Bubble Deck Slab System

BUBBLE DECK SLAB SYSTEM
A Seminar report submitted to the
A P J Abdul Kalam Technological University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the award of the degree of
MASTER OF TECHNOLOGY
IN
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
By
ASHLIN T V
UNT17CESE04
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSAL ENGINEERING COLLEGE
THRISSUR 680123, KERALA
NOVEMBER 2017
UNIVERSAL ENGINEERING COLLEGE, THRISSUR
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the seminar entitled
BUBBLE DECK SLAB SYSTEM

Submitted by
ASHLIN T V
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Degree of
MASTER OF TECHNOLOGY IN STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
to the A P J Abdul Kalam Technological University is a record of bonafide work done by her
under my supervision and guidance and this work has not been submitted elsewhere for any
degree or diploma.
Mrs. Femina G M Ms. Athira Ramachandran

Assistant Professor Assistant Professor
Seminar Guide Seminar Coordinator
Department of Civil Engineering Department of Civil Engineering
Mrs. Bindumol V G
Associate Professor and Head
Department of Civil Engineering
Department of Civil Engineering M.Tech Seminar Report 2017
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
First and the foremost, I shall thank God Almighty who gave me the inner strength,
resource and ability to complete the work successfully, without which all my efforts
would have been in vain.
I wholeheartedly thank my seminar guide Mrs. Femina G M (Asst. Professor, Dept. of

Civil Engineering) for her valuable advice and support.
I express my heartfelt thanks to our seminar coordinator Ms. Athira Ramachandran

(Asst. Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering), for her helpful feedback and timely
assistance.
I express my sincere gratitude to our PG Coordinator, Dr. M K Veerankutty for his

moral support to complete my work successfully.
I am grateful for the cooperation and constant encouragement from Mrs. Bindumol V G,
Head of Department of Civil Engineering, for her valuable advice and motivation.
I am grateful to our principal, Dr. T P Ramachandran for providing me good facilities

and proper environment for developing my seminar and to do it in the required way.
I convey my sincere thanks to all other faculties for their help and encouragement. I thank
all my family and friends who have helped me during the work, with their inspiration and
cooperation.
ASHLIN T V
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ABSTRACT
Bubble deck slab is a method of virtually eliminating a part of concrete from the middle
of a slab, which is not performing any structural function, and thereby reducing structural
dead weight. Recycled plastic hollow spheres replace the in-effective concrete in the slab,
and thus reducing the dead weight and increasing the efficiency of the floor. By
introducing bubble decks, it leads to 30 to 40% lighter slab which reduces the loads on
the structural members, and of course of the entire building. This system provides a wide
range of cost and construction time reduction. The aim of this paper is to discuss about
the various properties of Bubble deck slab. The paper also gives a brief idea about the
different Bubble deck slabs, their production, installation and advantages over
conventional concrete slabs.
Keywords: - Bubble deck slab, recycled plastic hollow spheres, voids, dead weight.
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CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT i
ABSTRACT ii
TABLE OF CONTENT iii
LIST OF FIGURES vi
LIST OF TABLES v
1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. TYPES OF VOIDED FLAT SLABS 3
2.1 AIRDECK. 3
2.2 COBIAX 3
2.3 U-BOOT BETON 3
2.4 BEE PLATE SYSTEM 4
2.5 BUBBLE-DECK 4
3. BUBBLE DECK SLAB 6
3.1 MATERIALS 6
3.1.1 Concrete 6
3.1.2 Steel 6
3.1.3 Plastic spheres 7
3.2. TYPES OF BUBBLE DECK SLAB 8
3.2.1 Type A- Filigree elements 8
3.2.2 Type B- Reinforcement modules 9
3.3.3 Type C- Finished planks 9
4. PRODUCTION AND CARRYING OUT 10
5. STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OF BUBBLE DECK SLABS 15
5.1 COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH AND FLEXURAL CAPACITIES 15
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5.2 SHEAR STRENGTH 15
5.3 DURABILITY 16
5.4 SOUND INSULATION 16
5.5 FIRE RESISTANCE 17
5.6 VIBRATION 17
6. ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS OF BUBBLE-DECK 18
6.1 ADVANTAGES OF BUBBLE DECK 18
6.1.1 Material and weight reduction 18
6.1.2 Structural Properties 18
6.1.3 Construction and time saving 18
6.1.4 Cost saving 19
6.1.5 Green Design 19
6.2 LIMITATIONS OF BUBBLE DECK 19
6.2.1 Skilled labour 19
6.2.2 Structural monitoring 20
7. CONCLUSIONS 20
REFERENCES 21
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LIST OF FIGURES
Fig. No. Title Page No.
1.1 Cut-through Section of Bubble-Deck 2
2.1 Section of Bubble deck slab 5
3.1 Construction of Biaxial hollow core slab 7
3.2 Plastic spheres along with reinforcement 7
3.3 Type A- Filigree Elements 8
3.4 Type B- Reinforcement Modules 9
3.5 Type C- Finished Planks 9
4.1 Bubbles at stock 10
4.2 Welding the reinforcement 10
4.3 Diagonal girders 11
4.4 Preparation of bottom layer concrete 11
4.5 Lowering bubble lattice 12
4.6 Compaction process 12
4.7 Finished filigree elements 13
4.8 Finished filigree elements transported 13
4.9 Finished filigree elements placing 14
4.10 Concreting and finishing the bubble deck slab 14
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LIST OF TABLES
Table No. Title Page No.
3.1 Different types of plastic bubbles available in market 8
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1. INTRODUCTION
For decades, several attempts have been made to create biaxial slabs with hollow cavities
in order to reduce the weight. Most attempts have consisted of laying blocks of a less
heavy material like expanded polystyrene between the bottom and top reinforcement.
Due to the limitations in hollow-core slabs, primarily lack of structural integrity,

