4.1.

REINFORCED CONCRETE SLABS

4.1.1 Introduction
Slabs are plate like elements forming floors and roofs in buildings
and decks of bridges. Slabs normally carry uniform distributed
load, and other loads such as:
– Line load due to partitions converted to equivalent uniform
distributed loads
– Concentrated loads due to columns or wheel loads.
4.1.2. Classification
(i) According to method of support, slabs are defined as:
• One-way slab – spanning between beams or walls
• Two-way slab – spanning between beams or walls
• Flat slabs carried on columns and edge beams or wall with
no interior beams.
4.1. REINFORCED CONCRETE SLABS
4.1.2 Classification Cont’d..
(ii) Otherwise
• Solid slabs of uniform thickness (includes flat slabs)
• Ribbed slabs with ribs in one or two directions
• Sloping slabs – stairs, ramps
(iii) According to end/support conditions
• Simply supported one panel slab where the corners can
be lifted up from the supports
• One panel slab held down on four sides by integral
edge beams (the stiffness of the edge beam affects the
design)
• Continuous slabs: with edges continuous over supports
• Slabs with one or two or three continuous edges over
supports;
• the discontinuous edge may be simply supported or held
by integral edge beams.
 𝒍𝒚
4.2. ONE WAY SOLID SLAB [
𝒍𝒙
>𝟐]
4.2.1 Introduction
In long narrow slabs where the length is greater than twice the
breadth, the slab action is effectively one-way. In such a case the
slab should be designed as a beam (either simply supported or
continuous depending on the prevailing conditions).

4.2.2 Design of One-way Spanning Slab

The slab is designed as consisting of a series of beam of 1m
breadth.
DETAILING
Main reinforcements provided in the direction of span and
secondary or distribution steel is required in the transverse
direction.
Calculation of the main steel is the same as for rectangular beams.
Provide minimum transverse steel as distribution bars
4.3. DESIGN OF ONE-WAY SPANNING SOLID SLAB
The general procedure to be adopted for slab design is as follows:
a) Determine a suitable depth of slab.
b) Calculate main and secondary reinforcement areas.
c) Check critical shear stresses.
d) Check detailing requirements.
4.3.1: Depth of slab (clause 3.5.7, BS 8110)
Solid slabs are designed as if they consist of a series of beams of l
metre width. The effective span of the slab is taken as the smaller
of:
a) the distance between centres of bearings, A, or
b) the clear distance between supports, D, plus the effective
depth, d, of the slab
4.3. DESIGN OF ONE-WAY SPANNING SOLID SLAB
The deflection requirements for sto the same as those for beams, will
often control the depth of slab needed. The minimum effective depth of
slab, dmin, can be calculated using:
𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑛
𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛 =
𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑐 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 𝑥 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟

Basic span/Effective Depth Ratio [Table 3.9 BS 8110]

Therefore, to make a first estimate of the effective depth,dmin, of the slab,

a value of (say) 1.4 is assumed for the modification factor.
4.3. DESIGN OF ONE-WAY SPANNING SOLID SLAB
4.3.2 Steel areas (clause 3.5.4, BS 8110)
The overall depth of slab, h, can be calculated as:
𝜙
ℎ = 𝑑 + + 𝐶𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟
2
The self-weight of the slab together with the dead and live loads
are used to calculate the design moment, M.

The Ultimate Moment of resistance, Mu , is calculated using equation

below:

If Mu ≥ M, which is the usual condition for slabs, compression

reinforcement will not be required and the area of tensile
reinforcement, As, is determined using equation:
4.3. DESIGN OF ONE-WAY SPANNING SOLID SLAB
4.3.2 Steel areas (clause 3.5.4, BS 8110) Cont’d...
Secondary or distribution steel is required in the transverse
direction, and this is usually based on the minimum percentages of
reinforcement (As, min) given in Table 3.25 of BS 8110:

As min = 0.24% Ac when fy = 250 N/mm2

As min = 0.13% Ac when fy = 500 N/mm2

Where Ac is the total area of concrete.

4.3. DESIGN OF ONE-WAY SPANNING SOLID SLAB
4.3.3 Shear (clause 3.5.5 of BS 8110)
Shear resistance is generally not a problem in solid slabs subject to
uniformly distributed loads and, in any case, shear reinforcement
should not be provided in slabs less than 200 mm deep.

As discussed for beams, the design shear stress, υ, is calculated

from:

The ultimate shear resistance, 𝞄c, is determined using Table 3.8, BS

8110. If 𝞄 <𝞄c, no shear reinforcement is required. Where 𝞄 >𝞄c,
the form and area of shear reinforcement in solid slabs should be
provided in accordance with the requirements contained in Table
3.16, BS 8110.
4.3. DESIGN OF ONE-WAY SPANNING SOLID SLAB
4.3.3 Shear (clause 3.5.5 of BS 8110) Cont’d..
Values of design concrete shear stress, vc (N/mm2) for fcu = 25 N/mm2
concrete (Table 3.8, BS 8110)

