How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2

7. Flat slabs
R Moss BSc, PhD, DIC, CEng, MICE, MIStructE O Brooker BEng, CEng, MICE, MIStructE

Designing to Eurocode 2
This chapter covers the analysis and design of concrete flat slabs to Eurocode 21, a process which is essentially the same as when using BS 81102. However, the layout and content of Eurocode 2 may appear unusual to designers familiar with BS 8110. Eurocode 2 does not contain the derived formulae or specific guidance on determining moments and shear forces. This has arisen because it has been European practice to give principles in the codes and for the detailed application to be presented in other sources such as textbooks. Chapter 1, originally published as Introduction to Eurocodes3, highlighted the key differences between Eurocode 2 and BS 8110, including terminology. It should be noted that values from the UK National Annex (NA) have been used throughout this publication, including values that are embedded in derived formulae (derivations can be found at www.eurocode2.info). A list of symbols related to flat slab design is given at the end of this chapter.

Analysis
Using Eurocode 2 for the analysis of flat slabs is similar to using BS 8110. The following methods may be used: Equivalent frame method Finite element analysis Yield line analysis Grillage analogy The Eurocode gives further advice on the equivalent frame method in Annex I and designers used to BS 8110 will find this very familiar. Once the bending moments and shear forces have been determined, the following guidance can be used for the design of flat slabs.

Design procedure
A procedure for carrying out the detailed design of flat slabs is shown in Table 1. This assumes that the slab thickness has previously been determined during conceptual design. Concept designs prepared assuming detailed design would be to BS 8110 may be continued through to detailed design using Eurocode 2. More detailed advice on determining design life, loading, material properties, methods of analysis, minimum concrete cover for durability and bond, and control of crack widths can be found in Chapter 2, originally published as Getting started 4.

How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2

Fire resistance
Eurocode 2, Part 12: Structural fire design5, gives a choice of advanced, simplified or tabular methods for determining the fire resistance. Using tables is the fastest method for determining the minimum dimensions and cover for flat slabs. There are, however, some restrictions and if these apply further guidance can be obtained from specialist literature. Rather than giving a minimum cover, the tabular method is based on nominal axis distance, a. This is the distance from the centre of the reinforcing bar to the surface of the member. It is a nominal Table 1
Flat slab design procedure Step Task

(not minimum) dimension, so the designer should ensure that a cnom + f link + f bar /2 The requirements for flat slabs are given in Table 2.

Flexure
The design procedure for flexural design is given in Figure 1; this includes derived formulae based on the simplified rectangular stress block from Eurocode 2. Where appropriate Table 3 may be used to determine bending moments for flat slabs.

Further guidance Chapter in this publication Standard NA to BS EN 1990 Table NA.2.1 BS EN 1991 (10 parts) and National Annexes NA to BS EN 1990 Tables NA.A1.1 and NA.A1.2 (B) NA to BS EN 199211 BS 8500: 2006 Approved Document B. BS EN 199211: Section 5 BS EN 199211 Cl 4.4.1 BS EN 199211 Section 5 BS EN 199211 Section 6.1 BS EN 199211 Section 7.4 BS EN 199211 Section 6.4 BS EN 199211 Section 7.3 BS EN 199211 Annex I 1.2(5)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Note

Determine design life Assess actions on the slab Determine which combinations of actions apply Determine loading arrangements Assess durability requirements and determine concrete strength Check cover requirements for appropriate fire resistance period Calculate min. cover for durability, fire and bond requirements Analyse structure to obtain critical moments and shear forces Design flexural reinforcement Check deflection Check punching shear capacity Check spacing of bars Check resistance to moment transfer from column to slab

2: Getting started 2: Getting started 1: Introduction to Eurocodes 2: Getting started 2: Getting started 2: Getting started and Table 2 2: Getting started 2: Getting started and Table 3 See Figure 1 See Figure 3 See Figure 6 2: Getting started

NA = National Annex

Table 2 Minimum dimensions and axis distances for reinforced concrete slabs Standard fire resistance Minimum dimensions (mm) Slab thickness, hs REI 60 REI 90 REI 120 REI 240
Notes 1 This table is taken from BS EN 199212 Table 5.9. 2 The axis distance is to the centre of the outer layer of reinforcement. 3 The table is valid only if the detailing requirements (see note 4) are observed and, in the normal temperature design, redistribution of bending moments does not exceed 15%. 4 For fire resistance of R90 and above, at least 20% of the total top reinforcement in each direction over intermediate supports required by BS EN 199211 should be continuous over the full span. This reinforcement should be placed in the column strip. 5 There are three standard fire exposure conditions that may need to be satisfied: R Mechanical resistance for load bearing E Integrity of separation I Insulation Key a Normally the requirements of BS EN 199211 will determine the cover.

