ESTIMATION OF DEFLECTIONS IN WAFFLE SLABS

[From the publication Los forjados reticulares: diseo, anlisis, construccin y patologa,
by Dr. Ing. Florentino Regalado Tesoro. Biblioteca Tcnica CYPE Ingenieros, S.A. (Avda.
Eusebio Sempere, 5; 03003 ALICANTE; Spain). ISBN 84-930696-5-5. 1st edition, 2003.
Section 10.9, pages. 402-409]

The deflections that are usually relatively simple to evaluate, as far as this is
possible, in reinforced concrete structures are the instant deflections at low load levels,
since these are situations in which the cracking levels are relatively moderate and the
general behaviour of the structure has a generally sufficient level of elasticity.

As phenomena such as shrinkage and creep become involved, and cracking

levels increase, the precision in the evaluation of delayed deflections becomes quite a
problem, and one needs to be satisfied with a sufficient estimation of that precision that
will allow the pieces that are designed to be positioned and construction to be
performed at tolerable levels of deformation, even accepting errors of a certain
magnitude in this evaluation, which some authors estimate at between 25 and 50%.

Our personal experience in the estimation of slab deflections in building

construction, which was subsequently verified in load trials, indicates that the simplified
estimation criteria that are customarily used have a conservative character. The
deflections measured during the load trials were found to be considerably smaller than
the ones estimated in the calculations, since many factors that cannot be parameterised
are not taken into account. In our tests on waffle slabs, it was found that the
construction of a waffle slab with non-reusable concrete blocks, compared to that of a
waffle slab built with lightening polystyrene blocks, leads to instant deflections that are
about 1.25 times smaller, though both slabs exhibited identical structural sections.

The manual method that allows an estimation to be obtained of the deflections

in waffle slabs was developed by Scanlon and Murray, and has been endorsed by the
American Concrete Institute (ACI) since their authors published it in 1982.

The method starts by using the schemes that are established in the virtual
gantries method, after Figure 10.10, and, considering the bands in this method, it
obtains fictitious loads q1 and q2, which correspond hypothetically to the different bands
as a function of the moments assigned to these, based on the moments provided by the
general calculation of the gantries or, when these are unavailable, on the estimation of
these moments by the DIRECT CALCULATION METHOD.

Waffle slabs 1
Estimation of Deflections in Waffle slabs
 Fig. 10.10. Band scheme by Scanlon and Murray
for the calculation of deflections.

To calculate deflections, it is recommended to consider the width corresponding

exclusively to the abacuses as supports band. The comprehensive moments of the
virtual gantry, which may be considered as a reference, are shown in the following
scheme.

Fig. 10.11. Direct reference moments that can be manually

taken into account in the deflection calculations.

Instant deflection

If one wishes to obtain the instant deflection at point 5, for a uniformly

distributed load P1/m2, one obtains, first, the fictitious load fraction (qly), which is
assigned to the supports band in the y-direction, for example; and the fraction (q2y)
which corresponds to the centre band also in this direction; then doing the same in the
x-direction.

0.75 (MI y + MD y ) q1y L2y

+ 0.6 M vy =
2 8
0.25 (MI y + MD y ) q 2y L2y
+ 0.4 M vy =
2 8

where: q1y: y-supports band load

Ly: clear span according to y
q2y: y-centre band load
Ly: clear span according to y

Waffle slabs 2
Estimation of Deflections in Waffle slabs
 Once the loads have been obtained, the deflections of each band at the mid-point
can be calculated, as if ordinary beams were involved, first in the y-direction and then in
the x-direction, operating with the Branson equivalent inertia (according to EHE).
5 q1y L4y 0.75 (MI y + MD y ) L2y
f1y = -
384 E C I eys 16 E C I eys
5 q 2y L y
4
0.25 (MI y + MD y ) L2y
f 5y = -
384 E C I eyc 16 E C I eyc

If the gantry geometries and layout are regular, the deflection obtained in 1
according to y may be considered identical to that which could also be obtained in 2
according to y; and if they were square panels, they would also be quite similar to the
deflection in point 4 and point 3.

