Posteck Technical Brief No.

01-2014

Understanding to Equivalent Frame Method

for Two-way Slab Analysis
(Rev 26.11.2014)

Equivalent frame method is an analysis tool which models a two-way slab as

one way frame. It has been used as ACIs standard method for analysis of twoway slab including post-tensioned slab since 70. The word equivalent frame
dignifies that this analysis frame is different from usual rigid frame model
where slab or beams are connected to columns as rigid connection. In
equivalent frame, beam is connected to column via torsional member. The
rotation at the end of beam is no longer equal to that of column as in rigid
frame case. The method can be briefly summarized as following:

Step 1 Modeling slab in each orthogonal direction as one-way strip, namely

design strip (for definition of design strip see ACI 318 Sec. 13.7). Each design
strip will be analyzed as equivalent frame composing of three parts: Column,
torsional member, and slab. The torsional member has the dimension of
column width or the width of column capital by the thickness of slab plus drop
panel as illustrated in Fig. 1. If slab and drop panel are not monolithic or
composite, thickness of drop shall not be counted (ACI Sec 13.7.5.1).

Figure 1 Effective cross section of torsional member (cross-hatched area)

(a) slab (b) slab with capital (c) slab with capital and drop panel (Leet & Bernal)
1

Posteck Technical Brief No. 01-2014

In analysis, column and torsional member are merged as single modified

element called equivalent column. The stiffness of equivalent column can be
computed either from inverse of flexibility matrix or by static condensation of
global stiffness matrix.
Computing equivalent column stiffness by inverse of flexibility matrix is simply
done by considering kinematic condition at column-torsional member
connection where
u uc uT

. . . (1)

1
1
1

K ec K c KT

. . . (2)

K c is bending stiffness of column in nonsway condition if frame is braced

against sidesway. Reduced stiffness shall be used for lateral load analysis of
frame. KT is torsional stiffness of torsional member depending on slab
thickness and dimension perpendicular to analysis direction.

u2,F

u1, F1 = 0

u0 = 0, R

KT

Kcolumn

Figure 2. Schematic model of equivalent column

It is also possible to obtain K ec from static condensation of global stiffness
(Bathe, 1996) of the system shown in Fig. 2 where the equilibrium equation of
the system can be written by
kc kT
k

kT u1 0

kT u2 F

. . . (3)

The condensed stiffness that relates F and u2 can be written by

Kecu2 F

where Kec

kc kT
kc kT

. . . (4)

Posteck Technical Brief No. 01-2014

which is identical to Eq. (2) but obtained with much effort.

Step 2 Assemble the equivalent columns and slabs to equivalent frame as

schematically shown in Fig. 3. It is noted that the equivalent column-slab
system is always less stiff that the column-slab modeled as wide beam or rigid
frame; therefore, a suitable stiffness reduction factor is commonly applied to
slab in case that column stiffness is used without considering torsional
member.

Figure 3 Equivalent frame (PTDATA, 2000)

Step 3 Compute load vectors from any external applied loadings. For PT slab,
equivalent loads from prestressing must also be included.
Step 4 Solve the system using any structural analysis tools for frame structure,
such as classical moment distribution method or finite element technique.
Step 5 Investigate displacement, internal forces and stresses to satisfy with the
design code.

Those major steps are incorporated into PTDATA software. For regular plan
buildings, equivalent frame method commonly provides good design results.

Posteck Technical Brief No. 01-2014

Elaborated finite element analysis may be conducted for irregular plan building
in order to confirm the results provided by equivalent frame method.

Reference:
ACI 318-11, Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and
Commentary
K Leet, D Bernal, Reinforced Concrete Design, 3rd Edtition, 1997
Structural Data Incorporated, PTDATA Theory Manual, 2000
K J Bathe, Finite Element Procedure, Prentice-Hall, 1996

Author:
Adisorn Owatsiriwong, D.Eng.
adisorn@posteckprestressing.com