Two - Way Slabs

(Moment Coefficient Method)

Prepared by:
Engr. Kenny B. Cantila
 Figure 1.1a Load transfer in One-way slab

One-way slabs transfer the imposed loads in one direction only. They
may be supported on two opposite sides only, in which the structural action is
essentially one-way, the loads being carried in direction perpendicular to the
supporting beams or walls.
 Figure 1.1b Load transfer in Two-way slab

But rectangular slabs often have such proportions and supports (e.g.,
relatively deep, stiff monolithic concrete beams) that result in two-way
action. At any point, such slabs are curved in both directions resulting in
biaxial bending moments. It is convenient to think of such slabs as consisting
of two sets of parallel strips, in each direction and intersecting each other. So
part of the load is carried by one set and the remainder by the other.
 L
w
5wL4
A B δ𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
δ 384EI

Simply supported beam

L
w 1wL4
A B δ𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
δ
192 EI

Propped Beam

L
w
1wL4
A B δ𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
δ 384 EI

Fixed end Beam

 L 1 2
M+ = 𝑤𝐿
w 8

A B

Simply supported beam

9
L M+ = 𝑤𝐿2
128
w
5 8 L
A B

Propped Beam 1 2
M− = 𝑤𝐿
8

L 1
M+ = 𝑤𝐿2
w 24
A B

1 1
Fixed end Beam M− = 𝑤𝐿2 M− = 𝑤𝐿2
12 12
Fig. 1.1b shows two center strips of a rectangular plate with spans la and lb.
For uniformly distributed loads of w per square foot of the slab, each strip
acts approximately like a simple beam uniformly loaded by its share of w;
i.e., wa and wb. Since they are part of the same slab, their midspan deflections
must be the same. Equating the center deflections of the short and long strips.

δa = δb
5wa la 4 5wb lb 4
=
384EI 384EI
4
wa lb
=
wb la

Therefore the larger share of the load is carried in the shorter directions, the
ratio of the two portions of the load being inversely proportional to the fourth
power of the ratio spans.
Simply supported (la) and Propped beam (lb)

δa = δb
5wa la 4 1wb lb 4
=
384EI 192 EI
4
wa 2 lb
=
wb 5 la

Simply supported (la) and Fixed support (lb)

δa = δb
5wa la 4 1wb lb 4
=
384EI 384 EI
4
wa 1 lb
=
wb 5 la
Propped (la) and Simply supported (lb)

δa = δb
1wa la 4 5wb lb 4
=
192EI 384 EI
4
wa 5 lb
=
wb 2 la

Fixed (la) and Simply supported (lb)

δa = δb
1wa la 4 5wb lb 4
=
384EI 384 EI
4
wa lb
=5
wb la
 Figure 1.2 Grid Model of two-way slab

For a simply supported square slab, lb/la = 1; therefore Eq. (1.1)

wa = wb= w/2

So if only bending was present, the maximum bending moment in each slab
would be

Mmax = (w/2) l2/8 = 0.0625 wl2

The actual behavior of a slab is more complex than that of two intersecting
strips. As shown in Fig. 1.2, slab can be modeled as grid, some strips of
which (particularly the outer strips) are not only bent but also twisted.
Consequently, the total load on the slab is carried not only by bending
moments in two directions, but also twisting moments. For this reason,
bending moments in elastic slabs would be smaller than that would be
computed for sets of unconnected strips loaded by wa and wb.

