2-way slabs (with beams)

The Direct Design Method has more requirements to be applicable, but is the simpler of the two hand methods. The
requirements are:
1. There must be at least 3 continuous spans in each direction.
2. The panels must be rectangular, with the length of the longer side of any panel not being more than two times the
length of it's shorter side (lengths being measured c to c of supports).
3. Span lengths of successive spans in each direction may not differ in length by more than one-third of the longer
span.
4. Columns may not be offset by more than 10% of the span length in the direction of the offset from either axis
between center lines of successive columns.
5. The unfactored live load must not be more than two times the unfactored dead load. All loads must be the result of
gravity and must be uniformly distributed over an entire panel.
6. If a panel is supported on all sides by beams, the relative stiffness of those beams in the two perpendicular
directions, as measured by the following expression, shall not be less than 0.2 or greater than 5.0.

0.2 < ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯< 5.0

Throughout the chapter, is used to represent the flexural stiffness of the beam ($%& '& ) to the flexural
stiffness of the slab ($%) ') )
$%& '&
= ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
$%) ')
$&) = +,-. ./ ,0 123+
$%) = +,-. ./ ,0 4, .+5 slab
'& = 67,// +,-. ./ ,0 8527983 ,0 123+, :7,;2498,5 ,5 234ℎ /8-2 ,0 123+ 2=.3 9, +858+.+ ,0:
1) -2:9ℎ ,0 123+ 12 ,@ / 31 ,7
2) 4 98+2/ / 31 9ℎ84B52///
Note: must calculate centroid

Ch 16 Slab with beams Page 1

 1ℎD
') = C⎯⎯⎯E
12
Gross modulus of inertia of slab (bh^3/12)with b equal to the transverse slab width

= 0 0,7 0 39 / 31 @89ℎ,.9 123+/

M = 7398, ,0 ,56 9, /ℎ,79 4 237 /:35

N = 3O27362 ,0 ,5 3 /8-2/ ,0 9ℎ2 :352

Ch 16 Slab with beams Page 2

Torsional stiffness for edge panels
$%& Q
MP = ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
2$%) ')
MP = is the ratio of the torsional stiffness of an edge beam section to the flexural stiffness of a width of slab
equal to the span length of the beam center to center of supports

where x is the length of the short side of each rectangle and y is the length of the long side of each rectangle

Ch 16 Slab with beams Page 3

Tables for calculating Ib

Table for interior beams

Ch 16 Slab with beams Page 4

Table for exterior beams

Ch 16 Slab with beams Page 5

Example

Calculate the flexural stiffness factor αf for panel 1 in the following two-way slab
with exterior and interior beams:

column dimensions 20"x20"

f'c 4,000 psi
fy 60,000 psi
beams 12"x18"
slab 7" thick

Ch 16 Slab with beams Page 6

Grid 2

Ch 16 Slab with beams Page 7

Grid C

Ch 16 Slab with beams Page 8

Grid 1

Ch 16 Slab with beams Page 9

Grid D

Ch 16 Slab with beams Page 10