inflexibility and reduced architectural possibilities, focus has been on biaxial slabs.
Several methods have been introduced during the last decades, but with very limited
success, due to major problems with shear capacity and fire resistance as well as
impractical execution.
Bubble deck eliminates up to 35% of the structural concrete. When coupled with the
reduced floor thickness, smaller foundations and columns, construction costs can be
reduced by as much as 10%.
With virtually no formwork, no downturn beams or drop heads, and fast coverage of
typically 350ft2 per panel, using Bubble deck means floor cycles up to 20% faster than
traditional construction methods. Regardless of project size, shape or complexity; simply
shore, place, and pour to quickly install concrete decks.
The Bubble deck system offers a wide range of advantages in building design and during
construction. There are a number of green attributes including; reduction in total
construction materials, use of recycled materials, lower energy consumption and reduced
CO2 emissions, less transportation and crane lifts that make Bubble deck more
environmentally friendly than other concrete construction techniques.
Bubble deck can achieve larger spans as compared to a site cast concrete structure
without the need for post-tensioning or pre-stressed sections. The total construction time
for the structure was reduced and allowed the consultants to fast track the design without
the interior design finalized. The total time from design inception to completion of
structure was less than 12 months.
The Bubble deck, on the other hand, creates such a cushion of air between layers of
concrete with the reinforcement of both the metal grid and the weight distribution across
the plastic spheres.
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One notable difference about Bubble deck technology is that it allows for stronger, and
often thicker, slabs of concrete that span larger areas, as well as the opportunity to
architecturally design larger cantilevers. The hollow spheres at the core of this technology
allow for an approximately 35% reduction of dead weight from the building’s concrete
slabs. When those slabs cover a larger area, there is also no requirement for supporting
columns, walls, and down stand beams.
Fig. 1.1 Cut-through Section of Bubble-Deck

2. TYPES OF VOIDED FLAT SLABS
2.1 AIR DECK
The Air deck concept was patented in 2003 and comprises an inverted plastic injection
moulded element which is vibrated into the lower slab during the production process by a
robotic arm. The advantage of this system is that no retaining mesh is required to hold
down the voiding elements during on site pouring of the second layer. As the boxes can
be nested there are transport advantages versus other voiding systems. The static
calculations are according to standard Euro code 2 norms.
2.2 COBIAX
The Cobiax system makes use of the same voided slab principles of creating voids within
the concrete slabs to lighten the building structures. Elliptical and torus shaped hollow
plastic members, termed as void formers, are held in place by a light metal mesh for easy
installation between the top and bottom reinforcement layers of a concrete slab.
2.3 U-BOOT BETON
U-Boot Beton is a recycled polypropylene formwork that was designed to create two-way
voided slabs and rafts. The use of U-Boot Beton formwork makes it possible to create
mushroom pillars, with the possibility to have the mushroom in the thickness of the slab.
U-boot does not use spherical void formers like previous systems, but uses truncated-
pyramid shaped void formers instead. These void formers create many grid shaped beams
making up the slab. The U-boot system is similar to the Cobiax system in terms of
construction because it is meant to be cast entirely on-site using formwork. After forms
are erected, the steel and void formers are placed before the concrete is poured in two
lifts. In addition to the many design benefits that all voided slab systems provide, the U-
boot system has one benefit over systems that use spherical void formers the shape of the
U-Boot void formers allows them to be stacked efficiently during transportation to the
site, saving space and potentially leading to reduced shipping costs compared to spherical
former systems.