Axis distance, a 15a 25 35 50

180 200 200 200

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7. Flat slabs

Figure 1
Procedure for determining flexural reinforcement

START

Carry out analysis of slab to determine design moments (M) (Where appropriate use coefficients from Table 3).

Whichever method of analysis is used, Cl. 9.4.1 requires the designer to concentrate the reinforcement over the columns. Annex I of the Eurocode gives recommendations for the equivalent frame method on how to apportion the total bending moment across a bay width into column and middle strips to comply with Cl. 9.4.1. Designers using grillage, finite element or yield line methods may also choose to follow the advice in Annex I to meet this requirement. Eurocode 2 offers various methods for determining the stress-strain relationship of concrete. For simplicity and familiarity the method presented here is the simplified rectangular stress block (see Figure 2), which is similar to that found in BS 8110. The Eurocode gives recommendations for the design of concrete up to class C90/105. However, for concrete strength greater than class C50/60, the stress block is modified. It is important to note that concrete strength is based on the cylinder strength and not the cube strength (i.e. for class C28/35 the cylinder strength is 28 MPa, whereas the cube strength is 35 MPa).
Compression reinforcement required not recommended for typical slabs

Concrete class C50/60? Yes Determine K from: Determine K from: K = M bd 2 fck

No

Outside scope of this publication

Determine K from Table 4 or K = 0.60d 0.18 d 2 0.21 where d 1.0

No Is K K ?

Table 4
Values for K % redistribution 0 10 15 20 25 30 d (redistribution ratio) 1.00 0.90 0.85 0.80 0.75 0.70 K 0.208a 0.182a 0.168 0.153 0.137 0.120

Yes No compression reinforcement required

z=

Obtain lever arm z from Table 5 or d 1 + 1 3.53 K 0.95d 2

Key a It is often recommended in the UK that K should be llimited to 0.168 to ensure ductile failure

Calculate tension reinforcement required from M As = fyd z

Table 5
z/d for singly reinforced rectangular sections K 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.10 0.11 0.12 z/d 0.950a 0.944 0.934 0.924 0.913 0.902 0.891 0.880 K 0.13 0.14 0.15 0.16 0.17 0.18 0.19 0.20 z/d 0.868 0.856 0.843 0.830 0.816 0.802 0.787 0.771

Check minimum reinforcement requirements (see Table 6) 0.26 fctm bt d As,min = where fyk 25 fyk

Check maximum reinforcement requirements. As,max = 0.04 Ac for tension or compression reinforcement outside lap locations

Table 3
Bending moment coefficients for flat slabs End support/slab connection Pinned End End support span Moment
Notes 1 Applicable to slabs where the area of each bay exceeds 30 m2, Qk, 1.25 Gk and qk 5 kN/m2 2 F is the total design ultimate load, l is the effective span 3 Minimum span > 0.85 longest span, minimum 3 spans 4 Based on 20% redistribution at supports and no decrease in span moments

Key a Limiting z to 0.95d is not a requirement of Eurocode 2, but is considered to be good practice

Table 6
First Interior interior spans support Interior supports Minimum percentage of reinforcement required fck 25 28 30 32 35 40 45 50
Key a Where fyk = 500 MPa

Continuous End End support span

0.086Fl 0.04Fl 0.075Fl 0.086Fl 0.063Fl

0.063Fl

fctm 2.6 2.8 2.9 3.0 3.2 3.5 3.8 4.1

Minimum % (0.26 fctm /fyka ) 0.13% 0.14% 0.15% 0.16% 0.17% 0.18% 0.20% 0.21%

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How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2

Deflection
Eurocode 2 has two alternative methods of designing for deflection; either by limiting span-to-depth ratio or by assessing the theoretical deflection using the Expressions given in the Eurocode. The latter is dealt with in detail in Chapter 8, originally published as Deflection calculations 6. The span-to-depth ratios should ensure that deflection is limited to span/250 and this is the procedure presented in Figure 3. The Background paper to the UK National Annex 7 notes that the span-to-

depth ratios are appropriate where the structure remains propped during construction or until the concrete attains sufficient strength to support the construction loads. It can generally be assumed that early striking of formwork will not significantly affect the deflection after installing the cladding and/or partitions8.

