A DETAILED YIELD-LINE STUDY OF

UNIFORMLY L O A D E D , COLUMN-SUPPORTED
INTERIOR SLAB P A N E L S

K. J. H i n d s o n
White-Young and Partners, U.K.

A . W. Chronowicz
Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, Leeds University, U.K.

ABSTRACT A fairly thorough yield-line study of interior slab panels, which

attempts to fill some of the gaps left by previous investigations, is reported.
Two basic shapes of column, square (or rectangular) and circular, are considered
in the work. Four basic yield-line mechanisms are investigated. The main
variables in the investigation are the size of the columns and the strength of the
beams, although the influence of the width of the beams is also commented upon.
The effects of these variables in changing the critical yield-line pattern, and in
altering the required slab and beam moments of resistance are reported.

INTRODUCTION

Yield-line investigations of interior slab panels have been reported by many

authors (e.g. réf. 1 to 5 ) . However these have all, even taken together, been of
quite restricted scope. Those studies of beam and slab panels which have been
presented have involved only point columns and line beams and have not included
column fan yield-line patterns amongst their failure mechanisms. Those studies
of flat plates (i.e. beamless slabs, without drops, on column supports) which are
known to the authors deal only with point and circular columns, and failure
mechanisms of the type illustrated in Figure 4(a) have not been considered.

The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to fill some of the gaps left by previous
investigations.

The two panels shown in Figure 1 are solved for the yield-line mechanisms
illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5; the solutions obtained are also applicable to
the affine panels shown in Figure 2(b). The influence of the strength of the
beams, and the size and shape of the columns, upon the moments of resistance
required to resist the various modes, and their effects in changing the critical
failure mechanism (that which gives the lowest failure load) are revealed.

The influence of the finite width of the beams in modifying the line-beam solutions,
as illustrated in Figure 6, and in adjusting the trends disclosed by them, is
discussed; as is the suitability of using the line-beam solutions to design
practical structures.

160
 Yield Line Study of Interior Slab Panels 161

m' (Top Steel)

4 ^ — i
Μμ min

m (Bottom Steel)

Mu m

Mb

(a) Circular Columns (b) Square Columns

Figure 1 Basic Interior Panel Cases

2 ,
1
! «
J ;

ad
!I!
ι I ι

2
a Mu aL

aML

ML Mb

(a) Rectangular Panel w i t h Eliptical Columns (b) Rectangular Panel with Rectangular Columns

Figure 2 Affine Cases

r I
Ι Π τ

Diameter = c Col. Dimensions = d χ d

(a) Fan Around Circular Column (b) Fan Around Square Column

Figure 3 Fans around Interior Columns

162 K.J. Hindson and A.W. Chronowicz

NOTATION

α the ratio of the lengths of the sides of a panel

b the width of the beams in the direction under consideration
c the diameter of a circular, or elliptical, column head
d the side of a square, or rectangular, column head
Κ an important parameter which denotes the ratio between the
strength of a beam and the strength of the slab in the
same direction, generally = (M^ + M^)/(m + m').aL, or, for
a square panel, = (M^ + M£)/(m + m ^ . L
L the distance between column centre-lines in one, or both,
directions
f
m, m slab positive and negative moments of resistance,
respectively
M^, M£ beam positive and negative moments of resistance,
respectively
q load per unit area
r radius of a column fan yield-line pattern

CIRCULAR COLUMNS

Column Fan Mechanism

If it is assumed that fans of the type shown in Figure 3(a) form around all of the
columns which appear in Figure 1(a), and the centre of the panel undergoes unit
deflection, the following expressions for the work done by the load and the work
absorbed in the yield-lines are obtained:

W.D, q(L
2
- Trr )
2
+ q%(wc + 2π Γ) (r - |).V (~T1~) 3
(1)

W.A. = ((m + m').2iTr + 4 (M b + M£))/(r - -|) (2)

Equating expressions (1) and (2) and introducing the parameter K, = (Mb + M £ ) /
(m + m*)L, gives:

2 2 3 3
r™ * «ι ϊ ,,24L r - 12L c - 8 π Γ + ttc ,
(m + m = ( } ) ( 3
'3 ^ 48π Γ + 96KL
1 1
When (m + m ) is a maximum, 3(m + m )/8r = 0. Thus from equation (3) the following
expression for the critical value of r (that which gives the maximum value of
1
(m + m ) ) is obtained:

2 3 2 2 3 2 3
16ir r + 487rKLr + t t c - 12ttL c - 48KL = 0 (but r <0.5L) (4)

