INTRODUCTION

Reinforced concrete (RC) is a composite material in which concrete's relatively

low tensile strength and ductility are counteracted by the inclusion of reinforcement
having higher tensile strength or ductility. The reinforcement is usually, though not
necessarily, steel reinforcing bars (rebar) and is usually embedded passively in the
concrete before the concrete sets. Reinforcing schemes are generally designed to
resist tensile stresses in particular regions of the concrete that might cause
unacceptable cracking and/or structural failure. Modern reinforced concrete can contain
varied reinforcing materials made of steel, polymers or alternate composite material in
conjunction with rebar or not. Reinforced concrete may also be permanently stressed (in
tension), so as to improve the behaviour of the final structure under working loads. In
the United States, the most common methods of doing this are known as pre-
tensioning and post-tensioning.
Concrete slab behave primarily as flexural members and the design is similar to that
for beams, although in general it is somewhat simpler because;
1. The breadth of slab is already fixed ad a unit breadth of 1m is used in the
calculations,
2. The shear stress are usually low in slab except when there are heavy
concentrated loads, and
3. Compression reinforcement is seldom required.

USED IN CONSTRUCTION
Many different types of structures and components of structures can be built
using reinforced concrete
including slabs, walls, beams, columns, foundations, frames and more.
Reinforced concrete can be classified as precast or cast-in-place concrete.
Designing and implementing the most efficient floor system is key to creating
optimal building structures. Small changes in the design of a floor system can have
significant impact on material costs, construction schedule, and ultimate strength,
operating costs, occupancy levels and end use of a building.
Without reinforcement, constructing modern structures with concrete material
would not be possible.
DEFINITION
A concrete slab is a common structural element of modern buildings. Horizontal
slabs of steel reinforced concrete, typically between 4 and 20 inches (100 and 500
millimetres) thick, are most often used to construct floors and ceilings, while thinner
slabs are also used for exterior paving. Sometimes these thinner slabs, ranging from 2
inches (51 mm) to 6 inches (150 mm) thick, are called mud slabs, particularly when
used under the main floor slabs or in crawl spaces.
In many domestic and industrial buildings a thick concrete slab, supported
on foundations or directly on the subsoil, is used to construct the ground floor of a
building. These can either be "ground-bearing" or "suspended" slabs. For Double-storey
or Multi-Storey buildings, the use of a few common types of concrete suspended slabs
are used.
A. Beam and block or also referred to as Rib and Block slabs. These are made up of
pressurised lintels or beams and hollow blocks and are temporarily propped until set
after 21 days. Mostly used in residential and industrial applications
B. A Hollow core slab which are precast and installed on site with a crane.
C. In high rise buildings and skyscrapers, thinner, pre-cast concrete slabs are slung
between the steel frames to form the floors and ceilings on each level. Cast in-Situ
slabs which used in high rise buildings and huge shopping complexes as well as
houses. These in-situ slabs are cast on site using shutters and reinforced steel.

THERMAL CONSTRUCTION
There are two main thermal considerations. The first is the question of insulating
a floor slab. In older buildings, concrete slabs cast directly on the ground can drain heat
from a room. In modern construction, concrete slabs are usually cast above a layer
of insulation such as expanded polystyrene, and the slab may contain underfloor
heating pipes. However, there are still uses for a slab that is not insulated, typically in
outbuildings which are not heated or cooled to room temperature. In those cases,
casting the slab directly onto a rocky substrate will maintain the slab at or near the
temperature of the substrate throughout the year, and can prevent both freezing and
overheating.
The second consideration is the high thermal mass, which applies to walls and
floors, or wherever the concrete is used within the thermal envelope. It is a
disadvantage where the rooms are heated intermittently and require a quick response,
as the concrete takes time to warm up, causing a delay in warming the building. But it is
an advantage in climates with large daily temperature swings, where the slab acts as a
regulator, keeping the building cool by day and warm by night.
 A common type of insulated slab is the Beam and block system (referenced
above) which is modified by replacing concrete blocks with expanded
polystyrene blocks. This inter-change not only allows for better insulation but assist with
a lightweight slab which has a positive effect on load bearing walls and foundations.
When the thermal insulation is embedded in the exterior or the interior shell of
the building and it is independent of the structural frames construction, the solution is
clear and most of all effective. However, when the thermal insulation is placed on the
exterior or the interior surface of the structural frame as part of the total thermal
insulation as, for example, in buildings with masonry walls, various issues arise. These
include thermal bridges but also constructional matters regarding earthquake resistant
behavior.

