Determination of Elastic Moments in Flat-plate and
Lift-slab Structures by the Moir Method
Test results found to be in close agreement with
theoretical solutions based on complex variable theory
by K. K. Gupta and R. C. Vaughan
ABSTRACT--The paper presents details of an experimental
investigation carried out to determine deflections and
bending moments in continuous flat-plate and lift-slab
structures under various loading combinations, using the
moir~ method. A suitable computational method was
adopted to compute accurately deflections and moments
from the moird photographs, which thus replaced the
usual graphical procedure.
List of Symbols
{a} = vector of coefficients of least-squares poly-
nominal curve fitting the experimental points
a,b,c,
d , e , f = blockout-hole dimensions in model collars
cl,c2 = column-side dimensions
col,Co~ = collar-side dimensions
D = plate rigidity
{F} = vector of y-coordinates of polynomial curve
K ~ , K ~ = bending-moment factors in x and y directions
l~,12, = slab-panel dimensions
13,14
Mx,M~ = bending moments in x and y directions
M ~ = twisting moment
M r , M o = radial and tangential bending moments
# = Poisson's ratio
n = number of experimental points connected by
polynomial curve
P ~ , P ~ , P 3 = points on the plate surface
q = uniformly distributed load acting on the plate
surface
r = degree of least-squares polynomial curve
w = deflection of plate surface
[X] = matrix of order n • r leading from normal
equations
x , y = Cartesian coordinates of points on plate sur-
face
Introduction
T h e m o i r ~ t e c h n i q u e is a n e s t a b l i s h e d e x p e r i m e n t a l
m e t h o d for m e a s u r i n g s t r a i n s in c e r t a i n t y p e s o f
s t r u c t u r e s . T h e m e t h o d , w h i c h is d u e t o L i g t e n -
berg, 1 h a s b e e n c o n v e n i e n t l y u s e d b y s e v e r a l
a u t h o r s 2, 3 in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e s o l u t i o n o f v a r i o u s
plate problems.
E x t e n s i v e t e s t s were r e c e n t l y c a r r i e d o u t o n
models representing typical continuous flat-plate
and lift-slab structures using a moir6 apparatus,
and a comprehensive range of results are thus
available. 4 Further, some of the test results were
compared with theoretical solutions based on the
K . K . Gupta is associated with Mathematics Division, National Physical
Laboratory, Teddington, Middlesex; and R. C. Vaughan is associated with
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Surrey, England.
Paper was presented at 1967 S E S A Annual Meeting held in Chicago, Ill.,
on October 31-November 3.
188 I April 1968
c o m p l e x v a r i a b l e t h e o r y a n d were f o u n d in close
a g r e e m e n t . 4,
A l l t h e m o d e l s w e r e m a d e f r o m 1A-in. b l a c k
Perspex sheets having a Poisson's ratio value of
about one-third, the slabs being rigidly connected
to the columns. In the case of lift-slab models, the
l i f t i n g c o l l a r s were r e p r e s e n t e d b y P e r s p e x c o l l a r s o f
a p p r o p r i a t e r e l a t i v e b e n d i n g r i g i d i t y w h i c h were
also r i g i d l y a t t a c h e d t o t h e c o l u m n s . T h e m o d e l s
r e p r e s e n t t y p i c a l p r o t o t y p e c o n c r e t e floors, w h i c h
were a s s u m e d to be r i g i d l y c o n n e c t e d t o c o l u m n s
a b o v e a n d below, t h e o t h e r e n d s o f w h i c h were
assumed to be encastre. The model dimensions
were c a l c u l a t e d f r o m t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f d i m e n -
s i o n a l s i m i l a r i t y , in w h i c h t h e p r o t o t y p e c o l u m n
r i g i d i t i e s w e r e s i m u l a t e d in t h e m o d e l s b y P e r s p e x
c o l u m n s fixed on t h e r e v e r s e side o f t h e r e f l e c t i v e
model. Each model representing either a flat slab
or a lift slab was supported on four rows of columns
in e i t h e r d i r e c t i o n , w i t h t h e s l a b s c a n t i l e v e r i n g o u t
at the outer edge by a definite proportion, such that,
under uniform loading, the slopes along the column
a n d p a n e l c e n t e r lines c o u l d b e a s s u m e d t o b e zero.
