FUNGO, KENNETH E.

CE407 - CE42FA1

How load is transferred from slab to beam?

The load is transferred from slab to beams by distributing the load over the
beam. The slab load (Dead and Live), expressed in units of weight per area, is
converted into weight per length of the beam. The slab should rest on the beam
that carries its weight. The area weight is distributed along the beam by three
methods depending on the reinforcement direction and the geometrical
dimension of the slab.

1. Two-way slab: if the slab is rectangular in shape, and the ratio of its long side /
short side < 2, it is reinforced in two directions such as plate and waffle
concrete slabs. Each direction of reinforcement is supposed to carry and
transfer a portion of the slab load to the adjacent beam. The slab area is
normally cut into trapezoidal and rectangular areas. A line, drawn from each
corner of the rectangle at 45 degree from each edge, will define these
areas. The area segment is divided by its width to obtain the distributed
load of the beam. If the beam is located interior to the slab, the portion of the
slab weight of the other side is calculated in a similar way and its beam load is
added to the previous one.

2. One-way slab: if the slab is rectangular and its longer side to shorter side > 2,
then it is reinforced in one way which is the short direction or as one-way
ribbed concrete slab. The slab load is divided equally between adjacent
beams. For an interior beam, the slab areas of both sides are divided by
the corresponding width to obtain the lineal load of the beam.