CONSTRUCTION
A concrete slab may be prefabricated or on site. Prefabricated concrete slabs are
built in a factory and transported to the site, ready to be lowered into place between
steel or concrete beams. They may be pre-stressed (in the factory), post-stressed (on
site), or unstressed. It is vital that the wall supporting structure is built to the correct
dimensions, or the slabs may not fit.
In site concrete slabs are built on the building site using formwork - a type of
boxing into which the wet concrete is poured. If the slab is to be reinforced,
the rebar are positioned within the formwork before the concrete is poured in. Plastic
tipped metal, or plastic bag chairs are used to hold the rebar away from the bottom and
sides of the form-work, so that when the concrete sets it completely envelops the
reinforcement. For a ground slab, the form-work may consist only of sidewalls pushed
into the ground. For a suspended slab, the form-work is shaped like a tray, often
supported by a temporary scaffold until the concrete sets.
The formwork is commonly built from wooden planks and boards, plastic, or
steel. On commercial building sites today, plastic and steel are more common as they
save labour. On low-budget sites, for instance when laying a concrete garden path,
wooden planks are very common. After the concrete has set the wood may be removed,
or left there permanently.
In some cases formwork is not
necessary - for instance, a ground slab
surrounded by brick or block foundation walls,
where the walls act as the sides of the tray
and hard core acts as the base.
As regards to support, the safest slab is
the two-way slab and the most vulnerable one
is the cantilever slab. This happens because
in a two-way slab, potential loss of one
support results in a two-way three support
slab, while in the case of a cantilever slab
potential support loss results in collapse.

ADVANTAGES
After removing the topsoil, concrete
slab foundations can be built on grade
overundisturbed soil, if conditions allow.
Therefore, the required labour, excavation,
and forming costs can be held to a minimum.
These benefits can translate into an earlier
project completion or expedite an already late project schedule. A slab is also the more
preferred choice in regards to pests and other vermin being prevented from getting
under the house. A leaking toilet or shower pan will not rot a concrete slab floor. A slab
can also help insulate a house, saving money on heating bills. Houses built atop slabs
are usually closer to grade and require only one or two steps at the exit or entry doors.
This can be most convenient for those with disabilities or who are in a wheelchair.
Compressive Strength
How Strong is Concrete The sand and crushed rock in concrete give it
compressive strength. The sand and rock in concrete can support tremendous amounts
of weight. The harder the rock and the more rock in the mix ratio, the greater the
compressive strength of the concrete. While the standard mix ratio is four-two-one
four parts crushed rock; two parts sand; and one part cement that ratio can be
adjusted to give the concrete greater compressive strength.
Concrete is very strong in compression but weak in tension, meaning it will crack
when forces act to pull it apart. In conventional concrete construction, if a slab is
subjected to a heavy load, it will tend to deflect or sag, which will cause it to elongate
slightly. Even a slight elongation is usually enough to cause cracking. Steel reinforcing
bars (rebar) typically embedded in the concrete is passive reinforcement, meaning it
does not carry any force until the concrete has already deflected enough to crack;
therefore rebar can limit the crack widths but not prevent cracking.
Tensile Strength
Tensile Resistance Fails First in Slabs The reason reinforced concrete slabs
are necessary is because it is not the compressive integrity of a slab that fails first. It is
the tensile resistance that gives way. The reason slabs crack and break is because of
the tensile resistance of concrete. While the rocks and sand in concrete give it
compressive strength, all the tensile strength of concrete comes from the cement and
cement is considerably less tensile strength than rocks and sand have compressive
strength.
The tensile strength of concrete is ten times less than the compressive strength.
Tensile strength is a materials adherence strength. Cement is the adhesive that
keeps the three components of concrete once it cures intact. But, like glue,
cement can be pulled apart. Bending and torsion test the tensile strength of concrete.
Like a stick being snapped, as the ground under a concrete slab settles or swells, the
cement cracks at the point of impact.
Reinforcing Bar and Reinforcing Mesh- The solution for dealing with
concretes weak tensile strength is reinforcing bar (rebar) and reinforcing mesh
(remesh). Intuitively, it would not seems like rebar and remesh could strengthen the
tensile strength of concrete. Rebar bends and flexes when picked up. Remesh is even
more flaccid. However, when encased in concrete, these two add substantial tensile
strength to concrete because pressure from tensile weight is distributed throughout the
length of the bars. Additionally, when the bars are tied in a grid, with perpendicular
overlaps, the tensile strength of the rebar is increased considerably.
Rebar Size and Reinforcing Cages- Generally a single curtain of rebar laid flat
gives a concrete slab more than enough tensile strength to survive shifts and swell in
the earth beneath it. However for situations where extra strength is required, there are
two options. The first is to increase the size of the rebar used. For every 1/4 inch the
diameter of rebar increases, the sheer load resistance more than doubles. For example,
the sheer load bearing of #4 rebar 5/8-inch rebar is 13,564 pounds per square
inch. Rebar with a diameter of 7/8 of an inch #6 rebar has a sheer load bearing of
30,148 pounds per square inch. The sheer load bearing of #11 rebar, which is one and
five-eighths inch rebar is seven times stronger than #4 rebar.
Another means of increasing the tensile strength of a slab is to double the curtain
with a cage. A reinforced concrete slab with an interior cage is more than four times
stronger than a slab with a single horizontal curtain. While more than twice the cost,
because of the sum of the rebar, reinforced concrete slabs with cages are strong
enough to hang and still support weight above. An example of reinforced concrete slabs
with interior cages are the patios hanging out from the sides of apartment buildings.
When working with concrete, its important to know its strengths and
weaknesses. It could be the difference between a job well done or a job that literally
cracks. Make sure your knowledge of concrete is backed with the right tools to make
your projects a success from start to finish to years to come.
Economical for longer spans and high loads.
For a strong, ductile and durable construction the reinforcement needs to have
the following properties at least:
High relative strength
High toleration of tensile strain
Good bond to the concrete, irrespective of pH, moisture, and similar factors
Thermal compatibility, not causing unacceptable stresses in response to
changing temperatures.
Durability in the concrete environment, irrespective of corrosion or sustained
stress for example.