Rewriting expressions (3) and (4) in terms of dimensionless parameters it is

possible to obtain:

3 3
(m + m') = 24(r/L) - 12(c/L) - 8ir(r/L) + tt(c/L)
(5)
^ L2 48Tr(r/L) + 96K
 Yield Line Study of Interior Slab Panels 163

Figure 4 Structural Modes

Figure 5 Panel Modes

(a) Simultaneous Mode (b) Panel Mode

Figure 6 Examples of the Influence of Finite Beam Width

164 K.J. Hindson and A.W. Chronowicz

2 3 2 2 3
and 167T (r/L) + 48TrK(r/L) + tt (c/L) - 1 2 t t ( c / L ) - 48K = 0 (6)

(with (r/L) < 0 . 5 ) .

Equations (5) and (6) can be used, together, to get solutions to the fan problem.
Curves given by these two expressions can be seen in Figures 7 to 11. The
variation of the critical fan radius with Κ and c/L, as given by equation (6), is
illustrated in Figure 12.

1 1
Simultaneous Failure Mode

This yield-line pattern,which is shown in Figure 4(a), has been called the
'simultaneous' mode since it is only kinematically possible if failure occurs in
both directions at the same time (whereas, in contrast, this is not necessary for
the yield-line mechanism shown in Figure 4(b)). The mechanisms shown in Figure
4(a) and (b) have been given the generic name of structural modes since they
involve both slab and beams and extend over the full width of the structure.

Assuming unit central deflection of the panel shown in Figure 4(a), the following
expressions are obtained:

2
W.D. = L
4 q ( t ( 2 L - 3c//2) + (L + 2c//?) (L - 2c//2) ^ (L + c//2) (L - 2c/i/2)) )( ?
8
3(L - c//2") 24 (L - c//2)(L + 2c//2)

L 1 (b W M +

W.A. = (m + m') y. i .8 + — -.4 (8)

(L - c//2) (L - C//2*)

Equating expressions (7) and (8), substituting Κ = (M^ + M£)/(m + m').L and
writing the result in terms of dimensionless parameters gives:

(m +

2
3
= ôTTTTT1 8 ( ) K
- ^.(c/L) +(/2/3)(c/L) )
3
(9)
qL
2
Plots of the relationship of (m + m')/qL with Κ given by equation (9) are shown in
Figures 7 to 11.

'Structural' Mode

By considering the mechanism shown in Figure 4(b), and replacing the square columns
with circular ones, it is easy to obtain:

2
(m + m').L + (M b + M£) = |k . ( L - c ) (10)

1
and from this (m + m' ) = 1# ( _ c / L 2)
2
qL

The relationships given by equation (11) are also shown in Figures 7 to 11.
 Yield Line Study of Interior Slab Panels 165

Figure 7 Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10 Figure 11
166 K.J. Hindson and A.W. Chronowicz

Panel Mode

The yield-line patterns shown in Figure 5 were chosen since, in the first place,
the finite size of the columns made the adoption of some form of corner cut-off
unavoidable. At the same time, it was felt that the simple corner-lever systems
shown would give solutions which were acceptably close to those which would be
given by more complicated corner fans (2).

It can be seen from Figure 5(a) that the negative yield-lines which are tangential
to the columns intersect the beam lines at a distance c//2 from the column centres.
Now it can be shown (1) that this simple corner-lever mechanism gives a maximum
1 2
value of (m + m )/qL (= 0.0455) when the levers are a distance 0.159L from the
corners of the panel. Hence it was decided that when c//2* < 0.159L, i.e.
! 2
c/L < 0.225, the appropriate solution to use was (m + m ) / q L = 0.0455, i.e. it
was assumed that the columns could force the levers further out than 0.159L but
could not bring them closer to the column centres than this.

From Figure 5(a) it is possible to obtain the following full yield-line solution:

) ( 1 2
^
T
2 ' 2 * 3 2 ' 3) 0
/2
/2
W.A. = 4(m + m')((L - 2c//2) , [ + c , — — — ) (13)
(L - c//2)

These two expressions give:

2
m + m' = 1_ (1 - (c/L) )(l - Ç1//2) (c/L))
2 4 2
- iw*y ) \± - \LI " . j 2 I W W J ) (14)
qL 1 - /2(c/L) + (c/L)
f 2 1 2
Values of (m + m ) / q L given by equation (14), constrained such that (m + m ) / q L =
0.0455 when c/L < 0.225, can be found in Figures 7 to 11.

