Lecture 7 – Two-Way Slabs

Two-way slabs have tension reinforcing spanning in BOTH directions, and may take
the general form of one of the following:

Types of Two-Way Slab Systems

Lecture 7 – Page 1 of 13
The following Table may be used to determine minimum thickness of various two-
way slabs based on deflection:

Minimum Suggested Thickness “h” for Two-Way Slabs

Two-Way Slab System: Minimum Thickness h:
Flat plate Ln/30
Flat plate with spandrel beams Ln/33
Flat slab Ln/33
Flat slab with spandrel beams Ln/36
Two-way beam-supported slab Ln/33
Ln = clear distance in long direction

Flat Plates

Flat plates are the most common type of two-way slab system. It is commonly
used in multi-story construction such as hotels, hospitals, offices and
apartment buildings. It has several advantages:

• Easy formwork
• Simple bar placement
• Low floor-to-floor heights

Direct Design Method of Flat Plates per ACI 318-02

Two-way slabs are inherently difficult to analyze by conventional methods of

statics because of the two-way bending occurring. Accurately determining the
moments on a two-way slab is typically accomplished by finite element
computer analysis.

Computer analysis of two-way slab

Lecture 7 – Page 2 of 13
 The ACI 318 code allows a direct design method that can be used in most
typical situations. However, the following limitations apply:

1. Must have 3 or more continuous spans in each direction.

2. Slab panels must be rectangular with a ratio of the longer span to
shorter span(measured as centerline-to-centerline of support) not
greater than 2.0.
3. Successive span lengths in each direction must not differ by more than
1/3 of the longer span.
4. Columns must not be offset by more than 10% of the span (in direction
of offset) from either axis between centerlines of successive columns.
5. Loads must be uniformly distributed, with the unfactored live load not
more than 2 times the unfactored dead load (L/D < 2.0).

Design Strips

a) If L1 > L2:

L2 L2
Column
(typ.)
Exterior Column Strip
Interior Column Strip
Interior Column Strip

Middle Strip

Middle Strip

L1

L2/4 L2/4 L2/4

Lecture 7 – Page 3 of 13
 b) If L2 > L1:

L2 L2

Exterior Column Strip

Interior Column Strip
Interior Column Strip

Middle Strip

Middle Strip
L1

L1/4 L1/4 L1/4

Design Moment Coefficients for Flat Plate Supported Directly by Columns

Slab End Span Interior Span
Moments 1 2 3 4 5
Exterior Positive First Positive Interior
Negative Interior Negative
Negative
Total 0.26Mo 0.52Mo 0.70Mo 0.35Mo 0.65Mo
Moment
Column 0.26Mo 0.31Mo 0.53Mo 0.21Mo 0.49Mo
Strip
Middle 0 0.21Mo 0.17Mo 0.14Mo 0.16Mo
Strip
Mo = Total factored moment per span

End Span Interior Span

1 2 3 4 5

2
wu L2 Ln
Mo = where Ln = clear span (face-to-face of cols.) in the direction of analysis
8

Lecture 7 – Page 4 of 13
Bar Placement per ACI 318-02

The actual quantity of bars required is determined by analysis (see Example

below). However, usage of the Direct Design Method prescribes bar
placement as shown below:

Lecture 7 – Page 5 of 13
Example 1
GIVEN: A two-way flat plate for an office building is shown below. Use the following:

• Column dimensions = 20” x 20”

• Superimposed service floor Dead load = 32 PSF (not including slab weight)
• Superimposed service floor Live load = 75 PSF
• Concrete f’c = 4000 PSI
• #4 Grade 60 main tension bars
• Concrete cover = ¾”

REQUIRED: Use the “Direct Design Method” to design the two-way slab for the
design strip in the direction shown.

L2 = 16’-0” L2 = 16’-0” L2 = 16’-0”

20’-0”

Ln 20’-0”

20’-0”

L2/4 L2/4
½ Middle strip
= ½(16’ – Col. strip) ½ Middle strip
Col. strip = ½(16’ – Col. strip)
Design Strip = 16’

Lecture 7 – Page 6 of 13
Step 1 – Determine slab thickness h:

Ln
Since it is a flat plate, from Table above, use h =
30

where Ln = clear span in direction of analysis

= (20’-0” x 12”/ft) – 20” Column size

= 220” = 18.33’

220"
h=
30

= 7.333”

Use 8” thick slab

Step 2 – Determine factored uniform load, wu on the slab:

wu = 1.2D + 1.6L Slab weight

= 1.2[(32 PSF) + (8/12)(150 PCF)] + 1.6[(75 PSF)]

= 278.4 PSF

= 0.28 KSF

Step 3 – Check applicability of “Direct Design Method”:

1) Must have 3 or more continuous spans in each direction. YES

2) Slab panels must be rectangular with a ratio of the longer span to

shorter span(measured as centerline-to-centerline of support) not
greater than 2.0. YES

