Example

Design a cantilever slab subject to a UDL spanning 3m for a speculative

office development.

Uniformly Distributed Load

Applied

Reinforcement in the (TOP)

tension Zone

REAL SLAB (CANTILEVER, ONE WAY)

Design parameters (general)

Reinforcement yield strength fy = 500 N/mm2

(reminder fd = fy/1.15 = 0.87fy = 435 N/mm2

Concrete strength C30/35 fck = 30 N/mm2

The above parameters are both decided by the Design Engineer,

although fy is generally standard.

fck would be the same thoughout the job

There are then specific parameters for this slab:

Cover 20mm
Cover depends upon location

Reinforcement diameter 12mm (estimated, may change)

Bar diameter depends upon member size and loading and is ‘guessed
at this stage.
Imposed load:
Eurocode guidance gives a MINIMUM imposed load of 2.5 kN/m2 for an
office. In this case, I would discuss with the client the limitations that an
imposed load of 2.5 kN/m2 would have on possibly leasing the property
out.

If the client MAY want to lease it for something other than general office
use at any time, this may limit his options.

Eurocode guidance, minimum 2.5 kN/m2

Designer’s recommendation/client decision 5.0kN/m2

Dead Load:
Finishes (screeds, carpets etc): Allow 1 kN/m2
(designers decision/estimate)
Self weight: Significant load, but depends upon the slab thickness

In order to establish the loads, we need to estimate a suitable slab

thickness.

For this we use span to depth (L/d) ratios.

For a cantilever slab L/d=10
This is a very crude estimate and usually conservative.
In this case: L/d = 3000/d = 10 Hence d=3000/10 = 300mm

Strictly speaking this is the ‘effective depth’ of the slab, giving an overall
depth:
h = d + cover + φ/2 = 300 + 20 + 12/2 = 326mm

This is an ESTIMATE. As the designer I always work to an overall depth

rounded to 25mm.
In this case I decide to use an overall thickness of 325mm
MY decision is to use 325mm. Later calculations will tell me if it is a
correct decision. (if I am wrong I simply have to re-do the calculations)

If h = 325, d=325 – 20 – 12/2 = 299mm

We can now calculate the loads on the slab:

Characteristic Loads:

Dead Load: Self: 25 x 0.325 (slab h, in m) = 8.125 kN/m2

Finishes = 1.0 kN/m2
Total dead = 9.125 kN/m2

Imposed Load: = 5.0 kN/m2

Ultimate load

(1.35 x DL) + (1.5 x IL)

(1.35 x 9.125) + (1.5 x 5) = 19.82 kN/m2

We are now ready to start the design!

Analysis

In this case the analysis is very simple.

Mmax = WL2/2 = 19.82 x 32/2 = 89.2 kNm/m width

Vmax = WL/2 = 19.82 x 3 = 59.5 kN/m width

Design
𝑑
𝑧 = [1 + √1 − 3.53𝐾] 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑛 𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡 𝑜𝑓 0.95𝑑
2

𝑀
Where: 𝐾= (work in N and mm)
𝑏𝑑 2 𝑓𝑐𝑘

89.2 𝑥 106
𝐾= 2
= 0.033 (≤ 0.167)
1000 𝑥 299 x 30

𝑑
𝑧 = [1 + √1 − 3.53𝑥 0.033] = 0.97 𝑑 ≤ 0.95𝑑
2

Therefore in this case z = 0.95d = 284mm

The tension reinforcement required can now be calculated from:
𝑀
𝐴𝑠 =
𝑓𝑦𝑑 𝑧

89.2 𝑥 106
𝐴𝑠 = = 722 𝑚𝑚2 /𝑚
0.87 𝑥 500 𝑥 299

This is the required reinforcement, Asreq

1 – T12 = 113mm2

Spacing = (113 x 1000)/722 = 156mm

Round down to nearest 25mm, use T12 at 150

Actual reinforcement provided = (113 x 1000)/150 = 754mm2/m

This is the reinforcement provided, Asprov

This completes the design for the required reinforcement.

Deflection:

𝐿 1.5√𝑓𝑐𝑘 𝜌0 𝜌0
= [11 + + 3.2√𝑓𝑐𝑘 ( − 1)1.5 ] 𝑖𝑓 𝜌 ≤ 𝜌0
𝑑 𝜌 𝜌

𝐿 1.5√𝑓𝑐𝑘 𝜌0
= [11 + ] 𝑖𝑓 𝜌 > 𝜌0
𝑑 𝜌

𝐴𝑠,𝑟𝑒𝑞
𝜌0 = 0.001√𝑓𝑐𝑘 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜌 =
𝑏𝑑
 𝜌0 = 0.001√𝑓𝑐𝑘 = 5.48 𝑥 10−3

𝐴𝑠,𝑟𝑒𝑞 722
𝜌= = = 2.41 𝑥 10−3
𝑏𝑑 1000 𝑥 299

𝜌0
𝜌0 > 𝜌 =2.27
𝜌

𝐿
= [11 + 1.5√30 x 2.27 + 3.2√30(2.27 − 1)1.5 ] = 11 + 18.6 + 25.1 = 54.7
𝑑
Modification Factors

Simply supported: K1=1

Interior Span: K1=1.5
End Span: K1=1.3
Cantilever: K1=0.4
In this case K1 = 0.4

If the slab span is greater than 7m, modify the L/d ratio by the factor K2
= 7/L.
In this case K2 = 1
 𝐴𝑠,𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣 754
𝐾3 = ≤ 1.5 𝐾3 = = 1.045 ≤ 1.5
𝐴𝑠,𝑟𝑒𝑞 722

Modified L/d = 54.7x 0.4 x 1 x 1.05 = 23

Actual L/d = 3000/299 = 10 < 23 PASS

Shear Design

59.5 x 103
Applied shear stress: 𝑘= = 0.199 𝑁/𝑚𝑚2
1000 𝑥 299

Resistance:
1
0.5
𝑣𝑐,𝑅𝑑 = 0.12𝑘(100𝜌1 𝑓𝑐𝑘 )3 ≥ 0.035𝑘1.5 𝑓𝑐𝑘

Where:
𝐴𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣
𝑘 = 1 + √200/𝑑 ≤ 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜌1 = ⁄
𝑏𝑑 ≤ 0.02

200
𝑘 =1+ √ = 1.82 𝜌1 = 754⁄(1000 𝑥 299) = 2.52 x 10−3
299
 1
−3 3
𝑣𝑐,𝑅𝑑 = 0.12𝑥 1.82 (100 x 2.52 x 10 𝑥 30) = 0.428 N/𝑚𝑚2

Since this is GREATER than the applied shear stress the slab passes
(because the resistance is the GREATER of the 2 resistance equations)

However, we will complete the design (just for fun!)

𝑣𝑐,𝑅𝑑 = 0.035 𝑥 1.821.5 √30 = 0.47 𝑁/𝑚𝑚2

Don’t forget - the value we use is the LARGER one.

THIS COMPLETES THE SLAB DESIGN