SQUARE COLUMNS

Column Fan Mechanism

Combining Figures 1(b) and 3(b) produces:

z
W.D. = q(L - -y- + — - — - 2rd) (15)

•ι» , .8d + 4irr - 2πd + 8KL.

5 ) ( 1 6
W.A. = (m + m').( 2r - d
1
Equating the above two expressions, putting 3(m + m )/3r = 0 and rewriting in terms
of dimensionless parameters eventually gives:
(m m t) 2 2 2
\ = [(2 - (Tr/2)(d/L) + 2(d/L) )(r/L) + (πά/L - 4 d/L)(r/L)
2
qL 3 3 +
- (2ir/3)(r/L) - d/L + π/12 (d/L) ] / [ (8 - 2π) (d/L) + 4ir(r/L) 8K]

(17)
 Yield Line Study of Interior Slab Panels 167

2 3 2 2
and 87T (r/L) - (127r .d/L - 48u,d/L - 24irK).(r/L) -

2 2
((48π - 6ir - 96).(d/L) + (24π - 96) .K.d/L) .r/L -

2 2 2 3
(24 - 6ïï(d/L) + 24(d/L) ).K + (12π - π - 24).(d/L) -

24d/L = 0 (with r/L < 0.5) (18)

Curves given by equations (17) and (18) are shown in Figures 14 and 16 to 19.

1
Simultaneous Mode

Replacing the circular columns in Figure 4(a) with square ones again eventually
produces :

~f-
qL
- 8ΪΓΤΤ) · C 1
-
2
W • J (d/L) )
3
(19)

Solutions to this equation are given in Figures 16 to 19.

1
Structural Mode

Using Figure 4(b) it is possible to obtain:

f 2
Values of (m + m ) / q L from this expression can also be found in Figures 16 to 19.

Panel Mode

Using Figure 5(b) gives:

2
(m + m' ) = (1 - 2(d/L) )(l - d/L)
2 2
qL 24(1 - 2d/L + 2(d/L) )
f 2
however when d/L < 0.159, (m + m )/qL = 0.0455.

The above expressions gave the panel solutions shown in Figures 16 to 19.

COMMENTS ON THE LINE-BEAM SOLUTIONS

It can be seen from the Figures that for both column shapes there are three possible
critical yield-line mechanisms. For a given column size, the relative strength of
the beams, as represented by the parameter K, determines which one of the three is
the actual critical mechanism. When beams are absent, or are very weak, the fan
mode is critical; with stronger beams the 'simultaneous* mode becomes critical with
168 K.J. Hindson and A.W. Chronowicz

Figure 12 Critical Fan Radii with Figure 13 Critical Values of Κ

Circular Columns

Figure 14 Critical Fan Radii with Figure 15 Comparison of Fan Solutions

Square Columns for Square and Circular Columns
(no beams)
Yield Line Study of Interior Slab Panels 169
Figure 17

Figure 19
Figure 16

Figure 18
170 K.J. Hindson and A.W. Chronowicz

circular columns and the 'structural* mode becomes critical with square, or
rectangular, columns. As the strength of the beams increases further the panel
mode eventually becomes crucial. The values of Κ at which the changes in
critical mechanism occur are plotted in Figure 13. It can be seen that these
values of Κ decrease almost linearly as the column size increases.

The slab moments of resistance needed to resist all the modes decrease consider-
ably as the strength of the beams increases, as might have been expected. Both
slab and beam required moments of resistance decrease, quite significantly, as
the size of the columns increases. This is particularly true for the column fan
mode, as demonstrated in Figure 15. In this figure the fan solution for a flat
plate with square columns is compared with the solutions for the inscribed and
circumscribing circular columns. As expected the results for the square columns
fall between those for the circular columns.

Figures 12 and 14 show that the radii of the critical fans increase with both
column size and beam strength. In particular, in flat plates, the critical radii
increase rapidly from zero as the columns increase from points (with zero cross-
sectional area).

THE INFLUENCE OF BEAM WIDTH

The effects on the previous solutions, and on the conclusions drawn therefrom, of
allowing for the finite widths of the beams have been examined in detail elsewhere
(6) and only the principal findings will be reported here.

Perhaps the most important conclusion was that for normal beam and slab construct-
ion the line-beam solutions can be safely used for design as long as the values of
Κ used in the calculations are based upon the line-beam definition of (M b + M £ ) /
(m + m' ).aL, rather than upon the more strictly correct definition of Κ = (M b + M D )
f 1
(m + m ).(aL - b ) . This is not true when the 'beams are wide and shallow, i.e.
wide but relatively weak; in this case the line-beam solutions should not be used.

