RC Slab Design

Uniformly Distributed Load

Applied

Reinforcement in the
(bottom) tension Zone

REAL SLAB (SIMPLY SUPPORTED, ONE WAY)

RC Slab Design

UDL W

SPAN L

IDEALIZED SLAB (FOR ANALYSIS)

Bending Moment Diagram: Mmax=WL2/8

Shear Force Diagram: Vmax=WL/2

 RC Slab Design

One way spanning

Beams supporting slab

Beams ignored for slab support

 One Way
Spanning,
simply
supported slab
Supporting beams
on the 2 long
edges
 RC Slab Design

Two way spanning

All Beams supporting slabs

 Two
Way Spanning,
simply
supported slab

Supporting beams
on all 4 edges
 RC Slab Design

The way that the slab spans affects the ANALYSIS

of the slab (calculation of applied moments, shears).

It also affects the way in which the supporting beams

are loaded.
 RC Slab Design

The DESIGN of a slab (calculation of the strength) is

the same whether it is simply supported or
continuous and also the same whether it is one way
spanning or two way.

The ANALYSIS of each slab type (calculation of

internal forces and moments) is different.

This lecture considers the slab

DESIGN.
 RC Slab Design

b
c fcd

x 0.8x Fc

h d neutral axis z

s Fst

h and d are related: d=h cover

/2 where is the
reinforcement diameter.
 RC Slab Design

A reasonable starting point for slab design is to use the

following basic span to depth ratios to establish a suitable slab
thickness:

Simply Supported, one way slab: Span/depth = 25

Continuous, one way slab: Span/depth = 30
Cantilever: Span/depth = 10

Two way slab: Span/depth = 35

Note that this is an ESTIMATE.

In this equation the Effective Depth should be used
 RC Slab Design

For a simply supported, one way spanning slab subject to a

Uniformly Distributed Load, the key positions are mid span for
moment and end span for shear.

Bending Moment Shear Force

 RC Slab Design

To calculate the Moment of Resistance of a slab we

simply need to calculate:

Fc (the compressive force in the concrete) or Fst

(the tensile force in the reinforcement).

The distance between the forces, z.

 RC Slab Design

The maximum force that the concrete can carry is

governed by the equation:

M/bd2fck< 0.167

Note that consistent units MUST be used.

Newtons and millimetres are the most suitable.
 RC Slab Design

Bending Resistance
We have an equation to calculate z:

d
z 1 1 3.53K with anupper limit of 0.95d
2

Where: M (K < 0.167)

K 2
bd f ck
 RC Slab Design

Bending
Then we can calculate the required area of
reinforcement , As to carry a force Fst

M
As
f yd z
 RC Slab Design

We now know the required slab thickness and

the amount of reinforcement required in the
slab.
 RC Slab Design

We now know the required slab thickness and

the amount of reinforcement required in the
slab.

Usually this would provide a satisfactory slab,

but we always have to carry out further checks
on deflection and shear to be sure the slab
satisfies all limit states.
 RC Slab Design

Deflection
A more refined span to depth ratio is now calculated.

Basic Span to Depth Ratio is calculated by one of 2

equations, depending upon how much reinforcement
is required in the slab (from previous calculations)
This is assessed by calculating the two values
below:
 RC Slab Design

Deflection
 RC Slab Design

Deflection
Basic Span to Depth Ratio
 RC Slab Design

Deflection
Basic Span to Depth Ratio
 RC Slab Design

Deflection

Modification Factor 1 End Conditions

Modification Factor 2 Long span factor
Modification Factor 3 If EXTRA
reinforcement used (more than that required)
 RC Slab Design

RC Slab Design Deflection

Modification Factor 1 End Conditions

Simply supported: K1=1

Interior Span: K1=1.5
End Span: K1=1.3
Cantilever: K1=0.4
 RC Slab Design

RC Slab Design Deflection

Modification Factor 2 Long Spans

If the slab span is greater than 7m, modify

the L/d ratio by the factor K2 = 7/L.

This factor can often be ignored

provided the correct finishes are
applied to the slab.
 RC Slab Design

RC Slab Design Deflection

Modification Factor 3 Stress in Reinforcement

310 500 As , prov

K3 1.5
s
f yk As ,req As ,req
As , prov
 RC Slab Design

Shear

Applied Shear Force is calculated from structural

mechanics (analysis).
Applied shear stress is then calculated by dividing
the shear force by the cross sectional area of the
slab (b x d).

This is then compared to the

Allowable Shear stress
 RC Slab Design

Allowable shear stress is calculated from THE

LARGER OF:

Where: 1
vc, Rd 0.12k 100 1 f ck
3 0.035k 1.5 f ck0.5

k 1 200 / d 2
Asprov
and 0.02
1 bd
Slab Design Complete