Should that not be so, one would have no choice but to establish the virtual
gantries and to operate in the way indicated, obtaining those deflections in both
directions.

The instant deflection at point 5 would be given by:

f1y + f 2y
f 51 = + f 5x f 51 + f 52
2 f
5 (end) =
f +f 2
f 52 = 3x 4x + f 5y
2

The inertia moments that need to be introduced into the formulas to calculate the
deflections are the inertia equivalent moments given by Branson.

The sections that need to be considered in each analysed band differ from each
other when it comes to obtaining the equivalent inertia moments.

At the ends of the supports bands it will be necessary to consider the rectangular
abacus sections; and in the centre spans of these bands, a set of I-ribs with reinforcing in
the bottom part of the cores.

The I-ribs are considered in the calculations of the centre band deflections, but
one must bear in mind that, at the ends, the reinforcement lies in the top part, whereas in
the spans, the reinforcement lies the bottom part.

Fig. 10.12. Position of the reinforcement when it comes to

calculating the cracked inertias in the bands outside the
abacuses.

Waffle slabs 3
Estimation of Deflections in Waffle slabs
 Mf M 3
I e = I b + 1 - f
M
a M a I
f
f ct,flex I b
Mf =
y1
where: Ie: equivalent inertia moment in each section of the given bands. If Mf > Ma
one shall set Ie = Ib.
Mf: cracking moment of the section.
fct,flex: concrete strength under bending tension.
y1: distance from the section centre of gravity to the farthest tensile fibre.
Ma: maximum flector moment applied in the life of the piece, up to the time
when the deflection is calculated, in the corresponding sections,
Ib: gross inertia of the section, in which the reinforcements may be made to
play a role, based on the equivalency factor of steel in concrete:
E
n = S (n = 8 in normal cases)
EC
Ec: concrete modulus of deformation for instant loads at the age that the
deflections are evaluated (see Table 10.4)
If: Inertia moment of the cracked section homogenised to values of concrete,
in relation to the axis that passes through its centre of gravity.

After calculation of the equivalent inertia moments at the ends and in the mid-
point of the span, where the maximum moment of positive bending lies, with a view to
operating with a single inertia for each stretch, Branson proposes that one should
operate with a generalised average inertia that, for continuous stretches of building
construction structures, is given by:

Ie~average = 0.50Ie~span + 0.25(Ie~left end + Ie~right end)

and for overhangs, conservatively:

Ie~average = Ie~overhang starting section

Delayed deflection

Once the instant deflection for a fixed load state P1/m2 has been obtained, the
additional delayed deflection that can take place in the stretch being analysed due to this
load state may be estimated by the comprehensive coefficients method established by
the EHE.

This method consists of calculating the factor in the centre section of the span
being analysed, or in the beginning section if an overhang is involved.

=
1 + 50
where: ': geometric quantity of the compression reinforcement in the reference
useful section.

Waffle slabs 4
Estimation of Deflections in Waffle slabs
 J. Calavera fixes the value and proposes that it should be calculated with an
average value given by:
'm = 0.70' + 0.15('left end + 'right end)
in order to be consistent with the Branson formulations.

is the coefficient that depends on load duration and takes into account the
shrinkage and creep that occur in the pieces. It adopts the following values:
5 or more years: 2
1 year: 1.4
6 months: 1.2
3 months: 1
1 month: 0.7
2 weeks: 0.5

Once the value of has been obtained, the delayed deflection is calculated by
multiplying the instant deflection by this value.

Total deflection

The estimation of the total deflection that may be expected at a given time in the
analysed piece is the sum of the instant deflection and the delayed deflection.

