3-Flat Slabs

KHUDADAH & BEN-NAKHI

Two-way slabs

Flat Slabs

FLAT SLABS

A flat plate system is the most economical design. However, when

a flat plate encounters a problem with regard to two-way (punching)
shear, the flat plate is thickened locally around the columns of concern,
creating drop panels, and the resulting system is known as a flat slab.

The drop panel shall extend in each direction, from centerline of

1
column support, a distance not less than
the span length, measured
6
from center-to-center of columns in that direction (i.e. in x - direction
lx
ly
from center of column support and in y - direction
).

extend
6
6
h
Projection of drop panel below the slab shall be at least f beyond the
4
drop (i.e. depth of drop panel 1.25 hf ).

For example, for a typical interior column, the cross-section of the

column/drop panel area is the following:

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Two-way slabs

KHUDADAH & BEN-NAKHI

Flat Slabs

C. L.
(based on slab
thickness)

d2 = hf - concrete
cover - db

first critical section

d1/

2
d2

d1

hf

1.25 hf

d2/
2
l/
6

second critical
section

(based on drop panel

thickness)

d1 = drop panel thickness concrete cover - db

l/
6

Two critical sections need to be investigated for punching shear. The

plan view of these two sections (for a typical interior column) is the
following:
tributary
area

lx

lx

d1/2
ly

d2/2

ly
d1/2
d1/2

tributary
area

d1/2

First critical section

(for column)

drop panel

drop panel d2/2

d2/2

Second critical section

(for drop panel)

A similar approach may be carried out for side and corner columns, but in
these cases the extension of drop panel can not go both ways both
directions.

Notes:

 Length of drop panel shall be in multiples of 50 mm.

 Depth of drop panel shall be in multiples of 10 mm.

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Two-way slabs

KHUDADAH & BEN-NAKHI

Flat Slabs

Example 2

Consider the following layout for an intermediate floor (meeting the

limitations of the DDM) of a multi-story commercial building. A flat plate
system supported by 600 mm X 450 mm rectangular columns is to be
used. Service live load is 7 kN/m2 and dead load includes 2.25 kN/m2 for
partition allowance.
Normal weight concrete,
f 'c = 250 kgf/cm2,
fy = 4200 kgf/cm2, and use 14 bars. A uniform slab thickness of
250 mm is used.

2
8.25 m

3
8.25 m

6.5 m

6.5 m
600 mm

450 mm

For column A-2 :

1) Show that two-way (punching) shear strength of the slab is not

adequate.
2) Rectify the situation in (1) by using a drop panel.

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Two-way slabs

KHUDADAH & BEN-NAKHI

Flat Slabs

Solution:

1) Check punching shear:

w ult = 1.2w d + 1.6w l = 1.2 (2.25 + 24 0.25 ) + 1.6 ( 7 ) = 21.10 KN / m 2




8.25

d = hf concrete cover d b = 250 20 14 = 216 mm

For column A-2:

8.25 m
cy+d/2 = 450+216/2
= 558mm
6.5/2+0.45/2
= 3.475 m

tributary area

cx+d
= 600+216 = 816mm

6.5

tributary area = 8.25

0.45
0.216
2
( 0.6 + 0.216 ) 0.45 +
= 28.21m
2

2

2


3.475

0.816



0.558

Vult = w ult tributary area = 21.10 28.21 = 595.3 kN

c =

600
= 1.333
450

s = 30
bo = 816 + 2(558) = 1932mm

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Two-way slabs

KHUDADAH & BEN-NAKHI

Flat Slabs

1
2
1
2
1 +
fc bo d = 1 +
f b d = 0.4167 fc bo d

c
6 1.333 c o
6

1 30 216
1 s d
Vc = min
+ 2 fc bo d =
+ 2 fc bo d = 0.4462 fc bo d

12 1932

12 bo

1
fc bo d

Vc = 0.75

1
25 (1932 )(216 ) = 521600N
3

<

Vult

not ok

2) Design drop panel:

Length in E-W direction:

lx

= 2 8.25 = 2.75m
6
6

Length in N-S direction:

l y c y 6.5 0.45
+
=
+
= 1.308m
6 2
6
2

Use 1.35m

Use 320mm

Depth:
1.25hf = 1.25 250 = 312.5mm

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Two-way slabs

KHUDADAH & BEN-NAKHI

Flat Slabs

First critical section:

d1 = hdrop panel concrete cover d b = 320 20 14 = 286mm

projection of drop panel below slab = 320 250 = 70mm

8.25 m
2.75 m
cy+d1/2 = 450+286/2
= 593mm

1.35 m
3.475 m

cx+d1
= 600+286 = 886mm

tributary area = 8.25 (3.475 ) ( 0.6 + 0.286 ) 0.45 +

0.286
2
= 28.14 m
2




0.886
0.593

Vult = w ult tributary area + 1.2 weight of drop panel projection

= 21.10 (28.14 ) + 1.2 24 0.07 (2.75 1.35 0.886 0.593) = 600.2 kN

c =

600
= 1.333
450

s = 30
bo = 886 + 2 (593) = 2072mm

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Two-way slabs

KHUDADAH & BEN-NAKHI

Flat Slabs

1
2
1
2
1 +
fc bo d1 = 1 +
f b d = 0.4167 fc bo d1

c
6 1.333 c o 1
6

1 d

1 30 286
1
Vc = min s
+ 2 fc bo d1 =
+ 2 fc bo d1 = 0.5117 fc bo d1

12 2072

12 bo

1
fc bo d1

Vc = 0.75

1
25 (2072 )(286 ) = 740700N
3

Vult

>

ok

Second critical section:

d2 = d = 216 mm
8.25 m
2.75 m
1.35 m

1.35+d2/2= 1.458m

3.475 m

2.75+d2
= 2.966m

tributary area = 8.25 (3.475 ) (2.75 + 0.216 ) 1.35 +

0.216
2
= 24.34m
2







2.966
1.458

Vult = w ult tributary area = 21.10 24.34 = 513.7kN

c =

2.75
= 2.037
1.35

s = 30
bo = 2966 + 2 (1458 ) = 5882mm

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Two-way slabs

KHUDADAH & BEN-NAKHI

Flat Slabs

1
2
1
2
1 +
fc bo d2 = 1 +
f b d = 0.3303 fc bo d2

c
6 2.037 c o 2
6

1 d

1 30 216
2
+ 2 fc bo d2 =
+ 2 fc bo d2 = 0.2585 fc bo d2
Vc = min s

12 5882

12 bo

1
fc bo d2

Vc = 0.75 0.2585 25 (5882 )(216 ) = 1231000N

>

Vult

ok

2.75 m x 1.35 m drop panel with a projection of 70 mm below the

slab will provide adequate two-way shear strength @ column A-2

for the loads given.

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Two-way slabs

KHUDADAH & BEN-NAKHI

Flat Slabs

Now, let us check the two-way shear and the shear resulting from the
UBMT in both directions E-W & N-S for corner column A-1:

Two-way shear:

8.25/2+0.6/2 =
4.425 m
450+216/2
= 558 mm
6.5/2+0.45/2
= 3.475 m

600+216/2
= 708 mm

ATrib = 4.25 3.475 0.708 0.558 14.375m 2

Vult,max = w ult ATrib,2way = 21.1 14.375 303.32 kN

c = 600 = 1.333
450

s = 20
bo = 708 + 558 = 1266mm

1
controls

20 216
sd

+ 2
+ 2

'
fc bo d
1266
bo
0.451
Vc =
min
=
1000
12
12
(KN)

1 + 2 1 + 2
c 1.333

=
= 0.417
6
6

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Two-way slabs

KHUDADAH & BEN-NAKHI

Vc =

Flat Slabs

25 1266 216 1
455.76 KN
1000
3

Vc = 0.75 455.76 341.82 KN > Vult,max = 303.32 KN O.K.

So, we are fine with the two-way shear, lets check now the shear
resulting from the unbalanced moment transfer from the slab to the
column.

Unbalanced moment transfer through shear:

E-W direction:

l n = 8.25 0.6 = 7.65m

l2 =

6.5 0.45
+
= 3.475m
2
2

c1 = c x = 600mm
c2 = c y = 450mm

w l l 2 21.1 3.475 ( 7.65 )

Mo = ult 2 n =
= 536.38 KN.m
8
8
Mu = 0.3Mo = 0.3(536.38) = 160.91 KN.m

b1 = c1 +

d
216
= 600 +
= 708mm
2
2

b2 = c2 +

d
216
= 450 +
= 558mm
2
2

bo = b1 + b2 = 708 + 558 = 1266mm

Ac = bo d = 1266 216 = 273456mm 2

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Two-way slabs

KHUDADAH & BEN-NAKHI

Flat Slabs

b
708
1

2 708 216 2
=

= 197.97 mm

b1 d
c=

Ac

273456

b d 3 b13 d
Jc = 1
+
+ b1 d 1 c + b2 dc 2
2

12
12

708 (216)

