Legal Notice: This Lectures’ notes is prepared for the students of Department of Civil Engineering, Yıldız Technical

University. Therefore, all rights other than this are preserved. Any parts of this note can not be copied, printed, reproduced,
and given or presented as an example without written permission of the author.

CHAPTER II
REINFORCED CONCRETE SLABS

2.1. Introduction

Slabs or ceilings of reinforced concrete structures, depending on the purposes, can be

constructed in different types. These are mainly; slabs with beams, slabs without beams, and
joist slabs.

In this chapter, first of all, the design procedure of the slabs with beams, which are commonly
used in building industry, will be explained to be conformable to TS 500. Then, slabs without
beams and joist slabs will be discussed.

2.2. Slabs with Beams (Solid Slabs)

Reinforced concrete slabs with beams can be classified into two groups depending on
transferring the loads acting on its surface. These groups are two-way RC slabs and one-way
RC slabs. Therefore, the types of RC slabs are explained in the related subsections given
below.

2.2.1. Two-Way Slabs with Beams (Two-Way Solid Slabs)

If the ratio of the long span length (l l ) to the short span length (l s ) of the slab is less than or
equal to 2, these slabs are called as two-way RC slabs (Figure 2.1).
ll
m= ≤2 (2.1)
ls
Since these slabs transfer the loads into two directions, the bending reinforcements in two
perpendicular directions should be placed in these slabs.

2.2.1.1. Requirements for Slab Thickness

The thickness of the two-way RC slabs with beams can not be less than the larger of the
values obtained by Equation (2.2).
REINFORCED CONCRETE-II LECTURE’S NOTES Prof. Dr. Yusuf AYVAZ

a-a

hf

ll

b-b
1 b 2

A Beam A

a a
ls
D101
h f = 130

B Beam B

1 b 2
hf
Figure 2.1. A schema of two-way RC slab with beams

80mm

h f ≥  lsn 1 − α s  (2.2)
15 + 20  4 
 m
In this equation, f yd is the design yield strength of the reinforcement, and α s is the ratio of the

sum of the continuous edges of the slab to the perimeter of the slab.

● Deflection Calculation

In members subjected to flexure, such as slabs and beams, deflections which would impair
their function, affect their appearance and cause cracking or crushing in adjacent non-
structural connected members should not be allowed to occur. Immediate deflections due to
dead and live loads and deflections due to shrinkage and creep effects for these members
should be computed by considering their cracked state.

In the case of beams and especially slabs, which do not support or are not attached to
nonstructural members sensitive to deflections and whose depth to span length ratios are
larger than the limits given in Table 2.1, deflection calculations need not be carried out.

12
REINFORCED CONCRETE-II LECTURE’S NOTES Prof. Dr. Yusuf AYVAZ

Table 2.1. Minimum two-way slab thicknesses for which deflection calculation are not
necessary
Support condition Simple support Continuous support Cantilever
Exterior Interior
min h f = ls 25 l 10
ls 30 ls 35

In addition, if the following equation is satisfied, deflection calculations need not be carried
out. It is well known that, in the deflection calculation, materials and load factors should be
taken to be equal to 1.0.
 f
ρ ≤ 0, 235 cd (2.3)
 f yd

In the calculation of instantaneous deflection (∆ i ) , the sum of the dead and live loads should

be considered, but in the calculation of time-dependent deflection (∆ i ) , the dead load should
be considered. In this calculation, the geometrical shape, span lengths, boundary conditions of
the slab, and the rigidities of the members on the edges of the slab should be considered.

If the maximum bending moment (M max ) of the slab is less than cracking

moment (M max ≤ M cr ) , the gross sectional moment of inertia (Ic ) should be considered.

Otherwise, (for M max > M cr ) , the effective moment of inertia that will be determined by using

Es
Equation (2.5) should be considered. In this calculation, n can be taken as 10 ( n = = 10 ).
Ec

In the calculation of the instantaneous deflection, the equations based on the assumption of
the linear elastic behavior can be used. In these equations, the modulus of elasticity can be
determined by the following equation.
=Ec 3250 f ckj + 14000 ( MPa ) (2.4)

The effective moment of inertia can be determined by the following equation.