Thus, it was expected that at least the interior span
should behave similarly to a typical interior panel
of an infinite slab loaded uniformly and supported
on uniformly spaced columns.
A l t o g e t h e r six m o d e l s w e r e t e s t e d , t w o r e p r e s e n t -
ing typical flat plates and others, lift slabs. The
various loading combinations to which the models
were s u b j e c t e d d u r i n g t e s t i n g a r e as follows:
(a) Uniform loading
(b) Alternate spans loaded
(c) Single spans loaded
(d) Two adjacent spans loaded
(e) External panels loaded
(f) Chess-board loading
The loads were applied from the column sides to
the vertically mounted models through a system of
p e r f e c t l y a d j u s t e d h o r i z o n t a l levers, a n d s p r e a d
u n i f o r m l y t h r o u g h p i e c e s o f 1/2-in. t i m b e r a n d 1-in.-
t h i c k f o a m - r u b b e r p a d s . T e s t s were m a d e w i t h
r u l i n g s p a r a l l e l t o t h e x a n d y axes, a n d a l s o w i t h
r u l i n g s in t h e d i a g o n a l d i r e c t i o n s t o a s s e s s s t r e s s
concentrations at column and collar corners.
S i n c e P e r s p e x is s u b j e c t t o m e c h a n i c a l creep, 6 a
 I
I_
I-
li
, I--iV-<.,
Colu . 4-Ilpl
~ .J__~__\ Collar
I!
i _ _ _ P~,~
definite loading r o u t i n e was m a i n t a i n e d for all
model tests, including the r i g i d i t y c a l i b r a t i o n .
Thus, after a p p l y i n g full load, a p e r i o d of 4 rain
elapsed before the p h o t o g r a p h i c p l a t e was exposed
for 2 min, a n d r e m o v a l of load followed b y a n o t h e r
4 m i n before the next exposure. T e m p e r a t u r e read-
ings were t a k e n r e g u l a r l y during t h e tests a n d t h e
value of the plate r i g i d i t y D, modified accordingly.
T h e P e r s p e x sheets used for t h e models were
selected for their n e a r l y uniform thickness; v a r i a -
tion of t h i c k n e s s was c o m p e n s a t e d for b y measure-
m e n t a t close i n t e r v a l s and the b e n d i n g m o m e n t s
c o m p u t e d using t h e local thickness.
T h e moird a p p a r a t u s used for the t e s t s was similar
to t h a t a d o p t e d b y L i g t e n b e r g 1 a n d was fitted w i t h
a screen h a v i n g t h e shape of a s t r a i g h t circular
cylinder, with a l t e r n a t e black a n d white rulings
of w i d t h 2.268 mm. T h e camera, m o u n t e d a t t h e
center of t h e screen was of o r d i n a r y Zeiss I k o n
M a x i m a r m a k e with a T e s s a r 1:4.5, a n d F = 5.3
in. objective, using 9 cm • 12 cm G e v a e r t
G r a p h i c O r t h o 05 p h o t o g r a p h i c p l a t e s which were
found to produce good c o n t r a s t in t h e moird-fringe
p h o t o g r a p h s . To ensure uniform lighting of t h e
screen, which is v i t a l for o b t a i n i n g clear p h o t o -
graphs, a special lighting s y s t e m was a d o p t e d .
TABLE 1--DESCRIPTION OF M O D E L S
Series 1 S q u a r e f l a t s l a b rigidly c o n n e c t e d to s q u a r e -
shaped columns. Ii = 12 = 6.25 in.; 13 = 14 = 2.55 in.;
c~ = c2 = 0.625 in.
Series 2 R e c t a n g u l a r f l a t slab rigidly c o n n e c t e d t o rec-
tangular-shaped columns. I1 = 6 in.; I= = 5 in.; I. = 2.45
in.; 14----2.04in.; c 1 = 0 . 6 i n . ; c2 = 0 . 5 i n . ; ci/11=c2/12 =
0.10.
Series 3 S q u a r e lift s l a b s u p p o r t e d on l i f t i n g collars
rigidly c o n n e c t e d t o s q u a r e c o l u m n s , co~ ~- Co2 ---- 1 in.
O t h e r d i m e n s i o n s as in s e r i e s 1.
