Reinforced Concrete Design II – ACI 318

Lecture 4
Design of hollow block
and ribbed slabs
 Ribbed and hollow block slabs

Ribbed slabs consist of regularly spaced ribs monolithically

built with a toping slab. The voids between the ribs may be
either light material such as hollow blocks [figure 1] or it
may be left unfilled [figure 2].

2
 Ribbed and hollow block slabs

The main advantage of using hollow blocks is the reduction in

weight by removing the part of the concrete below the neutral axis.
Additional advantages are:

1- Ease of construction.
2- Hollow blocks make it possible to have smooth ceiling which is
often required for architectural considerations.
3- Provides good sound and temperature insulation properties.

Hollow block floors proved economic for spans of more than 5 m

with light or moderate live loads, such as hospitals, offices or
residential buildings. They are not suitable for structures having
heavy live loads such as warehouses or parking garages.

3
 One-way v.s two-way ribbed slabs

If the ribs are provided in one direction only, the slab is classified
as being one-way, regardless of the ratio of longer to shorter panel
dimensions. It is classified as two-way if the ribs are provided in
two directions. One way slabs typically span in the shorter
direction. One way ribbed slabs may be used for spans up to 6 -
6.5 m.

4
 One-way ribbed (joist) slab

5
 Arrangements of ribbed slabs

6
 Arrangements of ribbed slabs

7
 Arrangements of ribbed slabs

8
 Arrangements of ribbed slabs

9
 Arrangements of ribbed slabs

10
 Key components of ribbed slabs

Is a strength reduction factor

11
 Key components of ribbed slabs

12
 Key components of ribbed slabs

13
 Key components of ribbed slabs

14
 Cross (distribution) ribs

Transversal, distribution or cross ribs are added to one-way

hollow block floors for better distribution of the applied loads.
They also help in distributing the concentrated loads due to walls
in the transverse direction. The bottom reinforcement is taken as
the reinforcement in the main ribs, and the top reinforcement
should be taken at least ½ of the bottom reinforcement. Cross
ribs are usually 10 cm wide.

Arrangement of regularly spaced cross rib :

15
 Cross (distribution) ribs

16
 Minimum thickness of one way slabs

Minimum Cover

17
 Loads Assigned to Slabs

a- Dead Load (D.L) :

1- Weight of slab covering materials
2- Equivalent partition weight
3- Own weight of slab
b- Live Load (L.L)

18
 Loads Assigned to Slabs

19
 Loads Assigned to Slabs

20
 Loads Assigned to Slabs

21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
 0.85 f c'  2M u 
ρ 1  1  
fy   0 . 85 f c' b d 2


33
34
35
Types of sections according to the ACI Code
[1] Tension-controlled section ACI 21.2.2–9.3.3.1–R21.2.2
The tensile strain in the tension steel is equal to or greater than 0.005 when
the concrete in compression reaches its crushing strain of 0.003. This is a
ductile section.
 t  0.005 ==> =0.9
[2] Compression-controlled section
The tensile strain in the tension steel is equal to or less than εcr when the
concrete in compression reaches its crushing strain of 0.003. For beams,
εcr = 0.004. This is a brittle section.
 t  0.004
[3] Transition section
The tensile strain in the tension steel is between 0.005 and εcr when the
concrete in compression reaches its crushing strain of 0.003.

0.004   t  0.005 ==> =0.65    t  0.002    250 / 3 

36
37