I ef = (M cr M max ) I c + (1 − ( M cr M max ) 3 ) I cr
3
(2.5)

where I cr is the cracked sectional moment of inertia and M cr is the cracking moment that can
be determined by the following equation.

13
REINFORCED CONCRETE-II LECTURE’S NOTES Prof. Dr. Yusuf AYVAZ

Ic
M cr = 2,5 f ctd
y
where y is the half of the section depth.

The time-dependent deflection can be calculated by the following equation.

∆ gec = λ∆ ig (2.6)

where ∆ ig is the instantaneous deflection due to dead loads, λ is the time-dependent

deflection multiplier and it can be determined by the following equation.

γt
λ=
1 + 50 ρ ′
where ρ′ is the compression reinforcement ratio, and γ t is the permanent load duration
coefficient and it is given in Table 2.2, depending on the loading duration.

Table 2.2. Permanent Load Duration Coefficient

Loading Duration Duration Coefficient, γ t

5 years or more 2.0

12 months 1.4
6 months 1.2
3 months 1.0

After all, the total deflection can be calculated by the following equation.
∆ t = ∆ i + ∆ gec (2.7)

The allowable deflection limits for the bending members depending on the clear span length
are given in Table 2.3. If the deflection value calculated exceeds these limits, the slab
thickness should be increased.

Table 2.3. Allowable deflection limits

Flexural Member and its Location Cause of Deflection Allowable Deflection
Instantaneous deflection
Roof member without partition walls l n /180
due to live load
Instantaneous deflection
Floor member without partition walls l n /360
due to live load
Roof or floor member with partition Sum of deflection due to
l n /480
walls* permanent load
Roof or floor member with partition and deflection due to the
l n /240
walls remaining live load
(*) Carrying members that may be affected by large deflections or where a partition wall exists.

14
 REINFORCED CONCRETE-II LECTURE’S NOTES Prof. Dr. Yusuf AYVAZ

2.2.1.2. Requirements for Reinforcements

●Span reinforcement

For two-way RC slabs with beams, the reinforcement ratio in either direction (ρs and ρl ) can
not be less than 0.0015. In addition, the sum of the reinforcement ratios in two directions can
not be less than
0.004 for S220
(2.8)
0.0035 for S420 and S500.
If this requirement is not satisfied, the minimum total reinforcement ratio should be
distributed in two directions as proportional to the bending moments in these directions. For
example, if the sum of the calculated reinforcement ratios for a slab is less than 0.0035
( ρs + ρl < 0.0035 ) for the steel grade of S420, the sum of the reinforcement ratios in two

directions should be taken as 0.0035 ( ρs + ρl = 0.0035 ) and this value should be distributed in
two directions proportional to the bending moments in these directions. This distribution can
be done as follows:
M ds M dl
=ρs 0.0035* = ≥ 0.0015 ve ρl 0.0035* ≥ 0.0015
M ds + M dl M ds + M dl

• Span reinforcement spacing

The reinforcements spacing in the short and long span directions ( ss and sl , respectively) can
not be larger than the smaller value of the values obtained by Equation (2.9) for the both
directions.

1.5* h f 1.5* h f
ss ≤  sl ≤  (2.9)
200 mm 250 mm

• Bent bars

If bent bars will be used as the flexural reinforcement for the negative moment at supports,
they should be adequately extended to the neighboring slabs. For example, if slabs have the

15
REINFORCED CONCRETE-II LECTURE’S NOTES Prof. Dr. Yusuf AYVAZ

same span and are subjected to the same loads, the length of this extension should not be less
than ¼ of the clear span length of the short direction.