2.4 BEE PLATE SYSTEM
The BEEPLATE Honeycomb Floor is an efficient solution for wide span reinforced
concrete flat slabs with any suspension. Spans between up to 20 m with floor depths
between 34 cm and 70 cm can be achieved. By using buoyancy free hollow bodies,
assembly is particularly easy. The hollow bodies are built in with the help of spacer clips.
At the same time they work as a separator between the upper and lower layers of
reinforcement. The alveolar layout of the hollow bodies guarantees a maximum concrete
reduction and therefore weight reduction of up to 35%. The BEEPLATE should be
supported bottom-up in the area of the BEEPLATE concrete webs. In areas where a
column under a hollow body is inevitable, must load transfer to the adjacent BEEPLATE
concrete webs is to be realized by a sufficiently dimensioned crossbeam. Supports which
are on top of the BEEPLATE should possibly be assembled only in the BEEPLATE
concrete web areas. If holes are drilled into the BEEPLATE slab - for example for the
positioning of the formwork these have to be closed afterwards. If there is danger of
penetrating water into a hollow body, the lower side has to be tapped off and spot-drilled.
No water must remain in a hollow body void.
2.5 BUBBLE-DECK
In the 1990s, a new system was invented, eliminating the above problems. The so-called
Bubble deck technology invented by Jorgen Breuning, locks ellipsoids between the top
and bottom reinforcement meshes, thereby creating a natural cell structure, acting like a
solid slab. A voided biaxial slab is created with the same capabilities as a solid slab, but
with considerably less weight due to the elimination of superfluous concrete.
Bubble deck slab is a biaxial hollow core slab invented in Denmark. It is a method of
virtually eliminating all concrete from the middle of a floor slab not performing any
structural function, thereby dramatically reducing structural dead weight. Bubble deck
slab is based on a new patented technique which involves the direct way of linking air
and steel. Void forms in the middle of a flat slab by means of plastic spheres eliminate
35% of a slab's self-weight, removing constraints of high dead loads and short spans. Its
flexible layout easily adapts to irregular and curved plan configurations. The system
allows for the realization of longer spans, more rapid and less expensive erection, as well
as the elimination of down-stand beams. According to the manufacturers, Bubble deck

slab can reduce total project costs by three percent. Bubble deck slab is a new innovative
and sustainable floor system to be used as a self-supporting concrete floor. The
application of the Bubble deck slab floor system in the Netherlands is manifested as the
world-wide first application. The Bubble deck slab floor system can be used for storey
floors, roof floors and ground floor slabs. A Bubble deck slab floor is a flat slab floor,
therefore without beams and column heads. The principal characteristic is that hollow
plastic spheres are incorporated in the floor, Clamped in a factory-made reinforcement
structure. This reinforcement structure constitutes at the same time the upper and lower
reinforcement of the concrete floor.
The reinforcement structure with spherical shapes and possibly a thin concrete shell as
precast slab floor are supplied to the construction site in factory-made units with a
maximum width of 3 meters; they are installed on site and are assembled by installing
connecting rods and by pouring concrete. After the concrete has set, the floor is ready to
be used. The ratio of the diameter of the plastic spheres to the thickness of the floor is
such that a 35 % saving is achieved on the material or concrete consumption for the floor
in comparison with a solid concrete floor of the same thickness.
Fig 2.1 Section of Bubble deck slab
The saving on weight obtained in this way has the result that a Bubble deck slab floor can
provide the required load-bearing capacity at a smaller thickness this leads to a further
advantage, resulting in a saving of 40 to 50 % of the material consumption in the floor
construction. This is not the last of the advantages of the Bubble deck slab floor system:
because of the lower weight of the floor system itself, also the supporting constructions

