BLDTEC5:

Alternative
Building Construction
Systems and Materials
 CONCRETE OVERVIEW
CONCRETE
• An artificial, stone-like building
material made by mixing CEMENT
and various mineral
AGGRERATES with sufficient
WATER to cause the cement to set
and bind the entire mass
• Strong in COMPRESSION but
weak in TENSION
• Too brittle to withstand stress
REINFORCED CONCRETE
• CONCRETE in which STEEL
REINFORCEMENT is embedded
in such a manner that the 2
materials act together in resisting
forces
• Steel is protected from corrosion
while concrete is given tensile
strength
 CONCRETE OVERVIEW
CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE
• Concrete deposited, formed, cured, and
finished in its final position as part of a
structure
• Also called cast-in-situ concrete
• Slow process due to the need to construct
formworks on site
• Formworks requires caution to prevent
seepage and ultimately becomes a cost
consideration
PRECAST CONCRETE
• A concrete member or product that is cast and
cured in a place other than where it is to be
installed in a structure
• Time-saving and cost-effective especially for
repetitive and consistent components of
structure
• Can be erected in poor weather conditions
and requires no on-site formworks
• Transport may be limiting and possibility of
water leakage at joints
 camber OVERVIEW
Construction
System

LIFT SLAB SPANSTRESS SLIP FORM camber

• Floor and roof • Uses prestressed T- • Forms are set about • Usually designed to
slabs are cast one joist with filler 1.50m in height compensate
on top of the other. blocks or and are fixed on deflectors caused
After curing, they collapsible steel jacks and hydraulic by pre-composite
are lifted to their forms systems. As the dead loads
final positions by concrete starts to
hydraulic jacks and set, the forms are
secured to vertical jacked up
supports systematically until
the whole structure
is completely
concreted
 Cast-in-Place Classification
CONCRETE OVERVIEW
Concrete Slab by Location

SLAB ON GRADE SLAB ON BEAM

• Distributes load directly on the soil or
compacted sand
• Initial construction cost is cheaper since there
is no need for bottom formworks
• Transfers load to beam then to columns
• Initial construction cost is higher due to
formworks and the reinforcements needed to
connect the beam and slab

• Possible disadvantage if there is uneven soil

settlement but can be remedied by
compacting the base thoroughly prior to
pouring of cement
 Classification
Cast-in-Place
CONCRETE OVERVIEW
Concrete Slab
by Load
Transfer System

ONE-WAY SLAB TWO-WAY SLAB

• Transfers load from slab to a pair of beam or • Beam transfers load to the 4 columns through 2
bearing wall pairs of beams

• Used for short spans (1.80-3.60m)
• Appropriate for rectangular shaped slabs (W:L
= 1:3)
• Used for longer spans (4.50-12.00m) and heavy
loads or when high lateral force resistance is
required
• Bays should be as square as possible
 Classification
Cast-in-Place
CONCRETE OVERVIEW
Concrete Slab
by Load
Transfer System

ONE-WAY CONCRETE JOIST SYSTEM TWO-WAY CONCRETE JOIST SYSTEM

(RIBBED SLAB) (WAFFLE SLAB)
• Used for longer spans (4.50-10.80m) and heavier • Used for longer spans (6.00-14.40m) and heavy
load than one-way slab loads

• Broader joists at beam (joist band) can resist • Supporting beams ad drop panels can be formed
greater shear by omitting dome forms in selected areas

• Distribution rib transfers load to larger area (6.00- • Bays should be as square as possible
9.00m span = 1 rib; over 9.00m span = 2 ribs)
 Classification
Cast-in-Place
CONCRETE OVERVIEW
Concrete Slab
by Load
Transfer System

TWO-WAY FLAT SLAB TWO-WAY FLAT PLATE

• Supported by columns without beams for long- • Flat slab without drop panels and column capital
span building (4.50-12.00m) for long-span building (4.50-10.80m)

• Drop panel (min width = 0.45 x span; min depth = • Minimum floor thickness = span/33 or 5”; Typical
span/85) and column capital are used to increase floor thickness is 14” (0.35m)
shear strength and moment resisting capacity