3) Successive span lengths in each direction must not differ by more than
1/3 of the longer span. YES

4) Columns must not be offset by more than 10% of the span (in direction
of offset) from either axis between centerlines of successive columns.
YES

5) Loads must be uniformly distributed, with the unfactored live load not
more than 2 times the unfactored dead load (L/D < 2.0). YES

Lecture 7 – Page 7 of 13
 Step 4 – Determine total factored moment per span, Mo:

2
wu L2 Ln
Mo =
8

(0.28KSF )(16' )(18.33' ) 2

=
8

Mo = 188 KIP-FT

Step 5 – Determine distribution of total factored moment into col. & middle strips:

Design Moment Coefficients for Flat Plate Supported Directly by Columns

Slab End Span Interior Span
Moments 1 2 3 4 5
Exterior Positive First Positive Interior
Negative Interior Negative
Negative
Total 0.26Mo = 48.9 0.52Mo = 97.8 0.70Mo = 131.6 0.35Mo = 65.8 0.65Mo = 122.2
Moment
Column 0.26Mo = 48.9 0.31Mo = 58.3 0.53Mo = 99.6 0.21Mo = 39.5 0.49Mo = 92.1
Strip
Middle 0 0.21Mo = 39.5 0.17Mo = 32.0 0.14Mo = 26.3 0.16Mo = 30.1
Strip
Mo = Total factored moment per span = 188 KIP-FT

Step 6 – Determine tension steel bars for col. & middle strips:

a) Column strip for region 1 :

Factored NEGATIVE moment = 48.9 KIP-FT (see Table above)

= 586.8 KIP-IN
= 586,800 LB-IN

b = 96”

8”
d

d = 8” – conc. cover – ½(bar dia.)

= 8” – ¾” – ½(4/8”)
= 7”

Lecture 7 – Page 8 of 13
 Mu 586,800 LB − IN
=
φbd 2
(0.9)(96" )(7" ) 2

= 138.6 PSI

From Lecture 4 → Table 2:

Use ρmin = 0.0033

As
ρ=
bd

Solve for As:

As = ρbd
= (0.0033)(96”)(7”)
= 2.22 in2

As
Number of bars required =
As _ per _ bar

2.22in 2
=
0.20in 2 _ per _#4 _ bar

= 11.1 → Use 12 - #4 TOP bars

Lecture 7 – Page 9 of 13
 b) Column strip for region 2 :

Factored POSITIVE moment = 58.3 KIP-FT (see Table above)

= 699,600 LB-IN

b = 96”

8” d

d = 8” – conc. cover – ½(bar dia.)

= 8” – ¾” – ½(4/8”)
= 7”

Mu 699,600 LB − IN
=
φbd 2
(0.9)(96" )(7" ) 2

= 165.2 PSI

From Lecture 4 → Table 2:

Use ρ = 0.0033

As = 2.22 in2 (see calcs. above)

Use 12 - #4 BOTTOM bars

Lecture 7 – Page 10 of 13
c) Middle strip for region 2 :

Factored POSITIVE moment = 39.5 KIP-FT (see Table above)

= 474,000 LB-IN

b = 96”

8” d

d = 8” – conc. cover – ½(bar dia.)

= 8” – ¾” – ½(4/8”)
= 7”

Mu 474,000 LB − IN
=
φbd 2
(0.9)(96" )(7" ) 2

= 112.0 PSI

From Lecture 4 → Table 2:

Use ρ = 0.0033

As = 2.22 in2 (see calcs. above)

Use 12 - #4 BOTTOM bars

Use 6 - #4 Bottom bars at each ½ Middle Strip

Lecture 7 – Page 11 of 13
 Step 7 – Draw “Summary Sketch” plan view of bars:

16’-0” 16’-0” 16’-0”

Col. strip for region 1

12 - #4 TOP bars

½ Middle strip for

region 2 20’-0”
6 - #4 BOTTOM bars

Col. strip for region 2

12 - #4 BOTTOM bars 20’-0”

8” Thick
concrete slab 20’-0”

4’-0” 4’-0”

½ Middle strip = 4’-0” ½ Middle strip = 4’-0”

Col. strip

16’ – 0”

Lecture 7 – Page 12 of 13
Example 2
GIVEN: The two-way slab system from Example 1.
REQUIRED: Design the steel tension bars for design strip shown (perpendicular to
those in Example 1).

16’-0” 16’-0” 16’-0”

20’-0”
½ Middle strip = 6’-0”

20’-0” Col. strip = 8’-0”

½ Middle strip = 6’-0”

20’-0”

20’-0”

Solution → Similar to the procedure shown in Example 1, except:

• Re-check slab thickness to verify that 8” is still acceptable

• Re-calculate “M0”
• Using new value of M0, determine “Design Moment Coefficients”
• Design tension steel based on these moment coefficients

Lecture 7 – Page 13 of 13