Types of slab

Concrete slabs are used to construct floors and roofs in

buildings. Slabs may be simply supported or continuous over
one or more supports.
In CP65, slabs are classified into three groups:
1) solid slabs spanning between beams or walls
Reinforced Concrete Slabs
2) ribbed / waffle slabs, and
(Textbook Chapter 8, CP65:Part 1, Section 3.5)
3) flat plate / flat slabs
Other forms of slabs
Stairs form a special case of sloping slabs
Footing is a thick slab.

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Solid slabs on beams Solid slabs on beams

Slabs supported on opposite edges If the length of the longer side 2 shorter side, it is said to
be one-way spanning. Otherwise, it is two-way spanning
Slabs that are supported along two opposite edges are said to
be one-way spanning.

Slabs with beams all round

When the slab is supported on all four edges, the direction of
the span depends on the ratio of the length of the longer side ly
to the length of the shorter side lx.
One-way spanning Two-way spanning

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 Ribbed / Waffle Slabs Flat slab /Flat plate
These are two-way slabs supported directly on columns.
Flat slab
The columns tend to punch upward
through the slab, causing a high
shearing stress at the slab-column
junction. It is common to have the
Flat slab slab thickens near the columns.
250 mm or 500 mm Sometimes, the top of the column
500 mm or 750 mm
can be enlarged to give support
over a larger area.
Waffle slabs have
Flat plate has no drop panel and
recesses formed in
column capital. It is used for smaller
the soffit to give a
spans and lighter loads than those
series of ribs running
Flat plate in flat slab design.
in two directions.

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Outline of slab design

In general, the design of slab is similar to that for beams.
The major difference is that in slab design, the SLS of
1. Choice of 2. Analysis 3. Flexure Design
deflection and cracking are normally critical, rather
slab thickness moment & shear Main tension steel
than the ULS of bending and shear

6. 5. Other considerations Slab reinforcement is a mesh

4. Check
Reinforcement Shear ULS which may be formed from two sets
deflection
detailing Control of cracking
of bars placed at right angles, or by
the use of cold form welded wire
fabric.
The goal is to design a slab with adequate stiffness and
strength to carry the loads.
This section covers slabs carrying primarily uniform loads.

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 Moment steel Distribution steel
One-way spanning slabs d h

Design considerations Span l

Arrangement of loads (a) Simply supported slab

Analysis based on a single load case

Flexure and Shear (ULS) Moment steel Distribution steel

Deflection check
Control of cracking Span l Span l
Reinforcement detailings (b) Continuous slab

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Effective span, l Arrangement of loads (clause 3.5.2.3)

The effective span for one-way slabs is the same as for beams.
Simply supported slabs
l is taken as the lesser of:
clear distance between supports + effective depth; or
the distance between centres of supports
A slab should be designed to resist the most unfavorable
arrangement of loads. However, slabs are commonly designed
for the single load case of maximum design load on all spans
(w = 1.4gk + 1.6qk), provided the 3 conditions are met:
The area of each bay exceeds 30 m2
The ratio of imposed load qk to dead load gk does not exceed 1.25

Continuous slabs qk does not exceed 5 kN/m2, excluding partitions.

l = distance between centres of supports

Cantilever slabs
l = the length to the face of support + d Panel Bay

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 Method of analysis
For design purposed, a one-way slab is considered as a series
of parallel1-m wide strips. Where the single load case is used in
design, moments and shears in the slabs can be computed by
one of the two methods:
1. Elastic analysis and redistribution of moments (3.5.2.3)
Method of analysis
1. Elastic analysis and redistribution of moments
Where an analysis is carried out for the single load case, the
support moments should be reduced by 20%. This gives a
consequential increase in the span moments. The usual rules
for moment re-distribution should be applied.

- for slabs of unequal spans Exceptions for slabs with cantilever overhang:
2. Approximate analysis using moment coefficients No reduction of moment is allowed at the cantilever.
(3.5.2.4) - for slabs of approximately equal span If the cantilever length exceeds 1/3 of the span adjacent to the
cantilever, the load case of the span unloaded (1.0gk) and the
cantilever fully loaded should be considered.
5m 3m 4m 4m 4m

