Comparison study for various

structural slab systems

Table of contents

1.0 Objectives

2.0 Proposed Structural Slab Systems.

2.1 Beam and Slab Floor System

2.2 Ribbed (Waffle) Slab System

2.3 Flat Slab Floor System

2.4 Hollow core slab system

2.5 Post tension slab system

2.6 Voided slab system

2.7 Composite steel deck slab system

3.0 Slab system comparison

4.0 Conclusion
 1.0 Objectives
The main objective of this report is to present different structural flooring that
are intended to be considered by the structural designers in the design efforts
during the different coming design development stages for the project of
Thakher city.
This report is to discuss different structural slab systems (mainly for, cost, time
and constructability). in coordination with the up-to-date developed conceptual
architectural documents.

The suggested structural slab systems introduced in this report were studied and
recommended to satisfy the following features:

• Structural safety: among providing sufficient levels of strength, performance

and ductility under ultimate and/or extreme load cases per code requirements; to
assure proper level of building life- safety.

• Functionality: among meeting the Owner’s Design Requirement and serves

the intent of the architectural design and floor layouts.

• Constructability: among meeting the manufacturers and contractor’s

requirements to guarantee possible construction and erection processes.

• Durability: among recommending proper construction materials to resist the

expected external attacks (soil, weather, loading...) during the proposed life of
building.

• Economy: among comparing different structural slab systems to choose the

best option that satisfies all the above requirements with the least cost possible.

The structural slab systems introduced in this report are intended to be the basis
for the structural design development in the upcoming design stages with the
possibility to be modified and/or refined upon developing the structural design
calculations, the expected architectural development or the owner’s
requirements, that may be proposed to enhance the functional behavior for the
different structural elements of the project components.
 2.0 Proposed Structural Slab Systems.
 
2.1 Beam and Slab Floor System  
This system consists of beams framing into
columns and supporting slabs spanning
between the beams. It is a very traditional
system. The relatively deep beams provide a
stiff floor capable of long spans, and able to
resist lateral loads. However, the
complications of beam formwork, co-
ordination of services, and overall depth of
floor have led to a decrease in the popularity
of this type of floor.
The traditional reinforced concrete beam-
and-slab floor has an economical span ‘L’ of
D x 15 for a single span and D x 20 for a
multi-span, where D is the depth of the slab
plus beam. The depth of slab between the
beams can be initially sized using the span-
to-depth ratios for a flat plate. Prestressing is
not normally used with this system.  

Advantages:  

 Traditional effective solution.   
 Economic for small to medium spans.  
 Familiarity with local market   

Disadvantages:  

 Penetrations through beams for large   
ducts difficult to handle 
 Depth of floor   
 Greater floor‐to‐floor height. 
 Affect fixation of e/m services.   
 Economic lose in cost and time for large 
spans.   

   

   

   

 
2.2 Ribbed (Waffle) Slab System  

Ribbed floors consisting of equally spaced

ribs are usually supported directly by
columns. They are either one-way spanning
systems known as ribbed slab or a two-way
ribbed system known as a waffle slab. This
form of construction is not very common
because of the formwork costs and the low
fire rating. A 120-mm-thick slab with a
minimum rib thickness of 125 mm for
continuous ribs is required to achieve a 2-
hour fire rating. A rib thickness of greater
than 125 mm is usually required to
accommodate tensile and shear
reinforcement. Ribbed slabs are suitable for
medium to heavy loads, can span reasonable Advantages:
distances, are very stiff and particularly
suitable where the soffit is exposed.  Savings on weight and materials
Slab depths typically vary from 75 to 125  Long spans
mm and rib widths from 125 to 200 mm. Rib  Attractive soffit appearance if
spacing of 600 to 1500 mm can be used. The exposed
overall depth of the floor typically varies  Economical when reusable
from 300 to 600 mm with overall spans of formwork pans used
up to 15 m if reinforced, longer if post-  Vertical penetrations between ribs
tensioned. The use of ribs to the soffit of the are easy.
slab reduces the quantity of concrete and
reinforcement and also the weight of the Disadvantages:
floor. The saving of materials will be offset
by the complication in formwork and  Depth of slab between the ribs may
placing of reinforcement. However, control the fire rating
formwork complication is minimized by use  Requires special or proprietary
of standard, modular, reusable formwork, formwork
usually made from polypropylene or  Greater floor-to-floor height
fiberglass and with tapered sides to allow  Large vertical penetrations are more
stripping. difficult to handle
For ribs at 1200-mm centers (to suit
standard forms) the economical reinforced  
concrete floor span ‘L’ is approximately D x
15 for a single span and D x 22 for a multi-  
span, where D is the overall floor depth. The
one-way ribs are typically designed as T-  
beams, often spanning in the long direction.
A solid drop panel is required at the columns  
and loadbearing walls for shear and moment
resistance.  
2.3 Flat Slab Floor System  

A flat slab is a one-way or two-way system

with thickenings in the slab at the columns
and load bearing walls called ‘drop panels’
Drop panels act as T-beams over the
supports. They increase the shear capacity
and the stiffness of the floor system under
vertical loads, thus increasing the
economical span range. This form of
construction has become less popular in
recent years because of the limit on
economical spans of about 9.5 m for
reinforced slabs and about 12 m for
prestressed slabs. Reinforced flat slabs may
 
need to be sensibly pre-cambered (not
 
overdone) to control deflection.
 
