HOW TO DESIGN

CONCRETE STRUCTURES
Flat Slabs

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How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2

7. Flat slabs
Introduction
This should be redrafted as appropriate in a country

Designing to Eurocode 2
This guide covers the analysis and design of concrete flat slabs to Eurocode 21. Eurocode 2 does not contain the derived formulae or specific guidance on determining moments and shear forces. This has arisen because it has been European practice to give principles in the codes and for the detailed application to be presented in other sources such as textbooks. The first guide in this series, How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2: Introduction to Eurocodes2, provides an overview of Eurocodes including terminology. Where NDPs occur in the text in this publication, recommended values in EN 1992 are used and highlighted in yellow. The UK values have been used for NDPs embedded in figures and charts and the relevant NDPs are scheduled separately to assist other users in adapting the figures and charts.(derivations can be found at www.eurocode2.info). A list of symbols related to flat slab design is given at the end of this guide.

Analysis
The following methods may be used: Equivalent frame method Finite element analysis Yield line analysis Grillage analogy The Eurocode gives further advice on the equivalent frame method in Annex I. Once the bending moments and shear forces have been determined, the following guidance can be used for the design of flat slabs.

Design procedure
A procedure for carrying out the detailed design of flat slabs is shown in Table 1. This assumes that the slab thickness has previously been determined during conceptual design. More detailed advice on determining design life, loading, material properties, methods of analysis, minimum concrete cover for durability and bond, and control of crack widths can be found in another guide in this series, How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2: Getting started3.

Fire resistance
Eurocode 2, Part 12: Structural fire design4, gives a choice of advanced, simplified or tabular methods for determining the fire resistance. Using tables is the fastest method for determining the minimum dimensions and cover for flat slabs. There are, however, some restrictions and if these apply further guidance can be obtained from specialist literature. Rather than giving a minimum cover, the tabular method is based on nominal axis distance, a. This is the distance from the centre of the reinforcing bar to the surface of the member.

It is a nominal (not minimum) dimension, so the designer should ensure that a cnom + link + bar/2 The requirements for flat slabs are given in Table 2

Flexure
The design procedure for flexural design is given in Figure 1; this includes derived formulae based on the simplified rectangular stress block from Eurocode 2. Where appropriate Table 3 may be used to determine bending moments for flat slabs.

Whichever method of analysis is used, Cl. 9.4.1 requires the designer to concentrate the reinforcement over the columns. Annex I of the Eurocode gives recommendations for the equivalent frame method on how to apportion the total bending moment across a bay width into column and middle strips to comply with Cl. 9.4.1. Designers using grillage, finite element or yield line methods may also choose to follow the advice in Annex I to meet this requirement. Eurocode 2 offers various methods for determining the stress-strain relationship of concrete. For simplicity the method presented here is the simplified rectangular stress block (see Figure 2). The Eurocode gives recommendations for the design of concrete up to class C90/105. However, for concrete strength greater than class C50/60, the stress block is modified. It is important to note that concrete strength is based on the cylinder strength and not the cube strength (i.e. for class C28/35 the cylinder strength is 28 MPa, whereas the cube strength is 35 MPa).

Deflection
Eurocode 2 has two alternative methods of designing for deflection; either by limiting span-to-depth ratio or by assessing the theoretical deflection using the Expressions given in the Eurocode. The latter is dealt with in detail in another guide in this series, How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2: Deflection calculations5. The span-to-depth ratios should ensure that deflection is limited to span/250 and this is the procedure presented in Figure 3. The span-to-depth ratios are

appropriate where the structure remains propped during construction or until the concrete attains sufficient strength to support the construction loads. It can generally be assumed that early striking of formwork will not significantly affect the deflection after installing the cladding and/or partitions6.

Punching shear
The design value of the punching shear force, VEd, will usually be the support reaction at the ultimate limit state. Standard factors for edge and corner columns that allow for moment transfer () are greater in Eurocode 2. However, can be calculated directly from Expressions (6.38) to (6.46) of the Eurocode to give more efficient designs.

