequal, extension of negative
reinforcement beyond the face of support as prescribed in next
slide shall be based on requirements of longer span.
 Bent bars may be used only when depth-to-span ratio permits use
of bends 450 or less.
 For flat slabs in frames not braced against side sway and for
flat slabs resisting lateral loads, lengths of reinforcement shall
be determined by analysis but shall not be less than those
prescribed in next slide.
 SHEAR IN FLAT SLABS, AS PER EBCS 2

Figure Minimum Bend Point Location and Extension for Reinforcement in Flat Slabs