The plan dimensions of the drop panels are a
minimum of 1/3 of the span in the direction  
under consideration, usually rounded to the
nearest 100 mm. The overall depth of the  
drop panel is typically taken as 1.75 to 2
times the depth of the slab, again rounded to  
suit timber sizes or the nearest 25 mm.
Advantages:
The principal features of a flat slab floor are 
a flat soffit, simple formwork and easy   Simple formwork
construction. The economical span ‘L’ of a   No beams—simplifying under-floor
reinforced concrete flat slab is  services outside the drops
approximately D x 28 for simply supported,   Minimum structural depth
D x 32 for an end span and D x 36 for an   Usually does not require shear
interior span. Prestressing the slab  reinforcement at the columns.
increases the economical span to D x 35, D x 
40 and D x 45 respectively, where D is  Disadvantages:
the depth of the slab excluding the drop 
panel.  Medium spans
   Generally, not suitable for supporting
  brittle (masonry) partitions
 Drop panels may interfere with larger
  mechanical ducting
 Vertical penetrations need to avoid
  area around columns
 For reinforced flat slabs, deflection at
  the middle strip may be critical.
2.4 Hollow core slab system

Hollowcore floor planks ae precast,

prestressed units produced on long-line
casting beds using slide forming or extrusion
methods. During manufacture, cores are
formed throughout the unit, reducing its self-
weight. Planks are usually 1200-mm-wide,
though some manufacturers can produce
2400-mm-wide units. These wider units may
require increased crane capacity but offer
greater speed of placement, less joints,
grouting and sealing. Thicknesses vary from
150–400 mm in 50-mmincrements. The
thickness is determined by span, loading, fie
rating and cover to reinforcement to satisfy
exposure conditions. Profiled edges forswear
keys between units. The economical typical
span for a precast Hollowcore unit is
approximately D x 30 to D x 35 where D is
the depth of the precast unit plus topping.
Where slenderness ratios fall between 35:1
and 45:1 panels should be checked for
vibration-resonance effects. Spans exceeding
45:1 should not be used. Planks may be used
as plain sections or topped to give a
composite unit. The topping increases plank
capacity and fie rating. It provides a level Advantages:
surface or drainage falls and is recommended
for most building work. For economy, the  Creates a sound barrier between floors
structure should be dimensioned to  Fire resistant
accommodate the 1200- or 2400-mm modular  Lightweight
plank width. If this is not possible, planks can  Economical
be sawn longitudinally by the manufacturer,  Shallow depth and larger spans
or partial-widths wet cast. Planks can be  Rapid construction
supplied with block-outs and cored holes to  Greater floor-to-floor height
suit openings, services, etc. The permitted
core-hole shape and number in a plank will Disadvantages:
vary with the depth and the particular
proprietary forming machine. Fire rating is a  Drop beams to support slab panels.
function of the effective concrete thickness  Failed to follow irregular module
and the concrete cover to strand. Fire rating  Interfere with larger mechanical
can be increased by the addition of a concrete ducting
topping and cover increased by application of  Vertical penetrations need to avoid
insulating material to the soffit. tendons
 Large crane capacity.
2.5 Post tension slab system Economy
 Rapid construction 
Post tensioning is a technique for reinforcing  Better quality control 
concrete. Post-tensioning tendons, which are  Reduced maintenance 
Prestressing steel cables inside plastic ducts Suitable for repetitive construction 
or sleeves, are positioned in the forms before  Multiple use of formwork 
the concrete is placed. Afterwards, once the  A lower building height can also 
concrete has gained strength but before the translate to considerable savings in 
mechanical systems and façade costs. 
service loads are applied, the cables are
 Thinner slabs mean less concrete is 
pulled tight, or tensioned, and anchored
required. It means a lower overall 
against the outer edges of the concrete.
building height for the same floor‐to‐
floor height. 
Most precast, prestressed concrete is
 The high tensile strength & precision of 
actually pre-tensioned-the steel is pulled placement gives maximum efficiency in 
before the concrete is poured. Post-tensioned size & weight of structural members. 
concrete means that the concrete is poured
and then the tension is applied-but it is still
stressed before the loads are applied so it is
still prestressed. 
Advantages:
Serviceability and Strength
 Reduces occurrence of cracks. 
 Freezing & thawing durability is higher 
than non prestressed concrete 
 Section remains uncracked under 
service loads 
 Reduction of steel corrosion 
 Increase in durability. 
 Full section is utilized 
 Higher moment of inertia (higher 
stiffness) 
 Less deformations (improved 
serviceability). 
 Increase in shear capacity. 
 Improved performance (resilience) 
under dynamic and fatigue loading. 
 Reduces self‐weight of building thereby 
reducing the lateral load resisting 
system. Suitable for use in pressure  Disadvantages:
vessels, liquid retaining structures.   Difficulties of accommodating openings 
 High span‐to‐depth ratios  after slab casting which divert the 
 More aesthetic appeal due to slender  attention toward different slab systems 
sections  such as the flat system and ribbed slab 
 Applications of various prestressed  system. 
techniques enable time savings.   Need experienced workmanship. 
 