Some of the other points disclosed by the examination carried out in reference (6)
were :

i) there is no need to consider the effects of beam width upon

the fan mode since this mechanism will only be critical if
the beams are extremely small.

ii) the solutions found previously for the 'simultaneous' and

'structural' modes (equations (9), (11), (19) and (20))
can be adapted to allow for the finite width of the beams
by multiplying the right-hand side of the equations by
1/(1 - b/L); and by adopting the definition Κ = (M b + M £ ) /
(m + m').(aL - b) (the solutions then apply to square panels
with beams of width b; and to the rectangular panels
shown in Figure 2, with beams of width b and ab in the
short and long directions, respectively, assuming α < 1 ) ;
if b > d, or b > c, then d, or c, should be replaced by b
in the equations. In the case of the 'structural' mode
the resulting equations are exact solutions. In the case
of the 'simultaneous' mode they are acceptably approximate,
e.g. if b/L = 0.2 and d/L = 0.25 (an extreme case) then,for
a given value of K, the calculated value of (m + m') will
be 95 per cent of the correct solution.
 Yield Line Study of Interior Slab Panels 171

iii) the line-beam panel mode solutions given in equations (14)

and (21) can be adapted, approximately, by multiplying the
2
right-hand sides by (1 - b / L ) . More simply, more
conservatively, and usually more accurately, the solution
for this mode can be taken as:

1 2 2
(m + m ) = 0.0455(1 - b/L) .qL (22)

iv) It can be seen from the above that the finite width of the
beams, in effect, prolongs the importance of the 'structural'
and 'simultaneous' modes, i.e. it has the effect of in-
creasing the value of Κ at which the panel mode becomes
critical, since the slab moments of resistance required to
resist the latter are decreased whilst, for a given value
of K, those required to resist the 'structural' and
'simultaneous' modes are increased. This is illustrated
in Table 1.

Table 1 Values of Κ at which the Panel Mode becomes Critical

(Square Panels)

Κ
d/L b/L
Allowing for Line-beam
beam width* solution

0.05 0.05 1.89 1.47

0.1 2.06

0.1 0.05 1.60 1.23

0.1 2.06

0.2 0.05 1.05 0.77

0.1 1.41

* Κ = (M b + M£)/(m + m').(L - b)

CONCLUSIONS

Three yield-line failure mechanisms are possible in the interior panels of beam and
slab structures. With square, or rectangular, columns these are the column fan,
the 'structural' and the panel modes. With circular columns and square, or very
nearly square, panels (or elliptical columns and rectangular panels) the
'simultaneous' mode replaces the 'structural' mode as a possible failure pattern.
Column fans are only likely when beams are absent or are very weak (K < 0.2).

Unless the columns are very large (e.g. d/L ^ 0.2) and the widths of the beams are
small (b/L ^ 0.05) the beams must be quite strong (K > 1.25) before panel
mechanisms can be critical. In most practical cases, with beams of moderate
strength (K - 1.5), either the 'structural' or the 'simultaneous' mode will be the
critical yield-line mechanism.
172 K.J. Hindson and A.W. Chronowicz

The moments of resistance required for the various mechanisms decrease quite con-
siderably with increasing column size (especially relative to the point column
datum). This is particularly true of the column fan mode.

The solutions obtained for panels with line-beams (in fact really referring to the
solutions for the 'structural1 and 'simultaneous1 modes) can be safely used to
design panels with normal beams, i.e. beams which are not wide and shallow, as
long as the values of Κ used in the calculations are based upon the line-beam
definition of Κ = (M b + M^)/(m + m f).aL.

REFERENCES

1. R.H. Wood. Plastic and Elastic Design of Slabs and Plates, Thames and Hudson,
London (1961).
2. L.L. Jones and R.H. Wood. Yield-line Analysis of Slabs, Thames and Hudson,
Chatto and Windus, London (1967).
3. J.H. Appleton. Reinforced Concrete Floor Slabs on Flexible Beams, Civ. Engrg.
Studies, Struct. Res. Ser. No.223, Univ. Illinois (1961).
4. R.P. Johnson. Structural Concrete, McGraw-Hill, London (1967).
5. H. Gesund and O.P. Dikshit. Yield Line Analysis of the Punching Problem at
Slab/Column Intersections, Publ. SP-30, Am. Concr. Inst., Detroit (1971).
6. K.J. Hindson. The Analysis and Design of Reinforced Concrete Slab Structures,
Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. Leeds (1978).