The theory of bending of elastic plates shows that the exact maximum
bending moment in such a square slab is only 0.048wl2. However, a slab does
not behave like a beam and would not collapse if only one hypothetical
central strip reaches ultimate load. Therefore, in reality this moment can be
further reduced to 0.036wl2 due to inelastic redistribution of the load among
various strips of the slab.
 Analysis of Two-way Slabs by Coefficient Method

To simplify the calculation, the moment coefficient method is used. The

method uses tables of moment coefficients for variety of support conditions.
These coefficients are based on elastic analysis but also accounts for inelastic
redistribution. Moments in the middle strips in two directions are

Ma = Ca wla 2
Mb = Cb wlb 2

Ca , Cb = tabulated moment coefficients

la , lb = length of 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 spans in short and long directions, respectively
𝑤 = uniform load per unit area
 Fig. 1.3:
Variation of moments in a uniformly loaded slab simply supported on all sides
 Figure 1.4 Plan of Typical Slab

The design bending moments are zero at discontinuous ends, negative at

continuous ends and positive at midspans. The following tables show the
moment coefficients for positive dead load [Ca (D)+ , Cb (D)] and live load [Ca
(L)+ , Cb (L)] as well as negative dead or live load [Ca - , Cb-].
Maximum positive moments are obtained by putting live loads on alternate
spans, while maximum negative moments are obtained by loading adjacent
spans, similar to the loading condition for dead loads. So, the live load
coefficients are different from dead load coefficients for positive moments,
but they are equal for negative moments.
 Table 1: Coefficients (Ca , - ) for negative moment in slab along short direction

m=la/lb Case 1 Case 2 Case 3 Case 4 Case 5 Case 6 Case 7 Case 8 Case 9

0.50 0.000 0.086 0.000 0.094 0.090 0.097 0.000 0.089 0.088
0.55 0.000 0.084 0.000 0.092 0.089 0.096 0.000 0.085 0.086
0.60 0.000 0.081 0.000 0.089 0.088 0.095 0.000 0.080 0.085
0.65 0.000 0.077 0.000 0.085 0.087 0.093 0.000 0.074 0.083
0.70 0.000 0.074 0.000 0.081 0.086 0.091 0.000 0.068 0.081
0.75 0.000 0.069 0.000 0.076 0.085 0.088 0.000 0.061 0.078
0.80 0.000 0.065 0.000 0.071 0.083 0.086 0.000 0.055 0.075
0.85 0.000 0.060 0.000 0.066 0.082 0.083 0.000 0.049 0.072
0.90 0.000 0.055 0.000 0.060 0.080 0.079 0.000 0.043 0.068
0.95 0.000 0.050 0.000 0.055 0.079 0.075 0.000 0.038 0.065
1.00 0.000 0.045 0.000 0.050 0.075 0.071 0.000 0.033 0.061
 Table 2: Coefficients (Cb , - ) for negative moment in slab along long direction

m=la/lb Case 1 Case 2 Case 3 Case 4 Case 5 Case 6 Case 7 Case 8 Case 9

0.50 0.000 0.006 0.022 0.006 0.000 0.000 0.014 0.010 0.003
0.55 0.000 0.007 0.028 0.008 0.000 0.000 0.019 0.014 0.005
0.60 0.000 0.010 0.035 0.011 0.000 0.000 0.024 0.018 0.006
0.65 0.000 0.014 0.043 0.015 0.000 0.000 0.031 0.024 0.008
0.70 0.000 0.017 0.050 0.019 0.000 0.000 0.038 0.029 0.011
0.75 0.000 0.022 0.056 0.024 0.000 0.000 0.044 0.036 0.014
0.80 0.000 0.027 0.061 0.029 0.000 0.000 0.051 0.041 0.017
0.85 0.000 0.031 0.065 0.034 0.000 0.000 0.057 0.046 0.021
0.90 0.000 0.037 0.070 0.040 0.000 0.000 0.062 0.052 0.025
0.95 0.000 0.041 0.072 0.045 0.000 0.000 0.067 0.056 0.029
1.00 0.000 0.045 0.076 0.050 0.000 0.000 0.071 0.061 0.033
 Table 3: Coefficients (Ca,dl) for dead load positive moment in slab along short direction