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Method of analysis Table 3.13 Ultimate bending moment and shear forces
End support / slab connection At first Middle Interior
2. Approximate analysis using moment coefficients interior interior supports
Simple Continuous
Applicable if the slabs meet all the following criteria: support spans
at outer Near middle At outer Near middle
a) the load is uniformly distributed, and the conditions in clause support of end span support of end span
3.5.2.3. are met Moment 0 0.086Fl - 0.04Fl 0.075Fl - 0.086Fl 0.063Fl - 0.063Fl
b) There are three or more spans Shear 0.4F - 0.46F - 0.6F - 0.5F
c) The variation in spans 15% of the longest span where F = total design ultimate on one span, l is the effective span;
20% redistribution mentioned above has been included in these values
The moments and shears for a 1-m wide strip are:
M (kNm) = coeff w span2 = coeff F span outer first Interior
support interior support
V (kN) = coeff (w span) = coeff F
where F = total load on one span (= wl), w = load in kN/m
End span Interior spans

1 m strip Continuous Simple

connection connection

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Example 1: Analysis of one-way slab Example 1: Analysis of one-way slab
A continuous one-way slab has three equal spans of 3.5 m each. (1) Slab thickness
Assume dead load = 5.2 kN/m2, including self weight, live load = The initial slab thickness may be obtained by restricting the span to
3.0 kN/m2 and a concrete cover of 25 mm. effective depth ratio of slab using the guidelines in IStructE / ICE
Calculate the design moments in the slab by making a 20% Manual (Table 3).
redistribution of moment to the elastic moment. Repeat the
Table 3 Span/effective depth ratios for initial design of slabs
calculation using the moment coefficients in CP65.
qk, One-way spanning Two-way spanning Flat slab
including without
finishes Simply Continuous Canti- Simply continuous drops
(kN/m2) supported lever supported
1-m
5.0 27 31 11 30 40 36
10 m

- 0.100 - 0.100
10.0 24 28 10 28 39 33

0.080 0.025 0.080 h = span / 31 + cover + bar diameter

3.5 m 3.5 m 3.5 m = 3500 /31 + 25 + 4 = 142 mm
Moment coefficients (before redistributions)
Try a slab thickness of 140 mm

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Example 1: Analysis of one-way slab Example 1: Analysis of one-way slab

(2) Elastic analysis and redistribution of moments New support moment = 14.80 x 0.8 = 11.8 kNm.
bay area = 10 3.5 = 35 m2 > 30 m2 This gives an increase in the span moment. Draw the FBD for each span
Imposed / dead load = 3 / 5.2 < 1.25, and qk < 5 kN/m2 Span AB Span BC
use single load case analysis 12.08 kN/m 12.08 kN/m
11.8 kNm 11.8 kNm
11.8 kNm
Consider a strip 1-m wide
RA 3.5 m RB 3.5 m
RB RC
w = (1.4 x 5.2) + (1.6 x 3) = 12.08 kN/m 17.8 21.1
F = wl = 12.08 3.5 = 42.3 kN - 0.100 - 0.100 24.5 21.1
Elastic moment at support B, C
0.080 0.025 0.080
= 0.1 x 42.3 x 3.5 = 14.8 kNm A B C D Sagging moments:
Elastic Moment = coeff F l
end span, MAB = 1.47 17.8 = 13.1 kNm
Allow a 20% reduction in MB & MC due to the effect of span BC, M = 1.75 21.1 11.8 = 6.7 kNm
moment redistribution.

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Example 1: Analysis of one-way slab Cover requirements
Approximate method using coefficients in Table 3.13 The concrete cover required for durability and fire protection is
-0.04 -0.086 -0.086 taken from Table 3.3 and 3.4 of the code. The minimum cover
and dimensions for fire protection in slabs are shown below.
Continuous
0.075 0.063 0.075 connection For grade C30 concrete the cover is 25 mm for mild exposure
A B C D
3.5 m 3.5 m 3.5 m and this will give 2 h of fire protection in a continuous slab

Design load in one span = 42.3 kN

Fire rating Minimum dimensions (mm) Cover to main bar (mm)
Moments at critical sections: (hours) Floor thickness Rib width Simply supported continuous
near middle of end span = 0.075 42.3 3.5 = 11.1 kNm 1 95 125 20 20

at support B, C = 0.086 42.3 3.5 = 12.7 kNm 2 125 125 35 25

3 150 150 45 35
middle of span BC = 0.063 42.3 3.5 = 9.3 kNm . 4 170 175 55 45
Table 3.13 gives a conservative design moment in span BC.

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Reinforcement details
Secondary reinforcement =
The main reinforcement is laid in the direction 0.13% gross concrete area, Ac
of the span nearest to the concrete surface.
h
Secondary (or distribution) reinforcement is
needed to distribute cracking due to shrinkage 1 m width
Main reinforcement ( 0.13%Ac)
and temperature effects.
Minimum area of reinforcement (Table 3.27)
Transverse reinforcement ( 0.0015 l hf)
The area of main /secondary reinforcement should be at least b = bw + 0.14 l
0.0013bh for high yield bars (fy = 460 N/mm2) b = bw + 0.07 l
0.0024bh for mild steel (fy = 250 N/mm2)
where b = 1-m width; h = total depth
Transverse reinforcement in top of flanged beam
When the slab forms the flange of a T or L-beam, the area of reinforcement span l
in the flange (at right angle to the beam provided over the full effective
flange width near the top surface) should not be less than 0.0015 hl.