Punching shear
The design value of the punching shear force, VEd, will usually be the support reaction at the ultimate limit state. In principle the design for punching shear in Eurocode 2 and BS 8110 is similar. The main differences are as follows.
Standard factors for edge and corner columns that allow for

Figure 2
Simplified rectangular stress block for concrete up to class C50/60 from Eurocode 2

moment transfer (b) are greater in Eurocode 2. However, b can be calculated directly from Expressions (6.38) to (6.46) of the Eurocode to give more efficient designs.

Figure 4
Basic span-to-effective-depth ratios for flat slabs

39

Figure 3
Procedure for assessing deflection
Span-to-effective-depth ratio (l/d)

37 35 33 31 29 27 25 23 21

START Determine basic l/d from Figure 4

fck fck fck fck fck fck fck fck fck

= = = = = = = = =

50 45 40 35 32 30 28 25 20

Determine Factor 1 (F1) For ribbed or waffle slabs F1 = 1 0.1 ((bf/bw) 1) 0.8 (bf is flange breadth and bw is rib breadth) Otherwise F1 = 1.0

Determine Factor 2 (F2) Where the slab span exceeds 8.5 m and it supports brittle partitions, F2 = 8.5/leff Otherwise F2 = 1.0

19 17 15 0.40% 0.60% 0.80% 1.00% 1.20% 1.40% 1.60% 1.80% 2.00% Percentage of tension reinforcement (A s ,req/bd)

Determine Factor 3 (F3) F3 = As,prov/As,reqd 1.5 or 310/ss 1.5 (UK NA) where ss is the stress in the reinforcement calculated under the characteristic combination of SLS loads. Increase As,prov Is basic l/d x F1 x F2 x F3 Actual l/d ? No Yes Check complete
The Eurocode is ambiguous regarding linear interpolation. It is understood that this

Notes 1 This graph assumes a simply supported flat slab (K = 1.2). 2 Compression reinforcement, r, has been taken as 0. 3 Curves based on the following expressions: 1.5 fck r 0 l + 3.2 = K 11 + r d 1.5 fck r 0 l + = K 11 + d ( r r ) fck 12

was the intention of the drafting committee and is in line with current UK practice.

[ [

fck

( ) ] ]
1.5 r0 1 r

where r r 0 and

r r0

where r > r 0 .

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7. Flat slabs
In Eurocode 2 the maximum value of shear at the column face is

not limited to 5 MPa, and depends on the concrete strength used.

The UK NA recommends vEd vRdc at the basic control perimeter. The control perimeters for rectangular columns in Eurocode 2 have

rounded corners.
Where shear reinforcement is required the procedure in Eurocode 2

As an alternative to using shear links, proprietary shear stud rails may be used. Eurocode 2 (Figure 6.22) allows them to be laid out in a radial or cruciform pattern and gives spacing requirements for both. Other techniques are available for increasing punching shear resistance and these are covered in a best practice guide9. Figure 6
Procedure for determining punching shear capacity

is simpler; the point at which no shear reinforcement is required can be calculated directly and then used to determine the extent of the area over which shear reinforcement is required.
It is assumed that the reinforcement will be in a radial arrangement.

START Determine value of factor (refer to Figure 7 or Expressions (6.38) to (6.46) of the Eurocode)

However, the reinforcement can be laid on a grid provided the spacing rules are followed. The procedure for determining the punching shear requirements is shown in Figure 6.

Determine value of vEd (design shear stress at face of column) from: vEd = VEd /(ui deff) where ui is perimeter of column deff = (dy + dz)/2 (dy and dz are the effective depths in orthogonal directions) Determine value of vRd,max from Table 7

Figure 5 - no longer used

Determination of steel stress quasi-permanentsteel stress
Is vEd, vRd? No Redesign slab

Appromximate steel stress at SLS for As,req,ssu Approximate steel stress at SLS for As,req s

320 300 280 260 240 220 200

Yes Determine value of vEd, (design shear stress) from: vEd = VEd /(ui deff) where u1 is length of control perimeter (see Figure 8)

Determine concrete punching shear capacity (without shear reinforcement), vRD,c from Table 8 where r l = (r ly r lz)0.5 (r ly, r lz are the reinforcement ratios in two orthogonal directions for fully bonded tension steel, taken over a width equal to column width plus 3d each side.)