m=la/lb Case 1 Case 2 Case 3 Case 4 Case 5 Case 6 Case 7 Case 8 Case 9

0.50 0.095 0.037 0.080 0.059 0.039 0.0761 0.089 0.056 0.023
0.55 0.088 0.035 0.071 0.056 0.038 0.058 0.081 0.052 0.024
0.60 0.081 0.034 0.062 0.053 0.037 0.056 0.073 0.048 0.026
0.65 0.074 0.032 0.054 0.050 0.036 0.054 0.065 0.044 0.028
0.70 0.068 0.030 0.046 0.046 0.035 0.051 0.058 0.040 0.029
0.75 0.061 0.028 0.040 0.043 0.033 0.048 0.051 0.036 0.031
0.80 0.056 0.026 0.034 0.039 0.032 0.045 0.045 0.032 0.029
0.85 0.050 0.024 0.029 0.036 0.031 0.042 0.004 0.029 0.028
0.90 0.045 0.022 0.025 0.033 0.029 0.039 0.035 0.025 0.026
0.95 0.040 0.020 0.021 0.030 0.028 0.036 0.031 0.022 0.024
1.00 0.036 0.018 0.018 0.027 0.027 0.033 0.027 0.020 0.023
 Table 4: Coefficients (Cb ,dl) for dead load positive moment in slab along long direction

m=la/lb Case 1 Case 2 Case 3 Case 4 Case 5 Case 6 Case 7 Case 8 Case 9

0.50 0.006 0.002 0.007 0.004 0.001 0.003 0.007 0.004 0.002
0.55 0.008 0.003 0.009 0.005 0.002 0.004 0.009 0.005 0.003
0.60 0.010 0.004 0.011 0.007 0.003 0.006 0.012 0.007 0.004
0.65 0.013 0.006 0.014 0.009 0.004 0.007 0.014 0.009 0.005
0.70 0.016 0.007 0.016 0.011 0.005 0.009 0.017 0.011 0.006
0.75 0.019 0.009 0.018 0.013 0.007 0.013 0.020 0.013 0.007
0.80 0.023 0.011 0.020 0.016 0.009 0.015 0.022 0.015 0.010
0.85 0.026 0.012 0.022 0.019 0.011 0.017 0.025 0.017 0.013
0.90 0.029 0.014 0.024 0.022 0.013 0.021 0.028 0.019 0.015
0.95 0.033 0.016 0.025 0.024 0.015 0.024 0.031 0.021 0.017
1.00 0.036 0.018 0.027 0.027 0.018 0.027 0.033 0.023 0.020
 Table 5: Coefficients (Ca ,ll) for live load positive moment in slab along short direction

m=la/lb Case 1 Case 2 Case 3 Case 4 Case 5 Case 6 Case 7 Case 8 Case 9

0.50 0.095 0.066 0.088 0.077 0.067 0.078 0.092 0.076 0.067
0.55 0.088 0.062 0.080 0.072 0.063 0.073 0.085 0.070 0.063
0.60 0.081 0.058 0.071 0.067 0.059 0.068 0.077 0.065 0.059
0.65 0.074 0.053 0.064 0.062 0.055 0.064 0.070 0.059 0.054
0.70 0.068 0.049 0.057 0.057 0.051 0.060 0.063 0.054 0.050
0.75 0.061 0.045 0.051 0.052 0.047 0.055 0.056 0.049 0.046
0.80 0.056 0.041 0.045 0.048 0.044 0.051 0.051 0.044 0.042
0.85 0.050 0.037 0.040 0.043 0.041 0.046 0.045 0.040 0.039
0.90 0.045 0.034 0.035 0.039 0.037 0.042 0.040 0.035 0.036
0.95 0.040 0.030 0.031 0.035 0.034 0.038 0.036 0.031 0.032
1.00 0.036 0.027 0.027 0.032 0.032 0.035 0.032 0.028 0.030
 Table 6: Coefficients (Cb,ll) for live load positive moment in slab along long direction