DISADVANTAGES
A slab limits access to any of the heating, ventilating, or air conditioning (HVAC)
systems or ductwork typically installed beneath the floors of a house on a conventional
crawlspace. The need to repair any utilities in the slab, such as plumbing or electrical,
typically requires slab removal, which is expensive. Poor construction or finishing
techniques can create uneven spots and uneven floors. If the lot landscapes and
drainage plan are not coordinated, tree roots seeking out water in times of drought can
damage slabs. Water or moisture can rise through any crack in the slab and can
damage the floor finishes. Concrete slab foundations can be considered cheap and
negatively impact a house's resale value.
It provides lesser clear ceiling heights.
More form work is needed.
Form work is complicated and hence costly.
Floor system requires more depth and hence there will be increase in storey
height as compared to flat slab.
It is difficult to provide acoustical treatment underside of slab.
Presence of beams may require greater storey height.
Requires a regular column layout.
Slow floor cycle.
Flexibility of partition location and horizontal service distribution.

BENEFITS

Rebar slabs work well for odd column layouts or geometries.

Rebar slabs have more flexibility in terms of tenant modifications. It is simpler to
add, say, a stair opening in a rebar slab than a similar post-tensioned slab.
 Rebar slabs are simpler to build, and require less technical expertise than post-
tensioned slabs. Rebar placement tolerances are not as strict as would be
required for PT tendons.
Rebar slabs are most economical for buildings with smaller bays and span
lengths.
Slab steps and depressions are simple to design and construct.

REFERENCES:
https://gharpedia.com/difference-between-flat-slab-conventional-slab-beam-
system/
http://www.experts.com/Articles/Residential-Foundations-Concrete-Slab-Vs-
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete_slab
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinforced_concrete
http://www.bnproducts.com/blog/what-is-the-importance-of-a-reinforced-
concrete-slab/
http://www.nishkian.com/post-tensioned-vs-rebar-slabs/
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