Is vEd > vRd,c?

No

180

Punching shear reinforcement not required

1.0

2.0 Ratio Gk/Qk c2 = 0.8, gG = 1.35 c2 = 0.6, gG = 1.35 c2 = 0.3, gG = 1.35 c2 = 0.2, gG = 1.35

3.0

4.0

Yes

c2 = 0.6, gG = 1.25 c2 = 0.3, gG = 1.25 c2 = 0.2, gG = 1.25

Is vEd 2vRd,c

No Redesign slab

Yes Determine area of punching shear reinforcement per perimeter from: Asw = (vEd 0.75vRd,c)sr u1/(1.5 fywd,ef) where sr is the radial spacing of shear reinforcement (see Figure 9) fywd,ef = 250 + 0.25 deff fywd (see Table 9) Determine the length of the outer perimeter where shear reinforcement not required from: uout,ef = b VEd/(vRd,c d) Determine layout of punching shear reinforcement (see Spacing of punching shear reinforcement Section and Figure 9).

To determine stress in the provided reinforcement (ss), calculate the ratio s Gk/Qk , read up the graph to the appropriate curve and read across to determine ssu . su ss can be calculated from the expression: ss = ssu

As,req As,prov

)( )
1 d

c2 is the factor for quasi-permanent value of a variable action. For further explanation refer to How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2: Introduction to Eurocodes3.

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How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2

Table 7
Values for vRd,max fck 20 25 28 30 32 35 40 45 50 vRd, max 3.68 4.50 4.98 5.28 5.58 6.02 6.72 7.38 8.00

Table 9
Values for fywd,ef deff 150 175 200 225 250 275 300 325 350 fywd,ef 288 294 300 306 313 319 325 331 338

Figure 7
Recommended standard values for b

Corner column b = 1.5

Edge column

Internal column

b = 1.4

b = 1.15

Table 8
vRd,c resistance of members without shear reinforcement, MPa

rI

Effective depth, d (mm) 200 225 250 275 300 350 400 450 500 600 750

Rules for spacing and quantity of reinforcement

Minimum area of reinforcement
The minimum area of longitudinal reinforcement in the main direction is As,min = 0.26 fctm bt d/fyk but not less than 0.0013b d (see Table 6). The minimum area of a link leg for vertical punching shear reinforcement is 1.5Asw,min /(sr.st) 0.08fck/fyk which can be rearranged as Asw,min (sr.st)/F where sr = the spacing of the links in the radial direction st = the spacing of the links in the tangential direction

0.25% 0.50% 0.75% 1.00% 1.25% 1.50% 1.75%

0.54 0.52 0.50 0.48 0.47 0.45 0.43 0.41 0.40 0.38 0.36 0.59 0.57 0.56 0.55 0.54 0.52 0.51 0.49 0.48 0.47 0.45 0.68 0.66 0.64 0.63 0.62 0.59 0.58 0.56 0.55 0.53 0.51 0.75 0.72 0.71 0.69 0.68 0.65 0.64 0.62 0.61 0.59 0.57 0.80 0.78 0.76 0.74 0.73 0.71 0.69 0.67 0.66 0.63 0.61 0.85 0.83 0.81 0.79 0.78 0.75 0.73 0.71 0.70 0.67 0.65 0.90 0.87 0.85 0.83 0.82 0.79 0.77 0.75 0.73 0.71 0.68

2.00% 0.94 0.91 0.89 0.87 0.85 0.82 0.80 0.78 0.77 0.74 0.71 k
Notes 1 Table derived from: v Rd,c = 0.12 k (100r I fck)1/3 0.035 k1.5 fck 0.5 where k = 1 + R(200/d) 2 and r I = R(r ly + r lz) 0.02, r ly = Asy/(bd) and r lz = Asz/(bd) 2 This table has been prepared for fck = 30; Where r I exceeds 0.40% the following factors may be used:

2.000 1.943 1.894 1.853 1.816 1.756 1.707 1.667 1.632 1.577 1.516

fck Factor

25 0.94

28 0.98

32 1.02

35 1.05

40 1.10

45 1.14

50 1.19

F can be obtained from Table 10

Maximum area of reinforcement

Outside lap locations, the maximum area of tension or compression reinforcement should not exceed As,max = 0.4 Ac