• Min floor thickness = span/36 or 4”; Typical

floor thickness is 6”-12” (0.15-0.30m)
 Pre-Cast
CONCRETE OVERVIEW
Concrete Slab
Major Types

SOLID FLAT SLAB HOLLOW-CORE SLAB SINGLE TEE DOUBLE TEE

• Suitable for short spans • Internally cored to • Concrete slab having a • Concrete slab having 2
and uniformly reduce dead weight broad, T-shaped cross stems and a broad cross
distributed floor and section section resembling the
roof loads • Suitable for medium to capital letters TT
long spans and
uniformly distributed
floor and roof loads
 Pre-Cast Prestressed
CONCRETE OVERVIEW
Concrete Slab Concrete
PRESTRESSED CONCRETE

• Concrete reinforced by pre-tensioning or post-tensioning high-strength steel tendons within their

elastic limit to actively resist a service load

• PRESTRESS
• To introduce internal stresses to a concrete member in order to counteract the stresses that will result
from an applied load
• Eugene Freyssinet
• A French structural and civil engineer. He was the major pioneer of pre-stressed concrete.
• Vladimir Shukov-
• A Russian Engineer and was one of the first develop practical calculations of stresses and
deformations of tensile structures shells and membranes.
 Pre-Cast Prestressed
CONCRETE OVERVIEW
Concrete Slab Concrete

POST-
PRE-TENSIONING
TENSIONING
• To prestress a • To prestress a
concrete member concrete member
by tensioning the by tensioning the
reinforcing tendons reinforcing tendons
before the concrete after the concrete
is cast has set
 Pre-Cast
CONCRETE OVERVIEW Concrete Wall
Panels

LOAD CAPACITY FORM COMPOSITION

• Load Bearing • Flat • Solid
• Non-bearing • Ribbed • Hollow
• More Intricately Shaped • Sandwich of concrete with
an insulating core
 Pre-Cast
CONCRETE OVERVIEW Concrete Wall
Panels

LOAD CAPACITY FORM COMPOSITION

• Load Bearing • Flat • Solid
• Non-bearing • Ribbed • Hollow
• More Intricately Shaped • Sandwich of concrete with
an insulating core
 Pre-Cast
CONCRETE OVERVIEW Concrete Wall
Panels

LOAD CAPACITY FORM COMPOSITION

• Load Bearing • Flat • Solid
• Non-bearing • Ribbed • Hollow
• More Intricately Shaped • Sandwich of concrete with
an insulating core
 Construction
CONCRETE OVERVIEW
System

LIFT SLAB SPANSTRESS SLIP FORM TILT-UP PANEL

• Floor and roof slabs • Uses prestressed T- • Forms are set about • Concrete walls are
are cast one on top of joist with filler blocks 1.50m in height and site-casted on the
the other. After or collapsible steel are fixed on jacks and floor slab or on a
curing, they are lifted forms hydraulic systems. As separate casting bed
to their final positions the concrete starts to then tilted and lifted
by hydraulic jacks set, the forms are into position by a
and secured to jacked up crane
vertical supports systematically until
the whole structure is
completely concreted
 Construction
CONCRETE OVERVIEW
System

LIFT SLAB SPANSTRESS SLIP FORM TILT-UP PANEL

• Floor and roof slabs • Uses prestressed T- • Forms are set about • Concrete walls are
are cast one on top of joist with filler blocks 1.50m in height and site-casted on the
the other. After or collapsible steel are fixed on jacks and floor slab or on a
curing, they are lifted forms hydraulic systems. As separate casting bed
to their final positions the concrete starts to then tilted and lifted
by hydraulic jacks set, the forms are into position by a
and secured to jacked up crane
vertical supports systematically until
the whole structure is
completely concreted
 Construction
CONCRETE OVERVIEW
System