For other values of cube strength up to a maximum of 40 Nmm−2, the

design shear stresses can be determined by multiplying the values in the
table by the factor ( fcu/25)1/3
4.3. DESIGN OF ONE-WAY SPANNING SOLID SLAB
4.3.3 Shear (clause 3.5.5 of BS 8110) Cont’d..
Form and area of shear reinforcement in solid slabs (Table 3.16, BS
8110)
4.3. DESIGN OF ONE-WAY SPANNING SOLID SLAB
4.3.4 Reinforcement details (clause 3.12,BS 8110)
For reasons of durability the code specifies limits in respect of:
a) minimum percentage of reinforcement
b) spacing of reinforcement
c) maximum crack widths.
These are outlined below together with the simplified rules for
curtailment of reinforcement.
Reinforcement areas (clause 3.12.5, BS 8110).
The area of tension reinforcement, As, should not be less than the
following limits:
4.3. DESIGN OF ONE-WAY SPANNING SOLID SLAB
4.3.4 Reinforcement details (clause 3.12,BS 8110) Cont’d..
Spacing of reinforcement (clause 3.12.11.2.7, BS 8110)
The clear distance between tension bars, sb, should lie within the following
limits: hagg + 5 mm or bar diameter ≤ sb ≤ 3d or 750 mm whichever is
the lesser where hagg is the maximum aggregate size.
(See also below section on crack widths.)

Crack width (clause 3.12.11.2.7, BS 8110)

Unless the actual crack widths have been checked by direct calculation,
the following rules will ensure that crack widths will not generally exceed
0.3 mm. This limiting crack width is based on considerations of
appearance and durability.
(i) No further check is required on bar spacing if either:
(a) fy = 250 N/mm2 and slab depth ≤ 250 mm, or
(b) fy = 500 N/mm2 and slab depth ≤ 200 mm, or
(c) the reinforcement percentage (100As/bd ) < 0.3%.
4.3. DESIGN OF ONE-WAY SPANNING SOLID SLAB
4.3.4 Reinforcement details (clause 3.12,BS 8110) Cont’d..
(ii) Where none of conditions (a), (b) or (c) apply and the
percentage of reinforcement in the slab exceed 1 per cent, then the
maximum clear distance between bars (smax) given in Table 3.28 of
BS 8110 should be used, namely:
• smax ≤ 280 mm when fy = 250 N/mm2
• smax ≤ 155 mm when fy = 500 N/mm2

Curtailment of reinforcement (clause 3.12.10.3, BS 8110)

Simplified rules for the curtailment of reinforcement are given in
clause 3.12.10.3 of BS 8110. These are shown diagrammatically in
Fig. below for simply supported and continuous solid slabs.
4.3. DESIGN OF ONE-WAY SPANNING SOLID SLAB
Simplified rules for curtailment of bars in slabs:

(a) simply supported ends;

(b) continuous slab (based on Fig. 3.25, BS 8110).

Worked Example 1:
Design of a one-way spanning concrete floor (BS 8110)
A reinforced concrete floor subject to an imposed load of 4 kNm−2
spans between brick walls as shown below. Design the floor
assuming the following material strengths:
fcu = 35 Nmm−2 , fy = 500 Nmm−2. Concrete cover, C=25 mm
Worked Example 1:
DEPTH OF SLAB AND MAIN STEEL AREA
Overall depth of slab, h

Hence, assume effective depth of slab (d) = 155 mm. Assume

diameter of main steel (Φ) = 10 mm and C = 25 mm.
Worked Example 1:
LOADING
Worked Example 1:
MAIN STEEL

For detailing purposes this area of steel has to be transposed into

bars of a given diameter and spacing using steel area tables. Thus
from Table, provide 10 mm diameter bars spaced at 150 mm, i.e.
H10 at 150 centres (As = 523mm2/m).
Worked Example 1:
Actual modification factor
The actual value of the modification can now be calculated using
equations 7 and 8 given in Table 3.10, BS 8110.

(Equation 7)

(Equation 8)

Therefore;
Worked Example 1:
Actual modification factor

Hence,
Worked Example 1:
SECONDARY STEEL
Based on minimum steel area = 241 mm2/m. Hence from Table,
provide H8 at 200 mm centres (As = 252 mm2/m).

SHEAR REINFORCEMENT
 Worked Example 1:

From Table 3.8, BS 8110, design concrete shear stress for grade
25 concrete is 0.44 Nmm−2.

From Table 3.10 since v < vc, no shear reinforcement is required.

Worked Example 1:
Check spacing between bars
Maximum spacing between bars should not exceed the lesser of 3d
(= 465 mm) or 750 mm. Actual spacing = 150 mm main steel and
200 mm secondary steel……………..Ok

Maximum crack width

Since the slab depth does not exceed 200 mm, the above spacing
between bars will automatically ensure that the maximum
permissible crack width of 0.3 mm will not be exceeded.
Worked Example 2:
A concrete floor reinforced with 10 mm diameter mild steel bars
(fy = 250 N/mm2) at 125 mm centres (A s = 628 mm2/ per metre
width of slab) between brick walls as shown in Fig. below. Calculate
the maximum uniformly distributed imposed load the floor can carry.