--• 13 I=
Fig. 1--Typical model layout
LL. _--_3
i,.%~..i
T h i s consisted of a t r a n s f o r m e r a n d a p a i r of Color-
t r a n " L i n e L i t e s " , in which t h e light i n t e n s i t y
could be v a r i e d b y changing t h e v o l t a g e with t h e
aid of t h e t r a n s f o r m e r . Also an exposure m e t e r
was utilized to check the u n i f o r m i t y of lighting of
t h e screen 9
F u r t h e r details of the moir6 a p p a r a t u s , t h e
lighting s y s t e m a n d the t e s t i n g p r o c e d u r e a d o p t e d
for t h e t e s t s are given in Ref. 4.
Descriptions of Tests
T e s t s were carried out on six m o d e l s r e p r e s e n t -
ing flat a n d lift slabs, the t y p i c a l l a y o u t of which
are given in Figs. 1 a n d 2. D e t a i l s of t h e m o d e l s
are given in T a b l e 1 a n d such t e s t r e s u l t s are t h u s
available. 4
T h e P e r s p e x collars r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e collars in lift
slabs were a s s u m e d to h a v e t h e same b e n d i n g rigid-
i t y as the slabs and, c o n s e q u e n t l y , t h e i r t h i c k n e s s e s
were chosen to be t h e same as t h a t of t h e slabs.
T e s t s were also m a d e on lift slabs w i t h a n d w i t h o u t
b l o c k o u t holes, to assess the effects of such open-
ings. F i g u r e 2 shows details of a t y p i c a l b l o c k o u t
hole for a m o d e l w i t h c o r r e s p o n d i n g p r o t o t y p e
dimensions in p a r e n t h e s i s . T h e figure also shows
d e t a i l of a l i f t - s l a b model c o n n e c t i o n to t h e columns.
Series 4 R e c t a n g u l a r lift slab with r e c t a n g u l a r c o l l a r s a n d
c o l u m n s , c o l = 0.96 in.; co2 = 0.80 in.
O t h e r d i m e n s i o n s as in s e r i e s 2.
Series 5 S q u a r e lift s l a b d e s i g n e d f o r l o n g - s p a n s l a b s .
11=12=8.55in.; 13=14=3.49in.; ci=c2=0.57in.; co1=
c~2 = 0.855 in.
Series 6 R e c t a n g u l a r lift slab. I1 ---- 8.55 in.; I= = 7.125 in.;
13 = 3.49 in.; 14 = 2.908 in.; cl = 0.57 in.; c2 = 0.475 in.;
c o l = 0.855 in.; co2 = 0.7125 in 9
Experimental Mechanics [ 189
 Column opening
Co,or J " ~ Column
SectionalElevotio~
c~
~"
Slab~ i
\ ~'~olumn
Blockout hole S
Half Plon
Fig. 2--Typical detail at a lift-slab model joint
T o determine deflections and m o m e n t s along a
section of the slab, it is necessary to locate ac-
curately the fringe intersections with t h a t section
and the following procedure was adopted. A plan
of the model with the positions of the sections shown
was drawn to a suitable scale on graph tracing paper
and placed on the enlarger base plate. T h e plate
negative was inserted in the enlarger and the en-
largement adjusted to coincide with the drawing:
The intersections of the fringes with the required
section lines were m a r k e d by pencil and their
distances measured. This m e t h o d appeared to be
quick and accurate. On the other hand, if a graph-
ical procedure is adopted for drawing the slope
curves, this can be done directly from the marked
tracing paper.
D e t e r m i n a t i o n of Curvatures,
Deflections and Bending M o m e n t s
When the n u m b e r of points at which the bending
m o m e n t s are to be determined are many, the usual
graphical procedure tends to be tedious and also
great care is necessary to a t t a i n reasonable accuracy.
Since it was observed that, in m o s t of the cases, the
slope curves appear to be regular and s m o o t h in
pattern, it was decided to fit a polynomial curve
t h r o u g h the experimental points along a n y sec-
tion.
An experimental observation consists of n num-
bers of pairs of observed values (x,y~) and the curve
m a y be expressed b y a polynomial of r t h degree
y = ao + alx + a2x 2 --h . . .
The constants a0 to ar can be conveniently deter-
mined b y the m e t h o d of least squares from the
following matrix relations
{a} = ([X]T[X]) -1 [X]r{F}
where [X] is the usual matrix of order (r + 1, n),
incorporating the x values and {F } being the vector
which includes the y values.