Active deflection

The evaluation of the active deflection, i.e. the deflection that occurs after a
given time and that can affect the elements constructed (usually partition walls) after
this time, can only be performed if a construction program is established, albeit in a
simplified and estimative form, though it can obviously fail, as indeed happens on
numerous occasions.

In addition, it further needs to be established what is constructed first, whether

the flooring or the partitions. Even though the usual procedure is first to build the
partition walls, this is not always done, especially when it is sought to anticipate that
users may relocate such partitions, as quite frequently occurs.

As a result, generally, four load fractions need to be established:

Load caused by the weight of the structure.

Load caused by the partition walls.
Load caused by the flooring.
Load caused by the service overload.

Waffle slabs 5
Estimation of Deflections in Waffle slabs
 It deserves to be noted that, in the calculations of the inertia moments, one needs
to act at every moment with the maximum flector moment applied in each section up to
that time, since those moments are intimately tied to the inertia reductions that occur as
a result of cracking in the sections.

The maximum bending moments are very likely to occur during the construction
process owing to the installation of formwork for successive storeys, as may be
observed below in Chapter 12 on the construction of the structures.

The foregoing means that the maximum moments will be those that are almost
certainly due to the construction process, and as an order of magnitude, 1.9 times the
own weight of the slabs. The values that professor Calavera provides of 2.25 for two
storeys with installed formwork, 2.36 for three such storeys and 2.43 for four, as
multiplying factors of the own slab weight are, in our view and as explained in Chapter
12, excessive.

As a result, for all practical purposes and with a view to not complicating
matters unnecessarily, in building structures it will suffice to calculate the Branson
inertias, introducing the Ma moments that are provided by the usual calculation, since in
general the following is obeyed:

1.9 own weight own weight + permanent overload + service overload

If both values are not appreciably similar, one needs to operate with the larger
value, however (please note!), with the moments resulting in a service situation, i.e.
without increasing them by the factor f.

If the problem can be simplified in the manner indicated, the deflections that are
successively produced can be summed, since one is operating with a constant
conservative Ie, all the calculations resulting absolutely linear.

Thus, the calculation of delayed deflection, assuming that the partitions are
constructed before the flooring is installed, may be performed as follows:

calculation of the instant deflection of the own weight: fipp

calculation of the instant deflection due to the partition walls: fit
calculation of the instant deflection due to the flooring: fis
calculation of the instant deflection due to the service overload: fisu
calculation of the delayed deflection of the slab own weight from
the construction deflection of the partition walls: fdpp
() - (t ct )
=
1 + 50 m
f dpp = f ipp
calculation of the delayed deflection due to the partition loads: fdt
() - (t ct )
1 =
1 + 50 m
f dt = 1 f it
delayed deflection due to the load after construction of the
flooring: fds

Waffle slabs 6
Estimation of Deflections in Waffle slabs
 () - (t cs )
2 =
1 + 50 m
f ds = 2 f ds
delayed deflection of the service overload fraction (persons and
furniture) from the time that the building enters into service,
which is estimated to act in a permanent way (estimation of 500
N/m2 in building construction could be a value to bear in mind): fdsu
() - (t su )
3 =
1 + 50 m
f dsu = 3 f isu

Active deflection: fit + fis + fisu + fdpp + fdt + fds + fdsu

It is reasonable and prudent, in a certain way, to count on the instant deflections

that partitions produce, particularly with the construction processes followed in Spain,
since partitions are constructed in an ascending mode. In those cases in which partitions
are constructed in a descending mode, the instant deflection that they produce in the
delayed deflection calculation can be disregarded.

For rapid estimations and in order to perceive whether the active deflection is far
from, close to, or goes beyond the limits recommended in the EHE (L/400 or 1 cm), the
method that professor Jos L. de Miguel proposes, taken from his work on the analysis
of deflections, may be of great usefulness.