such as columns and foundations can be less heavy. This can results eventually in a total
weight or material saving on the building construction of up to 50 %. Since the weight of
the structure reduced, this type of structure can useful to reduce earthquake damage.
3. BUBBLE DECK SLAB
3.1 MATERIALS
Bubble deck slab is composed of three main materials; they are concrete, steel and
plastic spheres:
3.1.1 Concrete
The concrete is made of standard Portland cement with max aggregate size of 20 mm. No
plasticizers are necessary for concrete mixture. Tests have proved that the characteristic
compressive strength of concrete is achieved by bubble deck slabs in the same manner as
that of solid slabs. In certain type of bubble deck slab a thin layer of concrete at the
bottom is precast at the manufacturing plant. This is done so as to place the bubbles as per
the specifications. These are achieved by placing concrete in platforms and lowering the
bubbles into concrete. This concrete will be compacted by platform vibrator or formwork
vibrator. The remaining concreting is done at site, and it can be compacted with needles
vibrators and surface vibrators.
3.1.2 Steel
The steel reinforcement is of grade Fy60 strength or higher. The steel is fabricated in two
forms -meshed layers for lateral support and diagonal girders for vertical support of the
bubbles. Fig 4.1 shows the arrangement of steel and bubbles in a Bubble deck slab. Steel
reinforcement is mainly arranged as soon as the bubbles are prepared. Proper locking of
bubbles are only possible by placing them in reinforcements. The spherical shape makes
it non-stackable. Thus the bubbles are held in place in the lattice by proper steel
reinforcement. Generally reinforcement is provided in mesh type along the top and
bottom. The top and bottom reinforcements are then held together by welding with the
help of diagonal short length bars. The steel reinforcement is designed as per the design
procedure. Suitable extra bars and shear reinforcements are to be provided as and when
required.

Fig 3.1 Construction of Biaxial hollow core slab
3.1.3 Plastic spheres
The hollow spheres are made from recycled high-density polyethylene or HDPE. Fig 4.2
shows the hollow plastic spheres which are ready to be transported to site. Plastic bubbles
are available in different sizes based on the size of structure and it is tabulated in Table
3.1. The main disadvantage of bubbles is that it is not stackable. These HDPE bubbles
can be salvaged and reused again or recycled. This contributes to the Green properties of
bubble deck slab.
Fig 3.2 Plastic spheres along with reinforcement

Table 3.1 Different types of Plastic Bubbles available in market
Minimum
Bubble Minimum slab
centre to
Version diameter thickness
centre spacing
(mm) (mm)
(mm)
BD230 180 230 200
BD280 225 280 250
BD340 270 340 300
BD390 315 390 350
BD450 360 450 400
BD510 405 510 450
BD600 450 600 500
3.2. TYPES OF BUBBLE DECK SLAB
3.2.1 Type A - Filigree elements
Bubble deck Type A is a combination of constructed and unconstructed elements. A

60mm thick concrete layer that acts as both the formwork and part of the finished depth is
precast and brought on site with the bubbles and steel reinforcement unattached. The
bubbles are then supported by temporary stands on top of the precast Layer. Additional
steel may be inserted according to the reinforcement requirements of the design.
Fig 3.3 Type A- Filigree Elements

3.2.2 Type B - Reinforcement modules
Bubble Deck Type B is a reinforcement module that consists of a pre-assembled

sandwich of steel mesh and plastic bubbles, or "bubble lattice". These components are
brought to the site, laid on traditional formwork, connected with any additional
reinforcement, and then concreted in place by traditional methods.
Fig 3.4 Type B- Reinforcement Modules
3.3.3 Type C- Finished planks
Bubble Deck Type C is a shop-fabricated module that includes the plastic spheres,
reinforcement mesh and concrete in its finished form. The module is manufactured to the
final depth in the form of a plank and is delivered on site. Unlike Type A and B, it is a
one-way spanning design that requires the use of support beams or load beams.
Fig 3.5 Type C- Finished Planks

4. PRODUCTION AND CARRYING OUT

Stage 1:
Pre-fabricated plastic bubbles are made of recycled plastic. These plastic bubbles are
made in certain moulds. Plastic bubbles are available in different diameters.
Fig 4.1 Bubbles at stock
Stage 2:
Production of the bubble-lattice by welding the top and bottom reinforcement together.
The bubbles are kept in place by locking them in-between the top and bottom
reinforcements. To prevent the escape of bubbles the top and bottom reinforcements are
suitably welded together.
Fig 4.2 Welding the reinforcement