190 [ A p r i l 1968
a-O.,8~S" C5")
b =o.,4" (4")
:o.14" (4")
d=0.104"(3"1
r (l~,~)
f :o.,o4" (3")
Lifting collar I'xl"
(~x2r
Fig. 3--Full loading on Model 2; moir~ fringes
A Sirius computer program was developed for
forming the least-squares polynomial curves to fit
t h r o u g h the experimental observed points. Thus, it
was only necessary to feed in the distance of the
intersection of the fringes with the particular sec-
tion from a chosen origin. Next, the program
automatically computes the curvatures at the re-
quired points. Also, one integration along the
section determines the relative deflection.
A useful check on the accuracy of the moir6
technique combined with the c o m p u t e r program is
afforded b y a comparison of deflections at three
chosen points, PI, P~ and P3 on the model (Series 2),
when reached b y different routes (Fig. 1), the per-
centage difference in the values obtained being 2.4,
1.7 and 3.5, respectively. 4
I t was observed that, for laterally loaded plates,
the values of curvatures and deflections along any
section, c o m p u t e d numerically, were remarkably
constant for a wide range of the degree of poly-
nomials. On the other hand, the values of the
third and f o u r t h derivatives of deflection tended to
be erroneous and unreliable.
A t any point in a transversely loaded elastic plate,
the m o m e n t s are given by the following well-
k n o w n relations:
M~ = -D(~2w/~x 2 + ~ ~w/by~);
M y = - - D ( b 2 w / b y ~ + ; t ~ 2 w / / b x 2)
Mzy = My~ = - D(1 - t , ) ( b ~ w / b x b y ) (3)
where ~ is the Poisson's ratio.
A second c o m p u t e r programs was developed to
-h arX r (1) find the bending m o m e n t s and the absolute value of
deflection, at any point of the plate, from the results
of the first program, the results being computed on
the basis of the local plate thickness. B o t h of the
computer programs described above are available
(2)
for further use.
Under symmetrical loading conditions, only one-
quarter of the interior panel was considered. Fur-
ther, under uniform loading, the b o u n d a r y condi-
Fig. 4--Strip loading on Model 2; moir~ fringes
Fig. 5--Strip loading on Model 2; moir~ fringes
tions of the interior panel are almost homogeneous
and independent of ~. Thus, in deriving the proto-
type moments, the curvature and rigidity values of
the Perspex models were used along with the
Poisson's ratio value of the prototype, which was
assumed to be of concrete with ~ = 0.20.
Experimental Results
Tests were performed for various loading com-
binations and with screen rulings in the horizontal,
vertical and diagonal directions.
Figures 3 to 7 show moirg-fringe photographs for
Series 2 with various loadings, and Fig. 8 relates to
the lift-slab structure of Series 6. The photo-
Fig. 6--External-panel loading on Model 2; moir6 fringes
Fig. 7--Chess-board loading on Model 2; moir~ fringes
graphs show moir6 fringes under symmetrical load-
ings in about one-quarter of the models. Table 2
affords a comparison of values of bending m o m e n t s
at several points of two dimensionally similar flat
and lift-slab structures represented b y model
Series 2 and 6, respectively.
Conclusions
F r o m the test results and moir6-fringe photo-
graphs presented here, the following general con-
clusions m a y be drawn:
(1) I n concrete structures, e.g., flat-plate or
lift-slab structures, the columns or collars, as the
case m a y be, are monolithically connected to the
slab and the models were built accordingly. Conse-
quently, due to the restraining effect of the columns,
Experimental Mechanics I 191
 TABLE 2--COMPARISON OF BENDING MOMENTS--SERIES 2 AND 6.