Based on the calculation of total instant deflection, i.e. that: fi = fipp + fit + fis +
fisu, an estimation may be made of the active deflection (factive) by just multiplying fi by
the factor act taken from Table 10.5.
factive = act fi

Deflection in relation to the instant deflection of total load (kc = 1.05)

Flooring before partitions Partitions before flooring
Building work pace Slow Normal Rapid Slow Normal Rapid
town/tfloor/twall/tservice (months) 1/4/9/18 1/3/6/12 1/2/3/6 1/4/9/18 1/3/6/12 1/2/3/6
Active deflection
qtct own+floor+wall+service Coefficient act *
(kp/m2)
580 200+080+100+200 0.76 0.84 0.94 1.01 1.05 1.15
650 250+100+100+200 0.75 0.83 0.93 1.01 1.05 1.16
700 280+120+100+200 0.74 0.82 0.93 1.02 1.07 1.17
720 300+120+100+200 0.73 0.82 0.93 1.02 1.06 1.18
800 300+150+050+300 0.77 0.84 0.94 1.05 1.09 1.19
900 300+150+050+400 0.72 0.86 0.94 1.04 1.08 1.17
950 300+150+100+300 0.77 0.84 0.94 1.02 1.06 1.16
1000 300+150+100+450 0.80 0.86 0.95 1.03 1.07 1.15
1100 400+150+100+450 0.78 0.85 0.95 1.02 1.05 1.14
Detectable cumulative deflection Coefficient acm
(except instant deflection of own weight) 1.20 1.40 1.50 1.20 1.40 1.50
* Column recommended by F. Regalado.

Table 10.5. Coefficients for estimating active deflection starting with instant deflection (J. L. de Miguel)

Waffle slabs 7
Estimation of Deflections in Waffle slabs
 Thus, for example, if the calculated instant deflection is 5 mm and the building
work pace is normal, the partition walls being constructed before the flooring, for a total
load of 8 kN/m2, one might expect an active deflection of the order of:

factive = 1.095 = 5.45 mm

Since this deflection is very far from the tolerated 10 mm, no matter how large
the error, it would not be necessary to perform additional calculations.

However, if the obtained active deflection were very close to 10 mm, whether
above or below, it would be desirable to perform the calculations established for its
evaluation, in order to able to verify it.

Although the values that the method proposed by J. Luis de Miguel provides for
act are somewhat low, the method is particularly interesting for the estimation of the
deflections that can be obtained by the CYPECAD calculation software (version
2000.1). Once the structure has been calculated, this program allows the vertical
displacements at any point of the slab to be determined, for each of the hypotheses that
are analysed.

Fig. 10.13. Schematic drawing to evaluate the deflections by the model used
in the CYPECAD software (version 2000.1).

Once the box has been fixed where the deflection is going to be calculated by
means of a zoom, the program is asked to display the calculation mesh used and the
desired point (C.R.) is chosen, which usually lies at the mid-point of a diagonal
alignment between columns, for example of AB; the program is then asked to exhibit all
the displacements that this point has undergone. Summing all the vertical displacements
gives the gross displacement that the point considered (C.R.) has undergone.
CR = pp + sp + su
pp: own weight; sp: permanent overload; su: service overload

Doing the same with a representative point of the columns yields A and B.

The estimation of a sufficiently precise instant elastic deflection, for point

C.R., is given by:

Waffle slabs 8
Estimation of Deflections in Waffle slabs
 A + B
= CR -
2
f iCR = i 1.15 i 1.60
i being an amplifying factor that depends on the type of slab analysed and the degree of
cracking that takes place in the construction process.

Applying Table 10.5 allows an approximate evaluation of the active deflection

to be obtained.
fact in CR = actfiCR

However, it may be noted once again that the discretisation and stiffnesses
considered in the calculation model used by CYPECAD, designed fundamentally to
obtain the most constructive possible precise stresses and reinforcements in the slabs,
provide (with their linear elastic analysis) vertical displacements in the slabs that require
a certain interpretation and processing in order to be reliable tools: we are referring to
the CR values.