m=la/lb Case 1 Case 2 Case 3 Case 4 Case 5 Case 6 Case 7 Case 8 Case 9

0.50 0.006 0.004 0.0007 0.005 0.004 0.005 0.007 0.005 0.004
0.55 0.008 0.006 0.009 0.007 0.005 0.006 0.009 0.007 0.006
0.60 0.010 0.007 0.011 0.009 0.007 0.008 0.011 0.009 0.007
0.65 0.013 0.010 0.014 0.011 0.009 0.010 0.014 0.011 0.009
0.70 0.016 0.012 0.016 0.014 0.011 0.013 0.017 0.014 0.011
0.75 0.019 0.014 0.019 0.016 0.013 0.016 0.020 0.016 0.013
0.80 0.023 0.017 0.022 0.020 0.016 0.019 0.023 0.019 0.017
0.85 0.026 0.019 0.024 0.023 0.019 0.022 0.026 0.022 0.020
0.90 0.029 0.022 0.027 0.026 0.021 0.025 0.029 0.024 0.022
0.95 0.033 0.025 0.029 0.029 0.024 0.029 0.032 0.027 0.025
1.00 0.036 0.027 0.032 0.032 0.027 0.032 0.035 0.030 0.028
 Steps in Designing Two-Way Slab

1. Calculate minimum thickness of slab

P
hmin =
180
2 A+B
hmin =
180

hmin : Minimum slab thickness

P : Perimeter of slab
A : Length of shorter side
B : Length of longer side
 Steps in Two-Way Slab Design (cont’d)

2. Calculate the loads on the slab (force/ area)

3. Calculate m, which is the ratio of shorter side and longer side of the slab:

A
m=
B

4. Decide about the case of the slab.

5. Use table to pick coefficients.

6. Calculate the moments and then design.

Problem 1: Design each panel using moment coefficient method.
Superimposed live load is 8 kN/m2 and dead load is 12.4 kN/m2 , while unit
weight of concrete is 24 kN/m3.

7.5 m 7.5 m 7.5 m 7.5 m

Panel Panel Panel Panel

6.0 m
1 2 2 1

Panel Panel Panel Panel

6.0 m
3 4 4 3

Panel Panel Panel Panel

6.0 m
1 2 2 1
 Panel 1 Panel 2 Panel 3 Panel 4
Case # 4 8 9 2
m 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.80
ca− 0.071 0.055 0.075 0.065
cb− 0.029 0.041 0.017 0.027
ca,+DL 0.039 0.032 0.029 0.026
cb,+DL 0.016 0.015 0.010 0.011
ca,+LL 0.048 0.044 0.042 0.041
cb,+LL 0.020 0.019 0.017 0.017
 A B C

D D

E E

F F

A B C
Check the validity of two-way slab

A
m=
B
6.0
m=
7.5
m = 0.80 < 1.0 (two − way slab)

Calculate the minimum slab thickness

2(A + B)
hmin =
180
2(6000 + 7500)
hmin =
180
𝐡𝐦𝐢𝐧 = 𝟏𝟓𝟎 𝐦𝐦
Dead weight (self-weight): WDL1 = yc hc = 24 0.15 = 3.6 kN/m2
Superimposed dead load WDL2 = 12.4 kN/m2
Total dead load 𝐖𝐃𝐋 = 16.0 kN/m2
Total live load 𝐖𝐋𝐋 = 8.0 kN/m2
Factored Load 𝐖𝐮 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝐖𝐃𝐋 + 𝟏. 𝟔𝐖𝐋𝐋 = 32.0 𝐤𝐍/𝐦𝟐
 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:

Middle Strip (Continuous Edge) Panel

Ma− = ca− wu la 2 1
Ma− = 0.071 32 6.00 2
Ma− = 81.79 kN ∙ m

Middle Strip (Center)

Ma+ = ca,+dl wu,dl la 2 + ca,+ll wu,ll la 2
Ma+ = 0.039 19.20 6.00 2 + 0.048 12.80 6.00 2

Ma+ = 49.08 kN ∙ m

Middle Strip (Discontinuous Edge)

Ma− = 0
 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Middle Strip (Continuous Edge) Panel

Mb− = cb− wu lb 2 1
Mb− = 0.029 32 7.50 2
Mb− = 52.20 kN ∙ m

Middle Strip (Center)