LIFT SLAB SPANSTRESS SLIP FORM TILT-UP PANEL

• Floor and roof slabs • Uses prestressed T- • Forms are set about • Concrete walls are
are cast one on top of joist with filler blocks 1.50m in height and site-casted on the
the other. After or collapsible steel are fixed on jacks and floor slab or on a
curing, they are lifted forms hydraulic systems. As separate casting bed
to their final positions the concrete starts to then tilted and lifted
by hydraulic jacks set, the forms are into position by a
and secured to jacked up crane
vertical supports systematically until
the whole structure is
completely concreted
 Construction
CONCRETE OVERVIEW
System

LIFT SLAB SPANSTRESS SLIP FORM TILT-UP PANEL

• Floor and roof slabs • Uses prestressed T- • Forms are set about • Concrete walls are
are cast one on top of joist with filler blocks 1.50m in height and site-casted on the
the other. After or collapsible steel are fixed on jacks and floor slab or on a
curing, they are lifted forms hydraulic systems. As separate casting bed
to their final positions the concrete starts to then tilted and lifted
by hydraulic jacks set, the forms are into position by a
and secured to jacked up crane
vertical supports systematically until
the whole structure is
completely concreted
 Construction
connectors OVERVIEW
System

LIFT SLAB SPANSTRESS SLIP FORM Shear connector

• Floor and roof • Uses prestressed T- • Forms are set about • A bond between the
slabs are cast one joist with filler 1.50m in height steel beam and
on top of the other. blocks or and are fixed on concrete floor slab
After curing, they collapsible steel jacks and hydraulic which is poured on
are lifted to their forms systems. As the top of the metal
final positions by concrete starts to decking.
hydraulic jacks and set, the forms are
secured to vertical jacked up
supports systematically until
the whole structure
is completely
concreted
 Construction
connectors OVERVIEW
System

LIFT SLAB SPANSTRESS SLIP FORM Headed Studs

• Floor and roof • Uses prestressed • Forms are set • Is the most
slabs are cast one T-joist with filler about 1.50m in common form of
on top of the blocks or height and are connecting
other. After collapsible steel fixed on jacks materials
curing, they are forms and hydraulic compositely
lifted to their systems. As the
final positions by concrete starts to
hydraulic jacks set, the forms are
and secured to jacked up
vertical supports systematically
until the whole
structure is
completely
concreted
 Construction
connectors OVERVIEW
System

Other
examples
LIFT SLAB SPANSTRESS SLIP FORM
connectors
• Floor and roof • Uses prestressed • Forms are set
slabs are cast T-joist with filler about 1.50m in
one on top of the blocks or height and are
other. After collapsible steel fixed on jacks
curing, they are forms and hydraulic
lifted to their systems. As the
final positions concrete starts to
by hydraulic set, the forms
jacks and are jacked up
secured to systematically
vertical supports until the whole
structure is
completely
concreted
 Construction
membrane OVERVIEW
System

Membrane
LIFT SLAB SPANSTRESS SLIP FORM
structure
• Floor and roof • Uses prestressed T- • Forms are set about • Spatial structures
slabs are cast one joist with filler 1.50m in height made out of
on top of the other. blocks or and are fixed on tensioned
After curing, they collapsible steel jacks and hydraulic membranes
are lifted to their forms systems. As the
final positions by concrete starts to
hydraulic jacks and set, the forms are
secured to vertical jacked up
supports systematically until
the whole structure
is completely
concreted

membrane
LIFT SLAB
• Floor and roof slabs are cast
one on top of the other.
After curing, they are lifted
to their final positions by
hydraulic jacks and secured
to vertical supports
Construction
OVERVIEW
System
Tensile strcuture
• A construction of
SPANSTRESS SLIP FORM elements carrying only 
• Uses prestressed T-joist • Forms are set about 1.50m tension and no 
with filler blocks or in height and are fixed on compressionor bending.
collapsible steel forms jacks and hydraulic
systems. As the concrete
starts to set, the forms are
jacked up systematically
until the whole structure is
completely concreted
 Construction
membrane OVERVIEW
System