Poisson's Ratio = 0.20 K= = M=/ql~ Ku = Mu/ql~

Experimental Bending Moments

~----Rect. C o o r d i n a t e s ~ Series 2- Series 6
Point x/Iz y/h Ks Ky Ks Ky
1 0.2500 0.0000 1.1965 X 10-2 --2.8602X I0-2 1.2753 X 10-2 --2.7128X 10-2
2 0.5000 0.0000 4.3355 X 10-2 --4.3632X 10-~ 4.0006 X 1~= --4.3705X 10-3
3 0.5000 --0.208334 3. 7942 X 10-2 1.1103 X 10-~ 3.5211 X 10-s 6.4122 X 10 s
4 0.5000 --0.4167 3.2316 X 10-2 2.3268 X 10-2 3.0705 X 10-= 2.0771 X 10-2
5 0.2500 --0.4167 1.1884 X 10-~ 2.8908 X 10-2 6.2111 X 10-~ 2.6472 X 10-2
6 0.000 --0.4167 --2.2684 X 10-2 3.7166 X I0-2 --2.2511 X 10-~ 3.5537 X 10-2
7 0.000 --0.2083 --4.8676 X 10-~ 6.1360 X 10-3 --4.4777 X 10-2 2.2167 X 10-a

of bending of u n i f o r m l y loaded flat-plate structures. 4

T h e complex variable m e t h o d in conjunction with
conformal t r a n s f o r m a t i o n was a d o p t e d for the solu-
tion, and some such c o m p a r e d results are given in
Ref. 5. Further, the test results were c o m p a r e d
with the corresponding British code of practice
r e c o m m e n d e d values, and it m a y be observed 4 t h a t
the C.P. 114 considerably overestimates the values
of negative m o m e n t s Mz and M u along the column
strips. On the o t h e r hand, the m o m e n t s in the
middle strips were found to be in close agreement
with the code values.
Further, for various loading combinations, the
following conclusions m a y be d r a w n f r o m the result-
ing moir6 p h o t o g r a p h s :
(1) M a x i m u m positive m o m e n t s b o t h in the
middle and column strips a p p e a r in strip loading,
e.g., when alternate panel strips are loaded.
(2) M a x i m u m negative m o m e n t s in the column
strips occur when two adjacent panels are loaded.
Fig. 8--Full loading on Model 6. (3) T h e negative m o m e n t s between the columns
(Screen rulings at 129 ~ -48' to X-axis) under full loading differ only b y a small a m o u n t
f r o m the extreme values.
(4) Chessboard loading produces lower bending
the positive m o m e n t s in the central p a r t of the panel m o m e n t s at all i m p o r t a n t points t h a n the extreme
are found to be considerably reduced. values produced b y strip or full loading.
(2) A t the same time, a considerable stress
concentration is observed at the corners of the Acknowledgments
supports, i.e., collar or column. Further, at such This research was carried out a t B a t t e r s e a College
corners, the radial m o m e n t s M, were found to be of Technology, n o w the University of Surrey.
considerably larger t h a n the corresponding tan- T h e authors wish to t h a n k Miss E. W. Wines of
gential m o m e n t Mo, which is c o n t r a r y to the usual M / s . Rendel, P a l m e r & T r i t t o n for her sincere help
findings. I n fact, the two m o m e n t s were found to in the p r e p a r a t i o n of this article.
be a p p r o x i m a t e l y related b y the relation Mo =
t~. Mr. References
(3) I n a lift slab, the collar v e r y nearly replaces 1. Ligtenburg, F . K . , "The Moirg Method, a New Experimental Method
for the Determination of Moments in Small Slab Models," Froc. Soc. Exp.
the column capital in a flat slab which is demon- Stress Anal., X I I (2), 83-98 (1954).
s t r a t e d b y its behavior under loading (Table 2) 2. Vreedenberg, C. G. g., and Van Wijngaarden, H., "New Progress in
Our Knowledge About the Moment Distribution in Flat Slabs by Means of
which is v e r y similar to a corresponding flat-plate the Moird Method," Prov. Soc. Exp. Stress Anal., X I I (2), 99-114 (1954).
3. Bradley, W. A., "The Determination of Moments and Deflections in
structure. Plates by the Moird Method and by Finite Differences with Application to
(4) T h e effect of the blockout hole is extremely the Square Clamped Plate with Square Cut Outs," Doctoral thesis, University
of Michigan, 1956. '
localized in character and does not affect the general 4. Gupta, K . K., "Distribution of Elastic Moments in Flat Slabs with
stress p a t t e r n in the slab. Particular Reference to Lift Slab Structures," Doctoral thesis, London Uni-
versity, J u l y 1965.
(5) T h e experimental results were found to 5. Gupta, K . K., and Vaughan, R. Co, "Bending of Uniformly Loaded
c o m p a r e f a v o r a b l y with the results of a theoretical Column-supported Flat Plates," Jnl. Strain Anal., 2, 109 (1967).
6. "Structural Models in Perspex," Cement and Concrete Association
analysis developed for the solution of the problem Publication D N / 3 0 , 1963.

192 I April 1968