Mb+ = cb,+dl wu,dl lb 2 + cb,+ll wu,ll lb 2
Mb+ = 0.016 19.20 7.50 2 + 0.020 12.80 7.50 2

Mb+ = 31.68 kN ∙ m

Middle Strip (Discontinuous Edge)

Mb− = 0
 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:

Middle Strip (Continuous Edge) Panel

Ma− = ca− wu la 2 2
Ma− = 0.055 32 6.00 2
Ma− = 63.36 kN ∙ m

Middle Strip (Center)

Ma+ = ca,+dl wu,dl la 2 + ca,+ll wu,ll la 2
Ma+ = 0.032 19.20 6.00 2 + 0.044 12.80 6.00 2

Ma+ = 42.39 kN ∙ m

Middle Strip (Discontinuous Edge)

Ma− = 0
 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Middle Strip (Continuous Edge) Panel

Mb− = cb− wu lb 2 2
Mb− = 0.041 32 7.50 2
Mb− = 73.80 kN ∙ m

Middle Strip (Center)

Mb+ = cb,+dl wu,dl lb 2 + cb,+ll wu,ll lb 2
Mb+ = 0.015 19.20 7.50 2 + 0.019 12.80 7.50 2

Mb+ = 29.88 kN ∙ m
 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:

Middle Strip (Continuous Edge)

Panel
Ma− = ca− wu la 2
3
Ma− = 0.075 32 6.0 2
Ma− = 86.40 kN ∙ m

Middle Strip (Center)

Ma+ = ca,+dl wu,dl la 2 + ca,+ll wu,ll la 2
Ma+ = 0.029 19.20 6.00 2 + 0.042 12.80 6.00 2

Ma+ = 39. 40kN ∙ m

 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Middle Strip (Continuous Edge) Panel

Mb− = cb− wu lb 2 3
Mb− = 0.017 32 7.50 2
Mb− = 30.60 kN ∙ m

Middle Strip (Center)

Mb+ = cb,+dl wu,dl lb 2 + cb,+ll wu,ll lb 2
Mb+ = 0.010 19.20 7.50 2 + 0.017 12.80 7.50 2

Mb+ = 23.04 kN ∙ m

Middle Strip (Discontinuous Edge)

Mb− = 0
 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:

Middle Strip (Continuous Edge)

Panel
Ma− = ca− wu la 2
4
Ma− = 0.065 32 6.0 2
Ma− = 74.88 kN ∙ m

Middle Strip (Center)

Ma+ = ca,+dl wu,dl la 2 + ca,+ll wu,ll la 2
Ma+ = 0.026 19.20 6.00 2 + 0.041 12.80 6.00 2

Ma+ = 36. 86 kN ∙ m
 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Middle Strip (Continuous Edge) Panel

Mb− = cb− wu lb 2 4
Mb− = 0.027 32 7.50 2
Mb− = 48.60 kN ∙ m

Middle Strip (Center)

Mb+ = cb,+dl wu,dl lb 2 + cb,+ll wu,ll lb 2
Mb+ = 0.011 19.20 7.50 2 + 0.017 12.80 7.50 2

Mb+ = 24.12 kN ∙ m
 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝟏

A B C

D D

𝟎
+𝟒𝟗. 𝟎𝟖
𝟎 +𝟑𝟏. 𝟔𝟖 −𝟓𝟐. 𝟐𝟎
E E

−𝟖𝟏. 𝟕𝟗

F F

A B C
 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝟒

A B C

−𝟕𝟒. 𝟖𝟖
D D

+𝟑𝟔. 𝟖𝟔
−𝟒𝟖. 𝟔𝟎 +𝟐𝟒. 𝟏𝟐 −𝟒𝟖. 𝟔𝟎
E E

−𝟕𝟒. 𝟖𝟖

F F

A B C
 REFERENCES

https://www.scribd.com/doc/61667964/19/EXAMPLE-DESIGN-BY-COEFFICIENT-METHOD