Stage 3:
The diagonal girders keep the bubbles fixed between the top and bottom reinforcement.
Short length diagonal bars are used to connect the top and bottom reinforcements.
Fig 4.3 Diagonal girders
Stage 4:
Preparation of concrete for filigree-bottom at the assembly line. For the bubble lattice to
be kept in place a thin layer of concrete is prepared. These may be prepared in platforms
or tables.
Fig 4.4 Preparation of bottom layer concrete

Stage 5:
The bubble-lattice is lowered into the concrete. Bubble lattice consists of the top and
bottom reinforcement along with the bubbles. In filigree elements the bubble lattice is
placed into the concrete layer. But in reinforcement modules the bubble lattice as such is
transported to the site.
Fig 4.5 Lowering bubble lattice
Stage 6:
Vibration of the concrete. The vibration of the bottom layer of concrete may be done by
platform vibration, table vibration etc. Compaction of concrete is an inevitable part of the
manufacturing of concrete.
Fig 4.6 Compaction process

Stage 7:
Finishing of a filigree-element and Finished Bubble Deck filigree-element. Now the

filigree elements are finished and stocked.
Fig 4.7 Finished filigree elements
Stage 8:
Bubble Deck filigree-element at stock and transportation of Bubble Deck filigree

elements on trucks. As the elements are finished they can easily be transported to the site
by trucks.
Fig 4.8 Finished filigree elements transported

Stage 9:
Transport in the air through tower cranes and fitting the filigree elements in place. This
requires skilled labours. Care should be taken that the joints are attached tightly and
chamfered.
Fig 4.9 Finished filigree elements placing
Stage 10:
Concreting, compacting and surface finishing of the bubble deck slab. Needle vibrators
are used for compaction during concreting. And suitable surface vibrators are used for
finishing the surface so as to gain a pleasant appearance.
Fig. 4.10 Concreting and finishing the bubble deck slab

5. STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OF BUBBLE DECK SLAB
5.1 COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH AND FLEXURAL CAPACITIES
Bubble deck slab is conceived to omit a significant volume of concrete (compared to a

solid slab) in the central core where the slab is principally un-stressed in flexure. In slabs,
the depth of compressed concrete is usually a small proportion of the slab depth and this
means that it almost always involves only the concrete between the ball and the surface so
there is no sensible difference between the behavior of a solid slab and Bubble Deck. The
only elements working are the outer 'shell' of concrete on the compression side and the
steel on the tension side. In terms of flexural strength, the moments of resistance are the
same as for solid slabs provided this compression depth is checked during design so that
it does not encroach significantly into the ball.
5.2 SHEAR STRENGTH
In any flat slab, design shear resistance is usually critical near columns. The shear stresses
remote from the columns diminishes rapidly and outside the column zones it has been
demonstrated by testing and calculation the transverse and longitudinal shear stresses are
within the capacity of the Bubble deck slab system. Near the columns, bubbles are left out
so in these zones a Bubble deck slab is designed exactly the same way as a solid slab.
Shear resistance of Bubble deck slab is 0.6 times the shear resistance of a solid slab of the
same thickness. If this is exceeded by the applied shear, at a column for example, we
leave out the balls and use the full solid shear values. Using Euro code 2, we would
calculate the applied shear at 2d and subsequent perimeters from the column face as per
the code requirements, as well as at the column face itself. We would then compare this
to our calculated resistance. If the applied shear is less than the unreinforced hollow slab
resistance, no further check is required. If the applied shear is greater than the hollow slab
resistance we omit balls and make it solid and then check the solid part. The shear
capacity is measured for two ratios of aid (distance from imposed force to support divided
by deck thickness). For these reasons, it is demonstrated that the design may be carried
out in every way treating the slab as a solid slab, with the provisions mentioned above,
which are all taken account of in the design process. Euro code 2, which is fully
compatible with the system, for our design and which is somewhat more up to date than