 
2.6 Voided slab system Disadvantages:

Voided suspended slabs can be constructed  Difficulties of accommodating openings 

by incorporating hollow plastic spheres after slab. 
between the upper and lower reinforcement  Low familiarity in local market.  
layers. The effect of the spheres is to
displace concrete from areas in the span in
which it has no structural benefit; a solid
slab may be required over the columns to
prevent punching shear.

The spheres can reduce the dead weight of

the slab by up to 35% compared to a solid
slab of the same load capacity, while still
maintaining its structural capacity. The
plastic spheres are brought to site
preassembled into mats, held in position by
welded steel fabric on the top and bottom.
(There are limitations on the plan
dimensions of the mats imposed by the need
to transport them to site.) On site, the mats
are simply craned into position, to rest on
the bottom layers of reinforcement
previously installed on the soffit formwork.
Any additional top reinforcement is installed
and the concrete cast.

Advantages:

 Saves 30 to 50 % weight compared  

to a corresponding solid slab – equal
stiffness.
 20% concrete reduction in other
components.
 The reduced weight of the slab will
typical result in a change in design to
longer spans and/or reduced deck
thickness.
 It is also seismic friendly as it lowers
the total weight of the building.
 Reduced concrete usage – 1 kg
recycled plastic replaces 100 kg of
concrete.
 The company estimates that building  
costs are reduced by 8 to 10 %.
 
2.7 Composite steel deck slab system

Consist of profiled steel decking  Quicker time of election

with an in-situ reinforced concrete  Modification during the life of the
topping. The decking (profiled steel building
sheeting) not only acts as permanent  Permanent shuttering
formwork to the concrete, but also  Speed and simplicity of construction
provides sufficient shear bond with
the concrete so that, when the Disadvantages:
concrete has gained strength, the two
materials act together compositely  Low fire rating
span between 3 m and 4.5 m onto  Floor vibration need to be addressed
supporting beams or walls If the slab  Low familiarity in local market
is uncropped during construction, the  Need experienced workmanship
decking alone resists the self-weight
of the wet concrete and construction  
loads. Subsequent loads are applied
to the composite section. If the slab
is propped, all of the loads have to be
resisted by the composite section. are
usually designed as simply supported
members in the normal condition
depths ranging from 45 mm to over
200 mm yield strengths ranging from
235 N/mm2 to at least 460 N/mm2
0.8 mm and 1.5 mm thick The
various shapes provide Interlock
between steel and concrete decking
may also be used to stabilize the
beams against lateral torsional
buckling during construction.
stabilize the building as a whole by
acting as a diaphragm to transfer
wind loads to the walls and columns
temporary construction load usually
governs the choice of decking profile

Advantages:

 Longer spans
 Thinner slabs
 Slenderer column
 More generous opportunities for
design
 Reduction of height reduces the total of 
the building
 3.0 Slab system comparison 
In order to enable proper selection of one of those proposed slab systems, a
comparison schedule was prepared as shown below to qualify each system upon
different structural, technical and financial criteria. An out-of-ten grading ranks
were utilized to evaluate each criterion to come out with final total grade that direct
the attention upon the more efficient one.

Weight 
Slab &  Steel 
No  criteria  of  Waffle  Flat  H.C  P. T  Voided
beam  Deck 
criteria 
1 
cost  20%  7  8  9  8  10  9  8 

2  Time of
15%  5  5  8  10  9  8  9 
construction
3 
Slab thickness 15%  5  5  9  7  10  10  9 
VS. Floor height
4  Accommodating
post- construction 10%  10  8  10  5  8  10  8 
openings 
5 
Floor vibration  10%  10  10  9  8  8  9  6 

6  Behavior under
seismic loads 
10%  10  10  9  7  9  9  8 

7  Familiarity with local

market 
10%  10  10  10  9  10  5  5 

8 
Acoustic properties 10%  6  6  6  8  6  10  6 

Average weighed Rank  7.5  7.5  8.75  7.85  8.95  8.8  7.6 

   

   

   

   

   
 4.0 Conclusion. 
Comparison table could show us clear selection that we have great opportunity to 
select between two different systems (Post tension and Voided slab) in addition to 
the option of flat slab which already used in Thakher city conceptual design, 
however the unfamiliarity of the voided slab gives an advantage to post tension 
proposal it could give great cost saving if we decide to use this system in raft 
foundation.