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 Simplified curtailment rules (clause 3.12.10.3) Restrained end
Top steel = 50%As 0.15l or 45 Simply supported end
tension No top steel
anchorage Anchorage 12
Simplified rules for curtailment of bars may be used without As mid-span steel
BM diagrams provided: Span l
The slabs are designed for predominantly uniformly distributed
(a) Single span
loads. 12 d + 12

In the case of continuous slabs, all spans are fully loaded and
the spans are approximately equal (within 15%)
0.5l or 45
As 50% As
In other cases the curtailment of the main reinforcement
should be related to the bending moment envelope.
Span l
(b) Cantilever

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Shear in solid slabs (clause 3.5.5.2)

Tension 50% of As As support steel
anchorage 0.15l or 45 0.3l 0.3l Solid slabs carrying uniform load normally have adequate
shear resistance and do not require shear reinforcement.
As- mid-span steel
Span l
The design shear stress in the slab is given by
V
(c) Continuous slab, section A-A v=
bd

A where V = shear force due to ultimate loads (N)

b = 1-m width (mm), and
Slabs span in this
direction d = effective depth (m)

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 Shear in solid slabs (clause 3.5.5.2) Deflection of one-way slabs (clause 3.5.7)
CP65 requires that: Deflection is the main consideration in slab design. It controls
1. should not exceed 0.8fcu or 5 N/mm2 the slab thickness.

2. If the slab is thin (h < 200 mm), always ensure that < c
Deflection of slab is controlled by restricting the span/effective
by either increase the amount of tension reinforcement or
depth ratio as for beams using Table 3.10 and modified by a
increase h. factor from Table 3.11. Table 3.11 accounts for the effect of
100 As 1/ 3 400 1/ 4 f cu 1/ 3
where vc = 0.84 ( ) ( ) ( ) / m tension steel in the direction of bending. No correction for
bd d 30
compression steel is needed here.

3. If the slab is thick (h> 200 mm) and heavily loaded (> c), span
effective depth =
then shear reinforcement may be provided as for beam. basic ratio mod . factor

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Table 3.10 Basic span/effective depth ratios Crack control of slabs

Support conditions Rectangular sections
To control cracking arising from shrinkage and temperature effects,
Cantilever 7
follow the bar spacing rules
Simply supported 20
Continuous 26
1. The clear spacing between bars should not exceed the lesser of
3d or 750 mm. (clause 3.12.11.2.7)
Table 3.11 Modification factor for tension reinforcement
Service stress, fs M/bd2 2. No further check is required on bar spacing if either
N/mm2 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.50 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 a) grade 250 steel is used and h 250 mm
100 2.00 2.00 2.00 1.86 1.63 1.36 1.19 1.08 1.01 b) grade 460 steel is used and h 200 mm
150 2.00 2.00 1.98 1.69 1.49 1.25 1.11 1.01 0.94
c) The tension steel ratio 0.3%
(fy = 250) 156 2.00 2.00 1.96 1.66 1.47 1.24 1.10 1.00 0.94
200 2.00 1.95 1.76 1.51 1.35 1.14 1.02 0.94 0.88 3. If none of the conditions in (2) apply (i.e., thicker slab) use values
250 1.90 1.70 1.55 1.34 1.20 1.04 0.94 0.87 0.82 in Table 3.30* for 1%. Divide the values by for 0.3% 1%
(fy = 460) 288 1.68 1.50 1.38 1.21 1.09 0.95 0.87 0.82 0.78
*Clear spacing = 155 mm for grade 460 steel & 300 mm for grade 250 steel.
300 1.60 1.44 1.33 1.16 1.06 0.93 0.85 0.80 0.76
477 f s 5 f y Asreq 1
Modificati on factor = 0.55 + 2.0, where f s =
120 (0.9 +
M
) 8 Asprov b
2
bd
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Example 2: Design of one-way slab Example 2: Continuous one-way slab
Design the slab reinforcement in Example 1 and show the
1. Design of moment steel
reinforcement on a sketch of the cross-section. Assume a slab
thickness of 140 mm, fcu = 30 N/mm2, fy = 460 N/mm2 and a cover Assume 8 mm bars, d = 140 25 8/2 = 111 mm
of 25 mm. The coefficients in Table 3.13 include the 20% redistribution of
support moments.