Figure 8
Typical basic control perimeters around loaded areas

Minimum spacing of reinforcement

u1

2d

u1

2d

The minimum spacing of bars should be the greater of: Bar diameter Aggregate size plus 5 mm 20 mm

bz

Maximum spacing of main reinforcement

For slabs less than 200 mm thick the following maximum spacing rules apply: For the principal reinforcement: 3h but not more than 400 mm For the secondary reinforcement: 3.5h but not more than 450 mm
by

The exception is in areas with concentrated loads or areas of maximum

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7. Flat slabs
Table 10
Factor, F, for determining Asw, min fck 25 28 30 32 35 40 45 50
Note

moment where the following applies: For the principal reinforcement: 2h but not more than 250 mm For the secondary reinforcement: 3h but not more than 400 mm Where h is the depth of the slab. For slabs 200 mm thick or greater, the bar size and spacing should be limited to control the crack width and reference should be made to Section 7.3.3 of the Eurocode or Chapter 2, originally published as Getting started.4

Factor, F 1875 1772 1712 1657 1585 1482 1398 1326

Spacing of punching shear reinforcement

Where punching shear reinforcement is required the following rules should be observed. It should be provided between the face of the column and kd inside the outer perimeter where shear reinforcement is no longer required. k is 1.5, unless the perimeter at which reinforcement is no longer required is less than 3d from the face of the column. In this case the reinforcement should be placed in the zone 0.3d to 1.5d from the face of the column. There should be at least two perimeters of shear links. The radial spacing of the links should not exceed 0.75d (see Figure 9). The tangential spacing of the links should not exceed 1.5d within 2d of the column face. The tangential spacing of the links should not exceed 2d for any other perimeter. The distance between the face of the column and the nearest shear reinforcement should be less than 0.5d. Figure 9
Punching shear layout
hs
Outer perimeter of shear reinforcement Outer control perimeter u out

fck has been taken as 500 MPa

Selected symbols
Symbol Ac As As2 As, prov As, req b d d2 fcd fck fctm Definition Cross sectional area of concrete Area of tension steel Area of compression steel Area of tension steel provided Area of tension steel required Width of slab Effective depth Effective depth to compression reinforcement Design value of concrete compressive strength Characteristic cylinder strength of concrete Mean value of axial tensile strength Slab thickness Factor to take account of the different structural systems Effective span of member Limiting span-to-depth ratio Design moment at the ULS Depth to neutral axis Limiting value for depth to neutral axis Lever arm Coefficient taking account of long term effects on compressive strength and of unfavourable effects resulting from the way load is applied Ratio of the redistributed moment to the elastic bending moment Partial factor for material properties Reference reinforcement ratio Required tension reinforcement at mid-span to resist the moment due to the design loads (or at support for cantilevers) Required compression reinforcement at mid-span to resist the moment due to the design loads (or at support for cantilevers) 1.15 for reinforcement (gs ) 1.5 for concrete (gc ) Rfck /1000 As/bd 0.85 for flexure and axial loads. 1.0 for other phenomena (From UK National Annex) (d z)/0.4 (d 0.4)d where d 1.0 See Table N 7.4 in UK National Annex See Section 5.3.2.2 (1) 0.30 fck2/3 for fck C50/60 (from Table 3.1, Eurocode 2) acc fck /gc Value bh

K leff l/d M

0.75d

1.5d

A
0.5 d
sr

x xmax z a cc

1.5 d (2 d if > 2d from column)

st

d
sr 0.75 d 0.5 d Outer control perimeter kd

gm r0 r

r
Section A - A

As2/bd

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7. Flat slabs

References
1 BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION. BS EN 199211, Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures General rules and rules for buildings. BSI, 2004. 2 BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION. BS 81101: The structural use of concrete Part 1, Code of practice for design and construction. BSI, 1997. 3 NARAYANAN, R S & BROOKER, O. How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2: Introduction to Eurocodes. The Concrete Centre, 2005. 4 BROOKER, O. How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2: Getting started. The Concrete Centre, 2005. 5 BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION. BS EN 199212, Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures. General rules structural fire design. BSI, 2004. 6 WEBSTER, R & BROOKER, O. How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2: Deflection calculations. The Concrete Centre, 2006. 7 BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION. PD 6687, Background paper to the UK National Annex to BS EN 199211 and BS EN 199212. BSI, 2006. 8 PALLETT, P. Guide to flat slab formwork and falsework. Construct, 2003. 9 BRITISH CEMENT ASSOCIATION. Prefabricated punching shear reinforcement for reinforced concrete flat slabs. BCA, 2001.

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