FLAT SLABS
A flat slab floor is a reinforced concrete slab supported directly by concrete columns without the
use of intermediary beams.
The slab may be of constant thickness
throughput or in the area of the column it may
be thickened as a drop panel. The column may
also be of constant section or it may be flared
to form a column head.
The drop panels are effective in reducing the shearing stresses where the column is liable to
punch through the slab and they also provide an increased moment of resistance where the
negative moments are greatest.
Advantages of flat slab construction
Simple to construct-cheap
Minimum floor depth, leading to minimum building height (and cladding)
Reduced frame construction time
Maximum service location flexibility
Reduced foundation loading
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Maximum natural light penetration (when edge beams are not used)
Increased fire resistance (no corners to spall) especially when combined with circular
columns
More economical than beam & slab for imposed loads > 5kN/m2
Since there are no clear lines of stiffness, flat slabs deform by dishing around the columns.
Deflection will generally govern slab thickness which should not normally be less than 225mm.
A simplified method of analysis called the ‘equivalent frame method’ may be used to analyse
flat slabs. If the Columns are braced (i.e. the lateral stability is not dependent on the slab-column
connections), the coeffients for moments and shear may be used.
Interior panels of the flat slab are divided into column and middle strips. Moments determined
from a structural analysis or coefficients are distributed between the strips such that the negative
and positive moments resisted by the column and middle strips total 100% in each case.
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Division of moments between strips
SHEAR DESIGN
Shear is the biggest problem for flat slabs. Shear reinforcement within the span is not required,
however column head shear reinforcement is normal. This usually takes the form of large
number of vertical links arrange around the column head, crossing the shear crack.
Punching shear is a type of failure of
reinforced concrete slabs subjected
to high localized forces. In flat slab
structures this occurs at column
supports. The failure is due to shear.
The design value of the punching shear force, VEd will usually be the support reaction at the
ultimate limit state.
Simplified division of moments
Otherwise add a flare
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Punching shear layout
Procedure for determining punching shear capacity
Step 1: Determine the value of β (factor that allows for moment transfer)
Step 2: Determine the value of the design shear stress at the face of the column
( )
where u0 is perimeter of column and .dy and dz are the
effective depth in orthogonal directions.
Step 3: determine the value of . If ,redesign the slab.
Step 4: determine the value of the design shear stress from where ui is the
length of control perimeter.
4
Step 5: Determine concrete punching shear capacity (without shear reinforcement) . If
,punching shear reinforcement is not [Link] design for punching shear
reinforcement
Step 6: Determine the area of punching shear reinforcement per perimeter from:
( ) , sr is the radial spacing of shear reinforcement
Step 7: determine the length of the outer perimeter where shear reinforcement is not required
Step 8: Determine the layout of punching shear reinforcement