The distance of the point where the bars will be bent from the support edges can be taken as
1/5 of the clear span length of the short direction if the slab support is continuous or clamped.
The same distance can be taken as 1/7 of the clear span length of the short direction if the slab
edges are assumed to be simply supported (Figure 2.2). If it is necessary to determine more
realistically the point where the bars will be bent, the shear force and bending moment
diagrams should be drawn and the section where moment value is equal to zero should be
determined.

l1 l2 Length Value
a1 a2 1
a1 l1 Moment sıfır
a4 4 kesitini en az
1 kenetlenme boyu
a2 l2 kadar geçmelidir.
a5 4
a5
a3 1
D101 D102 a3 l1
5
a4 En az kenetlenme boyu
a5 En az kenetlenme boyu

Figure 2.2. Reinforcement schema of a two-way reinforced concrete slab

• Reinforcement details of an opening surrounding in a slab

If it is necessary to have openings (such as flue openings), at least one 12 mm bar (1Ø12)
should be placed on the top and bottom faces of the slab on each side of the opening and this
amount of reinforcement can not be less than the amount of reinforcement cut due to opening
in two directions. In addition, at least one 12 mm bar (1Ø12) should be placed on the top and
bottom faces of the slab at all four corners and the lengths of these bars can not be less than
twice the development length (Figure 2.3).

16
REINFORCED CONCRETE-II LECTURE’S NOTES Prof. Dr. Yusuf AYVAZ

1Ø12 at the bottom

450 1Ø12 on the top
a + 2*lb

lb
≥ a + 2*lb

Figure 2.3. Reinforcement schema of an opening surrounding

2.2.1.3. Calculation of Design Load

a) Slab dead load (g): This load should be determined as the sum of the loads acting on
the slabs permanently such as the slab self weight, smoothing mortar, coating, plaster,
isolation materials if there are and filling materials. The self weights of these materials
are presented in TS 498 and TS ISO 9194.

b) Slab live load (q): Depending on the purpose of the use of the slab itself and/or the
building, these loads are given in TS 498.

c) Slab design load (p d ): Slab design load should be determined by using the following
load combination.
=Pd 1.4* g + 1.6* q (2.10)

2.2.1.4. Structural Analysis

Structural analysis of two-way RC slabs can be done by using elastic or plastic theories. In
this note, an approximate method suggested by TS 500 is explained. This method is widely
used in the analysis of two-way RC slabs.

17
REINFORCED CONCRETE-II LECTURE’S NOTES Prof. Dr. Yusuf AYVAZ

●Structural Analysis of Two-Way RC Slabs by Using Approximate Method

In the case of slab systems with beams, if the span lengths are not considerably different from
each other or if more precise calculations are not required, this method can be used. For the
bending moment calculations, for the negative moment, the section at the support face, and
for the positive moment, the section at mid span should be considered.

The support and span bending moments per unit width of the slab should be calculated by the
following equation.
M d = α* p d *lsn2 (2.11)
In this equation, p d is the slab design load, l sn is the clear span length in the short direction, α
is the moment coefficient which depends on the aspect ratio (m) and boundary conditions of
the slab in the short direction, and the boundary conditions of the slab in the long direction
(Table 2.4).

Moment values obtained by using Equation 2.11 are valid for middle strips (Figure 2.4).
Moment values for column strips can be obtained by taking 2/3 of these values. The moment
value calculated for slabs with very short spans can be assumed to be constant over the slab
width. Project engineer is the one who will decide for these cases. He/she has the authority
and responsibility.

middle column middle

strip strip strip

Smaller value of Smaller value of

l1/4 or l2A/4 l1/4 or l2B/4

Figure 2.4. Column and middle strips of a slab

18
REINFORCED CONCRETE-II LECTURE’S NOTES Prof. Dr. Yusuf AYVAZ

Table 2.4. Moment coefficients [103 α] for two-way reinforced concrete rectangular slabs
[ M = α plsn2 ]
Continuous edge
Discontinuous edge

