Flat Slabs

• The shape in plan is geometrically similar to the support

immediately below the slab as shown in Fig. For column
sections with re-entrant angles, the critical section is taken as
shown in Fig. In the case of column near the free edge of a slab,
critical section is taken as shown in Fig.
• The critical section for shear is taken at a distance from the
periphery of the column/head/drop panel, perpendicular to the
plane of the slab where d is the effective depth of the section as
shown in Fig.
 Methods of analysis and design
A flat slab is a highly indeterminate structure. It may be analyzed and designed
using the direct design method or the equivalent frame method. Both are
approximate methods. Here only the direct design method is discussed in detail.
Slab designed by the direct design method must fulfill the following conditions:

 There should be minimum of three continuous spans in each direction.

 The panels should be rectangular, and the ratio of the longer span to the
shorter span within a panel should not be greater than 2.0.

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 It should be permissible to Offset columns to a maximum of 10 percent of the

span in the direction of the offset.

 The successive span lengths in each direction should not differ by more than one-

third of the longer span. The end spans may be shorter but not longer than the

interior spans.

 The design live load should not exceed three times the design dead load.

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Total design moment for a span

In the direct design method, the total design moment for a span should be
determined for a strip bounded laterally by the centre line of the panel on each
side of the centre line of the supports. The absolute sum of the positive and
average negative bending moments in each direction should be taken as:

M0 = total bending moment

W = design load intensity

ln= clear span extending from face to face of columns, capitals, brackets or walls, but

not less than 0.65 l1

l1= length of span in the direction of M0

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l2= length of span transverse to l1
Circular supports should be treated as square supports having the same area.

When transverse span of the panels on either side of the centre-line of supports

varies, l2 be taken as average of the transverse spans.

When the adjacent span and parallel span edge are being considered, the

distance from the edge to the line of the panel should be substituted for l2 in the

above equation.

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Negative and positive design moment

The negative design moments are located at the face of rectangular supports, circular supports being

treated as square supports having the same area. In an interior span, the design moment M O should be

distributed in the following proportions:

Negative design moment : Positive design moment : : 0.65 : 0.35

The distribution of moment between supports and midspan in exterior and interior spans is shown in the

Fig below:

where,

= ratio of flexural stiffness of the columns to the flexural stiffness of the slab at a joint taken in
the direction moments are being determined

Kc = sum of the flexural stiffness of the columns meeting at the joint, and
Ks = flexural stiffness of the slab, expressed as moment per unit rotation
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Fig. 2. Distribution of moments between column and middle strips

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It is permissible to modify these design moments by up to 10 percent so long as

the total design moment M0 for the panel in the direction considered is not less

than given by Eq. above.

The negative moment section is designed to resist the larger of the two interior

negative design moments determined for the spans framing into a common

support unless an analysis is made to distribute the unbalanced moment in

accordance with the stiffness of the adjoining parts.

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Distribution of bending moments across the panel width

Bending moment at critical cross-section is distributed to the column strips and middle
strips as shown in Fig. below:

Fig. 1. Distribution of moments between exterior and interior spans

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When openings in flat slabs are located at a distance less than ten times the
thickness of the slab from a concentrated reaction or when the openings are located
within the column strips, the critical section is modified so that part of the
periphery of the critical section which is enclosed by radial projections of the
opening to the centroid of the reaction area is considered ineffective, and opening
should not encroach upon column head.

Fig. Critical section for shear in elevation

 FLAT SLABS

Fig.

Fig. Critical section for shear in slab free edge or openings

Calculation of shear stress
Three cases may be identified for
computation of shear in flat slabs:

i. Interior column

ii. Edge column

iii.Corner column
Example 1.
A flat slab is supported on 600 mm dia. circular columns spaced
apart in both directions. The column head has a diameter of 120 cm.
the live load on the flat slab is . Determine the moment in the slab
along its 8 m span.
Solution
Span of slab Since the span is large, it is desirable to provide drop.
The minimum size of drop is
Provide drops of size
That is, for service stress in Fe 415 grad tension steel)
or
Let us adopt overall thickness D = 25 cm and d = 22 cm.
Dead load of slab
Finish load (say)
Live load
Total
Equivalent side of the column head having the same area

Clear spacing between the column head

The total design load in a panel is

W
The absolute sum of positive and negative bending moments in a
panel is
Let height of the floor = 4 m
Clear height of the column = height of floor – depth of the drop
– thickness of slab – thickness of head

Effective height of column

(Assuming one end hinged and the other fixed)
Stiffness of column
Stiffness of slab
The minimum value of

Exterior Panel
Interior Panel
BM at first interior support

Hence BM at this support

BM near mid span
BM at other interior support
Distribution of BM across the width of panel
Column strip (half width