Ultimate shears and moments at critical sections

Design load = 12.08 kN/m = 42.3 kN / span
Position Shear (kN /m) Moment (kNm /m)
A 0.46 42.3 = 19.5 0.040 42.3 3.5 = 5.9
P Q R Continuous
A B C D connection P 0.075 42.3 3.5 = 11.1
3.5 m 3.5 m 3.5 m
B 0.60 42.3 = 25.4 0.086 42.3 3.5 = 12.7
Q 0.063 42.3 3.5 = 9.3

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Example 2: Continuous one-way slab Example 2: Continuous one-way slab

Section at support B, b = 1000
Position Moment k z, mm As,req Min. area As,prov
M 12.710 6 mm2 /m
k= = = 0.034 < 0.132 d
(kNm /m) (0.95d) mm2 /m of steel
f cu bd 2 30 1000 1112
A 5.9 0.016 105 140 210 T8-225
singly reinforced section P 11.1 0.030 105 264 182 T8-175
k
Lever arm, z = d 0.5+ 0.25 0.9 = 0.96 d Take z = 0.95 d = 105 mm B 12.7 0.034 105 302 210 T8-150

M 12.7 10 6 Q 9.3 0.025 105 221 182 T8-225
As = = = 302 mm 2 / m
0.87 f y z 0.87 460 105
Distribution steel = 0.00131000140 = 182 mm2/m, use T8-250 c/c
Maximum bar spacing = 3d = 3 111 = 333 mm2/m
The spacing of reinforcement is specified to the nearest 25 mm.
Minimum area of transverse steel = 0.00151000140 = 210 mm2
As,prov is obtained from the reinforcement data sheet (Table 2).
Use T8 bars at 150 centres (As,prov= 335 mm2/m)
Repeat calculation at all critical sections.

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Example 2: Continuous one-way slab Example 2: Continuous one-way slab
2) Deflection check 3) Shear resistance
At support B, the shear stress is
The end span is checked because it is continuous on one
V 25.4 103
side only and will therefore deflect more than the interior v= = = 0.23 N / mm 2
bd 1000 111
span. Basic ratio = 26
M 11.1 10 6 5 264 The shear resistance is provided by T8 @150c/c
= = 0.90 f s = 460 = 264
bd 2 1000 1112 8 287 100 As 100 335
= = 0.30
477 264 bd 1000 111
Modification factor = 0.55 + = 1.54 100 As 1/ 3 400 1/ 4 f cu 1/ 3
120 (0.9 + 0.90) vc = 0.84 ( ) ( ) ( ) / m
bd d 30
Allowable span /d = 26 1.54 = 40 1
400 4
= 0.84 (0.30)
1
1 / 1.25 = 0.62 N / mm
2
Actual span / d = 3500/111 = 31.5 < allowable 3
111
The slab is satisfactory with respect to deflection. < c , no shear reinforcement is required.

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Example 2: Continuous one-way slab Table 2: Areas of round bars per meter at different spacings (mm2/m)
Spacing 6 mm 8 mm 10 mm 13 mm 16 mm 20 mm 22 mm 25 mm 28 mm 32 mm
4) Reinforcement details: 75 377 670 1047 1770 2681 4189 5068 6545 8210 10723
80 353 628 982 1659 2513 3927 4752 6136 7697 10053
The cut-off points are based on the simplified curtailment rules.
90 314 559 873 1475 2234 3491 4224 5454 6842 8936
Tension anchorage = 37 dia. of bar = 37 8 = 296 mm 100 283 503 785 1327 2011 3142 3801 4909 6158 8042
120 236 419 655 1106 1676 2618 3168 4091 5131 6702
125 226 402 628 1062 1608 2513 3041 3927 4926 6434
T8-225 140 202 359 561 948 1436 2244 2715 3506 4398 5745
300 T8-150
0.15l = 525 T8-250 0.3l = 1050 150 188 335 524 885 1340 2094 2534 3273 4105 5362
160 177 314 491 830 1257 1964 2376 3068 3848 5027
175 162 287 449 758 1149 1795 2172 2805 3519 4596
T8-175 180 157 279 436 737 1117 1745 2112 2727 3421 4468
T8-225
200 141 251 393 664 1005 1571 1901 2454 3079 4021
3500
225 126 223 349 590 894 1396 1689 2182 2737 3574
250 113 201 314 531 804 1257 1521 1964 2463 3217
275 103 183 286 483 731 1142 1382 1785 2239 2925
300 94 168 262 442 670 1047 1267 1636 2053 2681

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