If the decks are mass concrete slabs, the displacements that the software
provides, taking into account the singularity noted in Fig. 10.13, allow them to be
converted very rapidly to deflections with notable precision, as we were able to
demonstrate in Chapter 6, verifying the outcomes.

It should not be forgotten that the displacements of the nodes in a spatial

analysis are intimately related to each other, and the deflections represent differential
displacements relative to the columns, while these in turn, depending on the number of
storeys involved, also undergo shortening to a greater or lesser degree, though this may
be disregarded for the ordinary cases of housing.

The elastic deflections that are thus obtained from CYPECAD in the mass
concrete slabs are correct and it would suffice to multiply them by a small factor of the
order of i = 1.15 to i = 1.25 to allow them to be considered as sufficiently precise
instant deflections, bearing in mind the stiffness losses that can occur during their
construction process. After they have been multiplied by this factor, it would suffice to
keep in mind what has been set out previously on delayed deflection, following the
comprehensive coefficients method of the EHE or the simplified process of Table 10.5
by J. L. de Miguel in order to estimate the design active deflection in mass concrete
slabs.

The problem becomes somewhat more complicated when one works with waffle
slabs, in which the constant stiffnesses that CYPECAD uses, for such slabs, lead to
smaller elastic vertical deformations than the actual strains and that, therefore, they
should be treated with a somewhat larger i factor than the one considered previously
for mass concrete slabs.

If only the questions relative to the stiffnesses of the elements of the discretised
slab used in the CYPECAD model were to be taken into account, it would suffice to
consider an amplifying factor of i = 1.30 for the values that the software yields, and
the elastic outcomes would be sufficiently good and reliable; however, since there are
also other issues of a certain importance, such as the stiffness losses that occur during

Waffle slabs 9
Estimation of Deflections in Waffle slabs
the construction process as a result of cracking, etc., this factor needs to be somewhat
larger.

With a view to estimating a factor (in the waffle slabs) in the most precise
possible way, we have used the PhD thesis of Luis Garca Dutari and have compared
the outcomes of his model with ours, in a series of cases.

The L. G. Dutari model is based on finite elements and takes into account
cracking, creep, and shrinkage, as well as the effect that the construction process has on
deflections, cracking the sections with the overloads that occur during that process.

This model has been used to calculate three types of buildings with three spans
by three spans, and bearing distances according to the X-axis of 6, 7.50, and 9 metres,
and according to the Y-axis of 6 metres. The columns are 3 metres tall and perfect
embedding is assumed at the opposite end to the slab.

The same buildings with three storeys were calculated by CYPECAD, though
without any type of simplification owing to the symmetries, and considering the
intermediate slab as a comparative reference.

The respective edges are 20+5, 25+5, and 30+5.

Data of the analysed buildings

(H-25 and B-400-S)
P.P.
Spans Edge
kN/m2
6x6 20+5 3.72
6x7.5 25+5 4.44
6x9 30+5 5.23

S.P. Columns
S.U.
kN/m2 H=3m
2 2 45x45
2 2 45x55
2 2 45x65
Table 10.6

Fig. 10.14. Partial outcomes provided directly by CYPECAD for

the own weight hypothesis in the 6 x 7.50 m model.

Waffle slabs 10
Estimation of Deflections in Waffle slabs
 Table 10.7 presents the results of the analyses and calculations made with the
CYPECAD software and the L. G. Dutari models. In general, it may be stated that the
CYPECAD software provides total consistency in its results, whereas the finite element
models and the simplified discretisation used by Dutari fail to establish the symmetries
in the structure and display certain inconsistencies in some outcomes.

Values produced by the finite element model of J.L. Garca Dutari.