Tensile Membrane
LIFT SLAB SPANSTRESS SLIP FORM
structure

• Floor and roof slabs • Uses prestressed T- • Forms are set about • Most often used as
are cast one on top joist with filler 1.50m in height and a roof, as they can
of the other. After blocks or collapsible are fixed on jacks economically and
curing, they are steel forms and hydraulic attractively span
lifted to their final systems. As the large distances.
positions by concrete starts to set,
hydraulic jacks and the forms are jacked
secured to vertical up systematically
supports until the whole
structure is
completely
concreted
 Construction
membrane OVERVIEW
System

Tensile Membrane
LIFT SLAB SPANSTRESS SLIP FORM
structure

• Floor and roof slabs • Uses prestressed T- • Forms are set about • Most often used as
are cast one on top joist with filler 1.50m in height and a roof, as they can
of the other. After blocks or collapsible are fixed on jacks economically and
curing, they are steel forms and hydraulic attractively span
lifted to their final systems. As the large distances.
positions by concrete starts to set,
hydraulic jacks and the forms are jacked
secured to vertical up systematically
supports until the whole
structure is
completely
concreted
 Construction
membrane OVERVIEW
System

Conpression and
LIFT SLAB SPANSTRESS SLIP FORM
tension in membrane

• Floor and roof slabs • Uses prestressed T- • Forms are set about • Most often used as
are cast one on top joist with filler 1.50m in height and a roof, as they can
of the other. After blocks or collapsible are fixed on jacks economically and
curing, they are steel forms and hydraulic attractively span
lifted to their final systems. As the large distances.
positions by concrete starts to set,
hydraulic jacks and the forms are jacked
secured to vertical up systematically
supports until the whole
structure is
completely
concreted
 Construction
membrane OVERVIEW
System

LIFT SLAB SPANSTRESS SLIP FORM cable

• Floor and roof • Uses prestressed • Forms are set • A flexible
slabs are cast one T-joist with filler about 1.50m in Structural
on top of the blocks or height and are component that
other. After collapsible steel fixed on jacks offers no
curing, they are forms and hydraulic resistance when
lifted to their systems. As the compressed or
final positions by concrete starts to bent in curved
hydraulic jacks set, the forms are shape.
and secured to jacked up
vertical supports systematically
until the whole
structure is
completely
concreted
 Construction
membrane OVERVIEW
System

LIFT SLAB SPANSTRESS SLIP FORM cable

• Floor and roof • Uses prestressed • Forms are set • A flexible
slabs are cast one T-joist with filler about 1.50m in Structural
on top of the blocks or height and are component that
other. After collapsible steel fixed on jacks offers no
curing, they are forms and hydraulic resistance when
lifted to their systems. As the compressed or
final positions by concrete starts to bent in curved
hydraulic jacks set, the forms are shape.
and secured to jacked up
vertical supports systematically
until the whole
structure is
completely
concreted
 Construction
membrane OVERVIEW
System

LIFT SLAB SPANSTRESS SLIP FORM cable

• Floor and roof slabs are • Uses prestressed T-joist • Forms are set about • Tendons
cast one on top of the with filler blocks or 1.50m in height and are • Tendons may consist
other. After curing, collapsible steel forms fixed on jacks and of single wires, multi-
they are lifted to their hydraulic systems. As wire strands or threaded
final positions by the concrete starts to bars that are most
hydraulic jacks and set, the forms are commonly made from
secured to vertical jacked up high-tensile steels,
supports systematically until the carbon fiber or aramid
whole structure is fiber. ... While pre-
completely concreted tensioned concrete uses
tendons directly
bonded to the concrete,
post-tensioned concrete
can use either bonded
or unbonded tendons.
 CONCRETE

CLASS ACTIVITY / QUIZ

• ILLUSTRATE THE POSSIBLE BEHAVIOR (e.g. possible deformation or failure) OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF
SLAB ONCE LOAD IS APPLIED TO THEM:
• One-Way Slab
• Two-Way Slab
• Ribbed Slab
• Waffle Slab
• Flat Slab
• Flat Plate

• EXPLAIN HOW PRE-TENSIONING AND POST-TENSIONING WORKS (including the behaviour of the concrete
member once load is applied to it)

• EXPLAIN HOW THE FOLLOWING CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM WORKS:

• Lift Slab System
• Spanstress Floor System
• Slipform System
• Tilt-Up Panel System