In Eurocode 2 the maximum value of shear at the column face depends on the concrete strength used. The control perimeters for rectangular columns in Eurocode 2 have rounded corners. Where shear reinforcement is required the procedure in Eurocode 2 is simple; the point at which no shear reinforcement is required can be calculated directly and then used to determine the extent of the area over which shear reinforcement is required. It is assumed that the reinforcement will be in a radial arrangement. However, the reinforcement can be laid on a grid provided the spacing rules are followed.

As an alternative to using shear links, proprietary shear stud rails may be used. Eurocode 2 (Figure 6.22) allows them to be laid out in a radial or cruciform pattern and gives spacing requirements for both. Other techniques are available for increasing punching shear resistance and these are covered in a best practice guide. Figure 6
Procedure for determining punching shear capacity

The procedure for determining the punching shear requirements is shown in Figure 6.

Rules for spacing and quantity of reinforcement

Minimum area of reinforcement
The minimum area of longitudinal reinforcement in the main direction is As,min = 0.26 fctm bt d/fyk but not less than 0.0013b d (see Table 6). The minimum area of a link leg for vertical punching shear reinforcement is 1.5Asw,min /(sr.st) 0.08(fck)/fyk. which can be rearranged as Asw,min (sr.st)/F where sr = the spacing of the links in the radial direction st = the spacing of the links in the tangential direction F can be obtained from Table 10

Maximum area of reinforcement

Outside lap locations, the maximum area of tension or compression reinforcement should not exceed As,max = 0.4 Ac

Minimum spacing of reinforcement

The minimum spacing of bars should be the greater of: 1 x Bar diameter Aggregate size plus 5 mm 20 mm

Maximum spacing of main reinforcement

For slabs less than 200 mm thick the following maximum spacing rules apply: For the principal reinforcement: 3h but not more than 400 mm For the secondary reinforcement: 3.5h but not more than 450 mm

The exception is in areas with concentrated loads or areas of maximum moment where the following applies: For the principal reinforcement: 2h but not more than 250 mm For the secondary reinforcement: 3h but not more than 400 mm, where h is the depth of the slab. For slabs 200 mm thick or greater reference should be made to Section 7.3.3 of the Eurocode or How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2: Getting started3.

Spacing of punching shear reinforcement

Where punching shear reinforcement is required the following rules should be observed. It should be provided between the face of the column and kd inside the outer perimeter where shear reinforcement is no longer required. k is 1.5, unless the perimeter at which reinforcement is no longer required is less than 3d from the face of the column. In this case the reinforcement should be placed in the zone 0.3d to 1.5d from the face of the column. There should be at least two perimeters of shear links. The radial spacing of the links should not exceed 0.75d (see Figure 9). The tangential spacing of the links should not exceed 1.5d within 2d of the column face. The tangential spacing of the links should not exceed 2d for any other perimeter. The distance between the face of the column and the nearest shear reinforcement should be less than 0.5d.

Note

References
1 2 3 4 5 6 EN 199211, Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures General rules and rules for buildings. NARAYANAN, R S & BROOKER, O. How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2: Introduction to Eurocodes. The Concrete Centre, 2005. BROOKER, O. How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2: Getting started. The Concrete Centre, 2005. EN 199212, Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures. General rules structural fire design. WEBSTER, R & BROOKER, O. How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2: Deflection calculations. The Concrete Centre, 2006. PALLETT, P. Guide to flat slab formwork and falsework. Construct, 2003.

Acknowledgements
This guide was originally published by BCA and The Concrete Centre in the UK. The authors of the original publication were R Moss BSc, PhD, DIC, CEng, MICE, MIStructE and O Brooker BEng, CEng, MICE, MIStructE

Europeanised versions of Concise EC2 and How To Leaflets Convention used in the text
1. Nationally determined parameters that occur in the text have been highlighted yellow 2. Text is highlighted in pink indicates that some action is required on the part of the country adapting the documents for its use