12

(708) (216) + 708 216 708 197.97 2

+

( ) 2
12

+ 558 (216)(197.97 ) = 15.43 10 mm

f =

1
2 708
1+
3 558

= 0.571

Muv = (1 f )Mu = (1 0.571) 160.91 = 69.01 KN.m

Vult,max = 303.32 KN
c = 1 .333
s = 20

from Two-way shear calculations

u,v =

303.32 1000
= 1.109MPa
273456

u,M =

69.01 10 6 (197.97)
= 0.885MPa
15.43 10 9

u,max = u,v + u,M = 1.109 + 0.885 = 1.994MPa

2
2
1 +
1 +

c
1.333

=
= 0.416

6
6

20 216

d
c = fc' min s + 2
2
+

bo
= 1266
= 0.451

12
12

controls
3

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Two-way slabs

KHUDADAH & BEN-NAKHI

1
c = 0.75 25 = 1.25 MPa <
3

Flat Slabs

u,max = 1.994 MPa NOT O.K.!!

Use drop panel, but wait, let us check the "N-S" UBMT first and then conlude
our drop panel size and projection.

So, what do you think? Should we go and check the shear resulting from
UBMT in the N-S direction? Well, my answer is that we dont have to,
since I believe that it would be less serious than the E-W direction.
But, for the sake of explanation, I will go through it.

N-S direction:

l n = 6.5 0.45 = 6.05m

l2 =

8.25 0.6
+
= 4.425m
2
2

c1 = c x = 450mm
c2 = c y = 600mm

w l l 2 21.1 4.425 ( 6.05 )

= 427.185 KN.m
Mo = ult 2 n =
8
8
Mu = 0.3Mo = 0.3(427.185) = 128.15 KN.m

b1 = c1 +

d
216
= 450 +
= 558mm
2
2

b2 = c2 +

d
216
= 600 +
= 708mm
2
2

bo = b1 + b2 = 708 + 558 = 1266mm

Ac = bo d = 1266 216 = 273456mm 2

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Two-way slabs

KHUDADAH & BEN-NAKHI

Flat Slabs

b
558
1

2 558 216 2
=

= 122.97 mm

b1 d
c=

Ac

273456

b d 3 b13 d
Jc = 1
+
+ b1 d 1 c + b2 dc 2
2

12
12

558 (216)

12

(558) (216) + 558 216 558 122.97 2

+

( ) 2
12

+ 708 (216)(122.97 ) = 8.84 10 mm

f =

1
2 558
1+
3 708

= 0.628

Muv = (1 f )Mu = (1 0.628) 128.15 = 47.65 KN.m

Vult,max = 303.32 KN
c = 1 .333
s = 20

from Two-way shear calculations

u,v =

303.32 1000
= 1.109MPa
273456

u,M =

47.65 10 6 (197.97)
= 0.663MPa
8.84 10 9

u,max = u,v + u,M = 1.109 + 0.663 = 1.772MPa

2
2
1 +
1 +

c
1.333

=
= 0.416

6
6

20 216

d
c = fc' min s + 2
2
+

bo
= 1266
= 0.451

12
12

controls
3

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Two-way slabs

KHUDADAH & BEN-NAKHI

1
c = 0.75 25 = 1.25 MPa <
3

Flat Slabs

u,max = 1.772 MPa NOT O.K.!!

Use drop panel, but as I expected, it is less serious that the "E-W" direction.

So, after checking the two-way shear and the shear due to UBMT for
both E-W and N-S direction, the UBMT in the E-W controlled the
use of drop panel (since it was the most serious one) !!

Design drop panel:

Length in E-W direction:

lx c x
+
6 2

8.25 0.6
=
+
= 1.675 m Use 1.7 m
6 2

Length in N-S direction:

l c
y + y
6 2

= 6.5 + 0.45 = 1.308 m Use 1.35 m

6 2

Depth:
1.25hf = 1.25 250 = 312.5mm

Use 320mm

When used hdp = 320 mm, still you will have a problem with UBMT in
E-W direction (an excel sheet to do a trial and error calculations
would be a good tool). So, I concluded hdp = 400 mm would solve the
problem in E-W direction (and most certainly, in N-S direction
and two-way shear (which we have no problem with!!).

So, We will use a drop panel under column A-1 with the
following size: 1.7 m x 1.35 m x 0.4 m. Now, we have to check the
UBMT in E-W direction, at two critical sections, as explained
earlier.