Support
condition

m=l l /l Support Span Support Span Support Span Support Span Support Span Support Span Support Span
s
1.00 33 25 42 31 49 37 56 44 44 58 44 50
1.02 35 26 43 32 51 38 57 44 46 60 45 52
1.05 37 28 45 33 53 40 59 45 49 62 47 54
1.08 39 29 46 34 55 41 60 46 51 63 48 56
1.10 40 30 47 35 56 42 61 46 53 63 49 57
1.12 41 31 48 36 57 43 62 47 55 65 50 58
1.15 42 32 50 38 59 45 63 48 57 68 52 60
1.18 43 33 52 39 61 46 64 49 59 70 53 61
1.20 45 34 53 40 62 47 65 49 60 71 54 62
1.22 46 35 54 41 63 48 66 50 61 72 55 63
1.25 48 36 55 42 64 49 67 50 63 74 56 65
1.28 49 37 56 43 65 50 68 51 64 76 57 66
1.30 50 38 57 43 66 50 69 51 65 77 58 67
1.32 51 39 58 44 67 51 69 51 66 78 59 68
1.35 52 40 59 45 68 52 70 52 67 79 60 69
In the short span direction

1.38 53 41 60 46 69 53 71 53 68 80 61 70
1.40 54 41 61 46 70 53 71 53 68 81 61 71
1.42 55 42 62 47 71 54 72 54 70 82 62 72
1.45 57 43 63 48 72 54 72 54 70 83 63 73
1.48 58 44 64 48 73 55 72 55 71 83 64 74
1.50 59 45 65 49 73 55 73 55 71 83 64 75
1.52 60 46 66 50 74 56 73 55 71 84 65 76
1.55 61 47 67 50 75 56 74 56 72 86 65 76
1.58 63 48 68 51 76 57 75 56 72 87 66 77
1.60 64 48 69 52 77 58 75 56 73 88 66 77
1.62 65 49 70 52 77 58 75 56 74 88 67 78
1.65 66 50 71 53 78 59 75 57 75 89 67 79
1.68 68 51 72 54 79 60 76 57 76 90 68 79
1.70 69 51 73 55 80 61 76 57 76 91 68 80
1.72 70 52 74 55 81 61 76 57 76 91 68 80
1.75 71 53 75 56 82 62 77 58 77 92 69 81
1.78 72 54 76 57 83 63 77 58 77 93 69 81
1.80 73 55 77 58 84 63 78 58 78 93 70 81
1.82 74 56 78 58 84 64 78 58 78 94 70 81
1.85 76 57 79 59 85 64 78 59 78 94 71 82
1.88 77 58 80 60 86 65 79 59 79 95 72 82
1.90 78 58 81 61 87 66 79 59 79 96 72 82
1.92 79 59 82 61 87 66 79 59 79 96 73 83
1.95 81 60 83 62 88 67 79 60 79 97 73 83
1.98 82 61 84 63 89 68 80 60 80 98 74 83
2.00 83 62 85 64 90 68 80 60 80 98 74 83
In the long span
direction 33 25 41 31 49 37 44 22 44 58 44 50

19
REINFORCED CONCRETE-II LECTURE’S NOTES Prof. Dr. Yusuf AYVAZ

In general, the support moments on the two sides of a common support of adjacent spans are
different from each other (Figure 2.5).

Mij
Mji

Di Dj
hf
ki ri kj rj

li bw lj

Figure 2.5. A case of different support moments at a common support of adjacent spans.

If the ratio of smaller bending moment value to the larger bending value is equal to or larger
than 0.80, the amount of reinforcement should be calculated by using larger bending moment
value. Otherwise, 2/3 of the difference of these two values should be distributed to the
neighboring slabs in proportion to the slab strip stiffnesses. It is assumed that 1/3 of the
difference of these two values is supported by the torsional rigidities of two slabs. In this
method, redistributed of support moments can not be carried out. It should be noted that, in
these calculations, the moment values should be used as absolute values. If the ratio of
smaller bending moment value to the larger bending value is less than 0.80, the design
bending moment value can be determined as follows;