BS811O. Punching shear the average shear capacity is measured to 91 % compared to the
calculated values of a solid deck.
5.3 DURABILITY
The durability of bubble deck slab is not fundamentally different from ordinary solid
slabs. The concrete is standard structural grade concrete and combined with adequate bar
cover provides most control of durability commensurate with normal standards for solid
slabs. When the filigree slabs are manufactured, the reinforcement module and balls are
vibrated into the concrete and the standard and uniformity of compaction is such that a
density of surface concrete is produced which is at least as impermeable and durable,
arguably more so, to that normally produced on site. Bubble deck slab joints have a
chamfer on the inside to ensure that concrete surrounds each bar and does not allow a
direct route to air from the rebar surface. This is primarily a function of the fire resistance
but is also relevant to durability.
Cracking in Bubble deck slab is not worse, and probably better, than solid labs designed
to work at the same stress levels. In fact Bubble deck slab possesses a continuous mesh,
top and bottom, throughout the slab and this ensures shrinkage restraint is well provided
for and that cracking is kept to a minimum whether it is intrinsic or extrinsic cracking.
Unlike an off-the-shelf product, this is a system that is bespoke designed for each and
every project. All the peculiarities of a project are therefore taken into account in the
design; therefore there is no risk of the product being misused by applying it to uses for
which it is not intended.
5.4 SOUND INSULATION
A comparison was made between Bubble Deck and one-way prefabricated hollow deck
of similar height. The noise reduction with Bubble Deck was 1db higher than the one way
prefabricated hollow deck. The main criterion for reducing noise is the weight of the deck
and therefore Bubble Deck will not act otherwise than other deck types with equal
weight. The Bubble deck slab construction is following every usual criterion, and can be
calculated according to usual principles.
Bubble deck performs acoustically in a better way than any other hollow or solid floor
surfaces. Because of the three-dimensional structure and the graduated force flow, the

hollow spheres have a positive influence on sound insulation. The tests reveals that the
airborne sound insulation is even higher than expected. This indicates the bubbles have a
positive influence on sound insulation. The main criteria for reducing noise is the weight
of the deck and therefore Bubble deck evidently will not act otherwise than other deck
types with equal weight.
5.5 FIRE RESISTANCE
The fire resistance of the slab is a complex matter but is chiefly dependent on the ability
of the steel to retain sufficient strength during a fire when it will be heated and lose
significant strength as the temperature rises. The temperature of the steel is controlled by
the fire and the insulation of the steel from the fire. In any case, all concrete is cracked
and, in a fire, it is likely that the air would escape and the pressure dissipated. If the
standard bubble material is used, the products of combustion are relatively benign,
certainly compared to other materials that would also be burning in the vicinity. In an
intense prolonged fire, the ball would melt and eventually char without significance or
detectable effect. Fire resistance depends on concrete cover nearly 60-180 minutes. While
Bubble deck slabs are not designed to provide thermal insulation due to encapsulation of
the air bubbles within the center of the concrete slab Bubble deck achieves between 17%
to 39% higher thermal resistance than an equivalent solid slab of the same depth. Bubble
deck slabs can therefore make a useful contribution towards the thermal insulation
achieved by the overall construction.
Designers attention is drawn to the fact that non-insulated concrete slabs forming part of
the external building envelope can produce cold surfaces where certain conditions,
dependent upon the relative humidity and dew point, may result in formation of
condensation. It is recommended a condensation risk analysis is undertaken where
Bubble deck slabs form part of the external building envelope.
5.6 VIBRATION
Reinforced concrete slab structures are generally less susceptible to vibration problems
compared to steel framed and light weight skeletal structures, especially is not immune
from vibration in all cases so this light must be checked just as it should be in appropriate
solid slab applications. Where deflections are large, as indicated by the static design, it is
often an indication that the structure is sensitive to vibration. The lighter weight of the