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Two-way slabs

KHUDADAH & BEN-NAKHI

Flat Slabs

First critical section:

d1 = hdp concrete cover d b = 400 20 14 = 366mm

projection of drop panel below slab = 400 250 = 150mm

4.425 m
1.7 m
cy+d1/2 = 450+366/2
= 633mm

1.35 m
3.475 m

cx+d1/2 = 600+366/2
= 783mm

Let Mu be the same as before adding a drop panel (after all, the small
increase in projection of the drop panel can be considered to be equal in
effect of the decrease of ATrib since d is increased).
So, let:
Mu=160.91 KN.m

d1

366
= 783 mm
2
2
d
366
b2 = c 2 + 1 = 450 +
= 633 mm
2
2
bo = b1 + b2 = 783 + 633 = 1416 mm
b1 = c 1 +

= 600 +

Ac = b o d1 = 1416 366 = 518256 mm 2

b1

(b d ) 2
1

c=

Ac

783 366
=

518256

783
2 = 216.49 mm

( from the face to the direction considered)

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Two-way slabs

KHUDADAH & BEN-NAKHI

b d 3 b 3d
Jc = 1 1 + 1 1
12 12

f =

1
2 b1
1+
3 b2

+ (b1 d1 ) 1 c

1
2 783
1+
3 633

Flat Slabs

+ (b2 d1 ) c 2 = 37.47 10 9 mm 4

= 0.574

MuV = (1 f ) Mu = (1 0.574 ) 160.91 = 68.51 KN.m

Vult = {3.475 4.425 (0.783 0.633)} 21.1 + 1.2 0.15 24 (1.7 1.35) (0.783 0.633)

Vult = 321.77 KN
c =

600
= 1.333
450

s = 20

u,V =

u,M =

Vult 1000
Ac

M u,V 10 6 c
Jc

321.77 1000
= 0.621 MPa
518256
=

68.51 10 6 216.49
37.47 10 9

= 0.396 MPa

u,max = u,M + u,V = 0.621 + 0.396 = 1.017 MPa

2
2
1 +
1 +

c
1.333

=
= 0.416

6
6

d
20 366

c = fc' min s 1 + 2
+ 2
b

o
= 1416
= 0.596

12
12

Controls
3
c = 0.75 25

1
= 1.25 MPa
3

c = 1.25 MPa > u,max = 1.017 MPa O.K.

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Two-way slabs

KHUDADAH & BEN-NAKHI

Flat Slabs

Second critical section:

d2 = hf concrete cover d b = 250 20 14 = 216mm

4.425 m
1.7 m
1.35 m

1.35+d2/2= 1.458m

3.475 m

1.7+d2/2
= 1.808 m

Mu=160.91 KN.m
d2

216
= 1808 mm
2
2
d
216
b2 = c 2 + 2 = 1350 +
= 1458 mm
2
2
bo = b1 + b2 = 1808 + 1458 = 3266 mm
b1 = c 1 +

= 1700 +

Ac = b o d2 = 3266 216 = 705456 mm 2

b1

(b d ) 2
1

c=

1808
2 = 500.44 mm
705456

1808 216

Ac

( from the face to the direction considered)

b1 d2 3 b13d2
Jc =
+
12 12

f =

1
2 b1
1+
3 b2

+ (b1 d2 ) 1 c

1
2 1808
1+
3 1458

+ (b2 d2 ) c 2 = 250.37 10 9 mm 4

= 0.574

MuV = (1 f ) Mu = (1 0.574 ) 160.91 = 68.51 KN.m

Vult = 3.475 4.425 (1.7 +

SPRING 2011

0.216
0.216
) (1.35 +
) 21.1 = 268.83 KN
2
2

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Two-way slabs

KHUDADAH & BEN-NAKHI

c =

Flat Slabs

1700
= 1.26
1350

s = 20

u,V =

u,M =

Vult 1000
Ac

M u,V 10 6 c
Jc

268.83 1000
= 0.381 MPa
705456
=

68.51 10 6 500.438
250.37 10 9

= 0.137 MPa

u,max = u,M + u,V = 0.381 + 0.137 = 0.518 MPa

2
2
1 +
1 +

c
1.26

=
= 0.431

6
6

c = fc' min s d2 + 2 20 216 + 2

3266
b o
=
= 0.277 Controls

12
12

3
c = 0.75 25 0.277 = 1.04 MPa
c = 1.04 MPa > u,max = 0.518 MPa O.K.

So, since the two critical sections are O.K., it means that the UBMT in
E-W direction is solved, and surely, solved for UBMT for N-S
direction in addition to the two-way shear.

So, using a drop panel of the following size:

1.7 m x 1.35 m x 0.4 m solved the shear problems for column A-1.

i.e. case closed for column A-1.

SPRING 2011

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Page 19