Construction pace / rapid and slow

Values of provided by
Instant deflection Total deflection Active deflection
CYPECAD (mm)
(mm) (mm) (mm)
(See Fig. 10.14)

Type R.E. R.M.X. R.M.Y. R.C. R.E. R.M.X. R.M.Y. R.C. R.E. R.M.X. R.M.Y. R.C. R.E. R.M.X. R.M.Y. R.C.
6.66 6.66 5.83 5.88 17.08 17.00 15.42 14.71 8.33 10.00 9.17 8.53
6x6 4.50 4.00 3.90 3.35
7.08 6.47 6.33 6.47 16.67 16.76 15.67 14.12 8.75 8.53 8.33 7.35
7.90 8.33 7.92 7.06 19.17 20.67 18.33 17.06 10.00 12.00 10 8.24
7.5x6 4.75 4.00 4.40 3.60
7.08 7.06 7.00 5.88 16.67 17.65 17.00 14.71 9.17 9.12 8.67 7.06
12.50 11.00 10.42 8.82 25.00 23.33 21.25 17.65 14.17 13.00 11.25 8.82
9x6 5.40 4.50 5.30 4.30
10.42 10 10 8.24 21.67 20 18.67 16.18 10.42 10 8.67 7.65

Table 10.7

However, the comparison of the outcomes, operating with average values,

allows certain practical values to be deduced for the factor, which, on multiplying
them by the results of the vertical deformations that the CYPECAD software, version
2000.1, provides for waffle slabs, enable the instant, total, and active deflections to be
estimated with reasonably good precision.

However, it should be noted that the values of are very likely to be somewhat
conservative and, therefore, the deduced deflections are larger than the actual ones,
because the method used by Dutari cracks the slabs more than they actually do, when
they are excessively overloaded during the construction process, as a result of issues
relating to successive installations of storey formwork, while the values that can be
deduced from the application of the J.L. de Miguels simplified criterion more closely
match reality.

Operating summary:

: Vertical displacement of a point in the waffle slab mesh calculated by the

CYPECAD software.

Deflection =
- Instant deflection i = 1.60
- Maximum long term deflection m = 4.00
- Active deflection a = 2.20

An example may clarify the operating process to be followed: Let there be a 6x6
waffle slab with 20+5 edge, with dead loads of 2 kN/m2 and service overload also of 2
kN/m2, in which the deflection in a corner span is to be calculated.

Waffle slabs 11
Estimation of Deflections in Waffle slabs
 Using the CYPECAD software to calculate the building, let us take the second
storey slab and check out the vertical displacements of the two hypotheses.
Own weight 3.5026 mm
Overload 1.0258 mm
Total 4.52284 mm

Since the column shortening in a three-storey building is negligible, this leaves

us with an initial deformation of = 4.5 mm.

Owing to the discretisation performed and to the possible cracking of the slab,
the real instant deflection that may occur in the corner box is:
Total instant deflection = i = 1.6 4.5 = 7.2 mm

Following Table 10.5 of J. L. de Miguel, the active deflection that is to be

expected in the box mentioned is:
Active deflection (J. L. de Miguel) = Fi act = 7.2 1.18 = 8.5 mm

And if we directly apply the corresponding b factor:

Active deflection (Dutari) = i = 2.20 4.5 = 9.9 mm

And the maximum long term deflection

Maximum deflection = m = 4 4.5 = 18 mm

Final comment

We recognise and doubt that, in order to determine the deflections in the waffle
slabs, the above will provide relatively precise values; however, for simple building
construction project designs, and against what is currently occurring, namely that no
estimation at all is being made of waffle slab deformations, everything being left to
appropriate selection of the edges and the experience of the designer, we can
congratulate ourselves on having two instruments that allow us approximately to resolve
the problem, albeit just that: approximately.

If the deflection is evaluated by the virtual gantries method, given the extremely
conservative character of the outcomes, these may be made more precise by multiplying
them by 0.5 or 0.6.

According to Garca Dutari and J. Calavera, a more precise calculation of the

deflections by finite elements, taking into account shrinkage and creep, leads to
deflection values between 30 and 60% below those obtained by the virtual gantries
method.

Waffle slabs 12
Estimation of Deflections in Waffle slabs