In this determination, it is assumed that the support moment of ith slab is larger than that of jth
slab. The distribution coefficients of the slabs can be determined by the following equations.
h fi h fj
=ki = , kj
lsi lsj

ki kj
=ri = , rj (2.12)
ki + k j ki + k j

The corrected support moment on each side of the common support can be determined by the
following equations;
2 
M′ij =
M ij − ri (M ij − M ji ) 
3 
 (2.13)
2
M ji + rj (M ij − M ji ) 
M′ji =
3 

20
REINFORCED CONCRETE-II LECTURE’S NOTES Prof. Dr. Yusuf AYVAZ

In these equations, the moment values should be used with their signs. M′ij M′ji should be

equal to or larger than 0.80 ( M′ij M′ji ≥ 0.80 ). Otherwise, the moment distribution should be

repeated by using the last distributed moment values until M′ij M′ji should be equal to or

larger than 0.80. After this condition is satisfied, the larger distributed bending moment value
as absolute value should be considered as design bending moment value.

If slab is assumed to be resting freely on the exterior support and if the rotation is fully
restrained by a sort of structural arrangement, the moment at the exterior support should be
taken as a certain fraction of the span moment value. If rotation is fully restrained, this ratio
can be taken as 1.0, otherwise it can be taken as 0.5. When a slab calculation is carried out
with this method, for the beam design, the distribution of the loads to the supports should be
according to tributary areas bounded by 45o lines drawn from the corners.

The cantilever slab support moment can be determined as the support moment of the
cantilever beam supporting the slab design load. It should be noted that the results obtained
by using approximate method are always conservative and also realistic.

2.2.2. One-Way Slabs with Beams (One-Way Solid Slabs)

If the ratio of the long span length (l l ) to the short span length (l s ) of the slab is larger than 2,
these slabs are called as one-way RC slabs (Figure 2.6). That is;
ll
m= >2 (2.14)
ls
Since these slabs transfer the loads into one direction which is the short direction, the bending
reinforcements in only one direction should be placed. In the long direction, the distribution
reinforcement should be placed.

2.2.2.1. Requirements for Slab Thickness

The smallest permissible slab thickness is as follows. These limits are also conformable with
the Turkish Earthquake Code.
• For floor slabs h f ≥ 80 mm

21
REINFORCED CONCRETE-II LECTURE’S NOTES Prof. Dr. Yusuf AYVAZ

• For ceiling of the last storey h f ≥ 60 mm

• For slabs over which vehicles might pass h f ≥ 120 mm

ls D101

ll

Figure 2.6. A schema of one-way slab with beams

In addition to the requirements given above, the slab thicknesses can not be less than the
values given below.
 For simple supported, single span slabs lsn / 25

 For continuous slabs lsn / 30 (2.15)

 For cantilever slabs lsn / 12

Where lsn is the clear span length in the short direction of the slab.

The minimum one-way slab thicknesses for which deflection calculations are not necessary
are given in Table 2.5.

Table 2.5. Minimum one-way slab thicknesses for which deflection calculations are not
necessary
Support condition Simple support Continuous support Cantilever
Exterior Interior
min h f = ls 20 ls 10
ls 25 ls 30

For slabs, the clear concrete cover should be at least 15 mm.

22
REINFORCED CONCRETE-II LECTURE’S NOTES Prof. Dr. Yusuf AYVAZ

2.2.2.2. Requirements for Reinforcements

• Main span reinforcement

The reinforcement ratio corresponding to the reinforcement in the short direction of the slab
can not be less than
0.003 for S220
(2.16)
0.002 for S420 and S500.
In case of single span slabs, at least half of the bottom span reinforcement and in the case of
continuous slabs at least 1/3 of the bottom span reinforcement should be continuous from
support to support. At the top of the exterior support of the continuous slabs, at least half of
the span reinforcement should be placed.

• Distribution reinforcement
The amount of distribution reinforcement which should be placed perpendicular to the main
reinforcement can not be less than the value obtained by the following equation.
1
Asl ≥ Ass (2.17)
5
In addition, the amount of distribution reinforcement can not also be less than Ø8/300.