bubble deck slab may be exploited if it can usefully alter the modal frequencies of a slab.
The most effective weapons against vibration particularly resonant vibration are stiffness
and damping. If we consider damping to be similar to solid slabs and concentrate on
stiffness, we may observe that a bubble deck slab can be provided over 2 times the
stiffness obtained from a solid slab for the same quantity of concrete used. This can be
exploited in vibration sensitive applications. At the present time, the static modification to
the flexural stiffness is applied.
6. ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS OF BUBBLE DECK
6.1 ADVANTAGES OF BUBBLE DECK
6.1.1 Material and weight reduction
The dominant advantage of a Bubble deck slab is that it uses 30-50% less concrete than
normal solid slabs. The HDPE bubbles replace the non-effective concrete in the center of
the section, thus reducing the dead load of the structure by removing unused, heavy
material. Decreased concrete material and weight also leads to less structural steel since
the need for reinforcement diminishes. The building foundations can be designed for
smaller dead loads as well. Overall, due to the lighter floor slabs, the several downstream
components can be engineered for lower loads and thus save additional material (Wrap).
6.1.2 Structural properties
Due to the lower dead weight of the slab and its two-way spanning action, load-bearing
walls become unnecessary. Bubble deck is also designed as a flat slab, which eliminates
the need for support beams and girder members. As a result, these features decrease some
of the structural requirements for the columns and foundations. Additionally, Bubble deck
slabs can be designed and analyzed as a standard concrete flat slab according to research
performed on its strength and ductility.
6.1.3 Construction and time saving
On site construction time can be shortened since Bubble deck slabs can be precast. Type
A includes a 60 mm precast concrete plate as the base and formwork for the slab. This
type of slab would eliminate the need for onsite erection of formwork, thus significantly
cutting down construction time. Similar to modem precast concrete flooring modules,

Bubble deck can be fully shop fabricated and transported on site for installation as well.
Time savings can also be achieved through the faster erection of walls, columns and
MEPs due to the lack of support beams and load bearing walls for this innovative flat
slab. Addition time may be saved from the quicker curing time since there is less concrete
in the slab.
6.1.4 Cost saving
In relation to the savings in material and time, cost reductions are also typical with the
Bubble deck system. The decreased weight and materials mean lower transportation
costs, and would by more economical to lift the components. With less on-site
construction from the full and semi-precast modules, labor costs will decrease as well. In
addition, money can be saved downstream in the design and construction of the building
frame elements (columns and walls) for lower loads. There is a slight rise in production
costs for the Bubble deck slab due to the manufacturing and assembly of the HDPE
spheres. However, the other savings in material, time, transportation and labor will offset
this manufacturing price increase (Stubbs).
6.1.5 Green design
The number of owners, designers and engineers who desire green alternatives is growing
exponentially. Bubble deck is a fitting solution for lowering the embodied carbon in new
buildings. According to the Bubble Deck Company, 1 kg of recycled plastic replaces 100
kg of concrete. By using less concrete, designers can save up to 40% on embodied carbon
in the slab, resulting in significant savings downstream in the design of other structural
members. Carbon emissions from transportation and equipment usage will also decrease
with the use of fewer materials. Additionally, the HDPE bubbles can be salvaged and
reused for other projects, or can be recycled.
6.2 LIMITATIONS OF BUBBLE-DECK
6.2.1 Skilled labour
This type of construction needs skilled labours for efficient completion of work. Skilled
labours are not easily available and their wages are unaffordable.

6.2.2 Structural health monitoring
The inspection for bubble deck slabs is difficult as compared to conventional slab system.
It is difficult to monitor the structural health conditions.
9. CONCLUSIONS
In the present scenario of the construction industries we need different types of methods
which are more economical, easy to construct and environment friendly. The Bubble
Deck Slab is one the technology which helps us to achieve the economy, easy to construct
and environment friendly. Bubble deck Technology is the innovative system that
eliminates Concrete in the mid section, secondary supporting structure such as beams
reinforced concrete columns or structural walls.
Bubble Deck eliminates up to 35% of the structural concrete. When coupled with the
reduced floor thickness and facade, smaller foundations and columns, construction costs
can be reduced by as much as 10%. In Comparison with weight of the structure, Bubble
Deck Slab is lighter than the Solid Deck Slab. The Bubble Deck system offers a wide
range of advantages in building design and during construction. There are a number of
green attributes including; reduction in total construction materials, use of recycled
materials, lower energy consumption and reduced CO2 emissions, less transportation and
crane lifts that make Bubble Deck more environmentally friendly than other concrete
construction techniques. Bubble Deck Slab is suitable for use in all building types
especially open floor designs such as commercial, educational, hospitals and other
institutional buildings. In the end we can conclude that the future of construction is
Bubble Deck Slab and more studies, researches and experiments for the various sizes of
the HDPE Hollow ball and the thickness of the slab are required to gain its popularity and
usage of this technology.

