VOIDED SLAB CONSTRUCTION USING U-BOOT BETON

ABSTRACT

Based on the increasing demands for the implementation and use of buildings is also
necessary to apply modern technological processes, which aim at effective use of building
materials. One of them is the lightening of the building structures. Voided slab is a method of
virtually eliminating all inactive concrete from the middle of a floor slab, which is not
performing any structural function, thereby dramatically reducing structural dead weight.
These slabs provide a number of benefits in design and layout of vertical supports. Thus it
improves the business efficiency, quality, customer satisfaction, environmental performance
and sustainability. The aim of this paper is to discuss about the benefits of U-Boot Beton in
voided slab construction.
 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

The construction sector is responsible for resource depletion and environmental damage. It is
recognized for its high-energy consumption, global greenhouse gas emissions, solid waste
generation and pollution at all levels. The recordings shows that 40% of natural resources
such as stone, sand, wood, water etc. are explored for the constructional activities. The
ever-increasing population and the growth in construction sector over the past decades had
led to depletion of natural resource and caused an irrevocable ecological imbalance.

The ecological imbalance and depleting resources created a necessity for sustainable
development in this sector. For achieving sustainable development a minimalist approaches
in Architecture and Engineering was adopted. Thus, an effective way for this was attained by
Lightweight construction such as voided slabs.

For decades, several attempts have been made to create biaxial slabs with hollow cavities
(Voided slabs) in order to reduce the weight. Most attempts have consisted of laying blocks
of a less heavy material like expanded polystyrene between the bottom and top
reinforcement, while other types included waffle slabs and grid slabs. Several methods have
been introduced during the last decades, but with very limited success, due to major problems
with shear capacity and fire resistance as well as impractical execution.

In 2001 an Italian engineer, Roberto Il Grande, developed and patented a new system of void
formers, in order to decrease the transportation costs (and CO2 production) called U-Boot
Beton. U-Boot Beton is a recycled polypropylene formwork that was designed to create two-
way voided slabs and rafts. The dimensions of U-Boot Beton elements are 520 x 520 mm and
are produced with different heights from 100 to 280 mm (single elements) and from 200 to
560 mm (double element). The use of U-Boot Beton formwork makes it possible to create
mushroom pillars, with the possibility to have the mushroom in the thickness of the slab. U-
Boot Beton creates a grid of orthogonal ‘‘I” beams, so the calculation of the reinforcement
can be effected by any static engineer according to Euro code, British Standards or any local
standard.

U-Boot Beton does not use spherical void formers as the Cobiax, Bubble Deck system
instead uses truncated-pyramid shaped void formers. The void formers create “I” shaped
beams in the slab. The construction of U-Boot Beton is similar to the construction of Cobiax
system as it is a cast in-situ construction. The biggest advantage of U-Boot Beton is that it is
stackable. A truck of U- boot means approximately 5000 m2 of slab, once void formers are
laid down at building site. U-Boot Beton is used to create slabs with large span or that are
able to support large loads without beams.

The traditional floor slabs normally consists of mono directional beams which discharge
stresses to main beams, from these to the pillars, and finally to foundations. The floor
constructed with U-Boot Beton is monolithically casted and it is able to bi-directionally
transmits loads to the foundation.

The most significant economic, practical and operational advantages provided with U-Boot
Beton for the entire structure include less use of reinforcement in slabs, columns and
foundation up to a total of 15%, less concrete usage, reduced building weight, the
architectural freedom of the structure and possibility of slimmer columns and foundations and
thus lower cost related to excavation for foundations.
 CHAPTER 2
CONCEPT OF U-BOOT SLABS