• Reinforcement spacing
The spacing of the main span reinforcement can not exceed the smaller of the values obtained
by the following equation.
1.5*h f
ss ≤  (2.18)
200 mm
• Support reinforcement on the top of the beams in the short direction of the slab

On the top of the beams, along the short direction of the slab, support reinforcement
perpendicular to the main span reinforcement of the slab must be provided. This support
reinforcement, which cannot be less than 60 percent of the principle span reinforcement, will
be placed on top and extended from both sides to a length of 1/4 of the short span length. In
addition, the amount of this support reinforcement can not be less than Ø8/200 mm for S220,
Ø8/300 mm for S420, and Ø5/150 mm for S500. The minimum amount of this support
reinforcement is Ø8/300.

23
REINFORCED CONCRETE-II LECTURE’S NOTES Prof. Dr. Yusuf AYVAZ

2.2.2.3. Calculation of Design Load

Design load calculation of a one-way slab is similar to that of two-way slabs. As mentioned
before, this load is only transferred along the short direction.

2.2.2.4. Structural Analysis

In one way continuous flat slabs, the moments due to distributed loads are calculated by using
continuous beam theory that assumes beams to be capable of undergoing rotation freely at the
supports. For this, these slabs are analyzed as a continuous beam with unit width (Figure 2.7).
In this analysis, one of the methods known in the structural analysis can be used.

If one-way slab is supported by beams, the design support moment is calculated by

subtracting ∆M value from the support moment value at the support axis. ∆M value will be
determined by the following equation.
V *a
∆M = (2.19)
3
where a is the support width, and V is the shear force at the support axis. It should be noted
that a can not be larger than 0.175*l ( a ≤ 0,175 l ), l is the span length from axis to axis.
The reduced moment should be determined by the following equation.
1
=
M ′d ( M d + ∆M ) ≥ * p d *l2 (2.20)
14
In this equation, the summation will be done algebraically, and the comparison should be
done as absolute values. In case of one-way slabs resting freely on supports, the value of the
support moments should not be reduced.

In the case of continuous flat slabs spanning between reinforced concrete beams, the negative
span moments due to live loads can be reduced by taking the torsional stiffness of these
beams into consideration. If the span positive moment of the continuous slab is less than the
positive moment obtained by assuming both ends of the slabs to be fixed, the moment value
for the fixed ended case should be used in the design.

24
REINFORCED CONCRETE-II LECTURE’S NOTES Prof. Dr. Yusuf AYVAZ

1000 mm
1 1

ll
bw 1sn bw 1sn bw 1sn bw

Section 1-1
hf

(a) Slab support without capital

Section
1-1 Kesiti
1-1

1sn

(b) Slab support with capital

pd

(c) Continuous beam for the slab strip with 1000 mm width

Figure 2.7. Middle strip and supports for the one-way RC slabs which are continuous

25
REINFORCED CONCRETE-II LECTURE’S NOTES Prof. Dr. Yusuf AYVAZ

For continuous one-way slabs subjected to uniformly distributed loading, if the ratio of any
two adjacent spans is not less than 0.8, and if the ratio of live load to dead load is less than
two, the moments can be calculated by the following equation.
1
M d = * Pd *ls2 (2.21)
β
where β is the moment coefficient given in Table 2.6. It should be noted the obtained by using
Equation 2.21 should not be less than the value obtained by the following equation.
Pd *lsn2
Md ≥
24
In equation (2.21), l should be determined by adding the slab thickness to the clear span
length for a slab resting freely on walls. However, l can never exceed the distance between the
support axes and can never be less than 1.05 times the clear span length. When calculating the
support moments, the average of the span lengths and loads in adjacent spans should be used.

Table 2.6. β Moment Coefficients for the One-Way Reinforced Concrete Slabs with
Beams
Without With
capital capital
Interior support of exterior
More than two

-9 -9
span
Span number
Support

Other interior supports -10

-10
Exterior support -24
Interior support -8
Two

-8
Exterior support -24
Independent

Exterior spans 11 12
of the span
number
Span

Interior spans 15 18

26