REFERENCES
1. Arathi Shetkar & Nagesh Hanche (2015),” An Experimental Study on Bubble

Deck Slab System with Elliptical Balls”, International Journal of Science and
Research, 12(1), 21-27.
2. Bhagyasree G Bhade & Barelikar S M (2016), “ An Experimental Study of Two
Way Bubble Deck slab With Spherical Hollow Balls”, International Journal of
Recent scientific Research, 7(6), 11621-11626
3. Mike Mota (2013), “voided two way flat slabs”, American Society of Civil
Engineers Journal”, 1640-1649
4. Neeraj Tiwari & Sana Zafar (2016), “ Structural Behaviour of Bubble Deck Slabs
and Its Application”, International Journal for Scientific Research and
Development, 6(2), 433-437
5. Prabhu Teja P, Vijay Kumar P, Anusha SMounika C H, Purnachandra Saha
(2012), “Structural Behavior of Bubble Deck Slab”, International Conference on
Advance in Research, Science and Management, 383-388
6. Raj R Vakil & Dr. Mangulkar Madhuri Nilesh (2017), “Comparative Study of
Bubble-Deck and Solid Deck Slab”, International Journal of Advance Research
in Science and Engineering, 6(10), 383-392.
7. Shivani Mirajkar & Mitali Balapur (2017), “Study of Bubble- Deck Slab System”,
International Journal of Advance Research in Science and Engineering, 7, 01-05.
8. Surendar M & Ranjitham M (2016), “ Numerical and Experimental Study on
Bubble Deck Slab”, International Journal of Engineering Science and
Computing, 6(5), 5959-5962

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BUBBLE DECK SLAB SYSTEM

A Seminar report submitted to the

A P J Abdul Kalam Technological University

in partial fulfillment of the requirements

for the award of the degree of

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

BUBBLE DECK SLAB SYSTEM

Mrs. Femina G M Ms. Athira Ramachandran

I wholeheartedly thank my seminar guide Mrs. Femina G M (Asst. Professor, Dept. of

I express my heartfelt thanks to our seminar coordinator Ms. Athira Ramachandran

I express my sincere gratitude to our PG Coordinator, Dr. M K Veerankutty for his

I am grateful to our principal, Dr. T P Ramachandran for providing me good facilities

i Universal Engineering College

ii Universal Engineering College

TABLE OF CONTENT iii

2. TYPES OF VOIDED FLAT SLABS 3

2.3 U-BOOT BETON 3

2.4 BEE PLATE SYSTEM 4

3. BUBBLE DECK SLAB 6

3.1.3 Plastic spheres 7

3.2. TYPES OF BUBBLE DECK SLAB 8

3.2.1 Type A- Filigree elements 8

3.2.2 Type B- Reinforcement modules 9

3.3.3 Type C- Finished planks 9

4. PRODUCTION AND CARRYING OUT 10

5. STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OF BUBBLE DECK SLABS 15

5.1 COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH AND FLEXURAL CAPACITIES 15

iii Universal Engineering College

5.2 SHEAR STRENGTH 15

5.4 SOUND INSULATION 16

5.5 FIRE RESISTANCE 17

6. ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS OF BUBBLE-DECK 18

6.1 ADVANTAGES OF BUBBLE DECK 18

6.1.1 Material and weight reduction 18

6.1.2 Structural Properties 18

6.1.3 Construction and time saving 18

6.1.4 Cost saving 19

6.1.5 Green Design 19

6.2 LIMITATIONS OF BUBBLE DECK 19

6.2.1 Skilled labour 19

6.2.2 Structural monitoring 20

iv Universal Engineering College

Fig. No. Title Page No.

1.1 Cut-through Section of Bubble-Deck 2

2.1 Section of Bubble deck slab 5

3.1 Construction of Biaxial hollow core slab 7

3.2 Plastic spheres along with reinforcement 7

3.3 Type A- Filigree Elements 8

3.4 Type B- Reinforcement Modules 9

3.5 Type C- Finished Planks 9

4.1 Bubbles at stock 10

4.2 Welding the reinforcement 10

4.3 Diagonal girders 11

4.4 Preparation of bottom layer concrete 11

4.5 Lowering bubble lattice 12

4.6 Compaction process 12

4.7 Finished filigree elements 13

4.8 Finished filigree elements transported 13

4.9 Finished filigree elements placing 14

4.10 Concreting and finishing the bubble deck slab 14

v Universal Engineering College

Table No. Title Page No.

3.1 Different types of plastic bubbles available in market 8

vi Universal Engineering College