CIV 3118 - STRUCTURAL DESIGN I

Learning objectives
Design of reinforced concrete slabs with emphasis on
• types of slabs.
• shear in slabs.
• design of one-way spanning slabs.
 Concrete slabs
• have their breadth not less than 5 times the overall depth
• behave primarily as flexural members with the design similar
to that for beams.
They have simple design because:
• a unit breadth of 1 m is used in the calculations;
• the shear stresses are usually low in a slab except when
there are heavy concentrated loads; and
• compression reinforcement is seldom required.
• Slabs may span in one direction or in two directions and they
may be supported on monolithic concrete beams, steel
beams, walls or directly by the structure's columns.
• Continuous slabs should in principle be designed to
withstand the most unfavorable arrangements of loads, in
the same manner as beams.
Bending moment coefficients -one-way spanning slabs.
 Shear stresses in slabs

• Shear stresses in slabs subject to uniformly distributed loads

are generally small,
• shear reinforcement will seldom be required and
• design the slab done such that the design ultimate shear
force VEd is less than the shear strength of the unreinforced
section VRdmax.
• In this case it is not necessary to provide any shear
reinforcement.
Where different concrete strength is used, the values in
table 8.2 may be modified by the factors provided in table
8.3 provided that ρ ≥ 0.4.
• the section should also be checked to ensure that VEd is less
than the shear strength of the unreinforced section VRdmax·
• if shear reinforcement is required then the variable strut
method may be used.
• practical difficulties (bending and fixing shear reinforcement)
make it unlikely that shear reinforcement could be provided in
slabs less than 200 mm thick.
 Punching shear – analysis
A concentrated load on a slab causes shearing stresses on a
section around the load: this effect is referred to as punching
shear.
Critical surface for checking punching shear is 2.0 d from the
loaded area.
maximum force carried by the slab without shear
reinforcement (VRD,c) can be obtained using
• the values of νRd,c given in table 8.2
• and ρ1 = (ρy ρz) ½ where ρy and ρz are the reinforcement
ratios As/bd in the two mutually perpendicular directions.

VRd,c =νRd,cdu
where d is the effective depth of the section of two steel
layers in the perpendicular directions
(dy+dz)/2
u = the length of the punching shear perimeter.
• Checks must also be undertaken to ensure that the
maximum permissible shear force ( VRd max) is not exceeded
at the face of the loaded area.
The maximum permissible force is given as
VRd max = 0.5ν1 fcdud = 0.5ν1 (fck/1.5)ud
where u is the perimeter of the loaded area and
ν1 is the strength reduction factor = 0.6(1 – fck/250)
 Example

A slab 175 mm thick, average effective depth 145 mm is

constructed with C25/30 concrete and reinforced with 12 mm
bars at 150 mm centers one way 754mm2/m, and 10mm bars
at 200 centers in the other direction (393 mm2/m). Determine
the maximum ultimate load that can be carried on an area
300mm x 400m.
For the unreinforced section, the first critical perimeter
u1 = (2a + 2b + 2π x 2d)
= 2 (300 + 400) + 4π x 145
= 3222mm
Maximum force carried by the slab without shear
reinforcement VRd,c =νRd,cdu
VRd,c =νRd,c x (145 x 3222)
= νRd,c x (467190)
Average steel ratio
ρ1 = (ρy ρz) ½
ρy = 754/ (1000 x 145) = 0.0052
ρz = 393 / (1000 x 145) = 0.0027
ρ1 = (0.0052 x 0.0027)1/2 = 0.0038 = 0.38%
Thus from table 8.2. for a 175 mm slab, νRd,c = 0.56 N/mm2 for
a class C30 concrete and from table 8.3 for class C25 concrete,
the modification factor is 0.94.

maximum force carried by the slab without shear

reinforcement (VRD,c)
VRd,c =νRd,cdu
VRd,c = νRd,c x (467190)
= 0.94 x 0.56 N/mm2 x 467190 mm2 x10-3KN/N
= 246 KN
The maximum permissible shear force on the face of the
support is given as the maximum shear resistance
𝑓𝑐𝑘 𝑓𝑐𝑘
𝑉𝑅𝑑,𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 0.5ud 0.6 1 −
250 1.5

VRd,max = 0.5 x 2 x 300x 400 x 145 0.6 1 −

 Solid slabs spanning in one direction
• The slabs are designed as if they consist of a series of beams of
1m breadth.
• The main steel is in the direction of the span and secondary or
distribution steel is required in the transverse direction.
• The main steel should form the outer layer of reinforcement to
give it the maximum lever arm.
Single-span solid slabs
• The basic span effective depth ratio for this type of slab 20: I on
the basis that it 'lightly stressed' and that grade 500 steel is used
in the design.
• For a start-point in design a value above this can usually be
estimated (unless the slab is known to be heavily loaded.)
The effective span of the slab may be taken as the clear
distance between the face of the support plus a distance at
both ends taken as the lesser of
i. the distance from the face of the support to its centerline
ii. one-half of the overall depth of the slab.
Design of a Simply Supported Slab

The slab is to be designed to carry a variable load of 3.0 KN/m2 plus

floor finishes and ceiling loads of 1.0KN/m2. The characteristic material
strengths are fck = 25N/mm2 and fyk = 500N/mm2. Basic span-effective
depth ratio =20 for a lightly stressed slab for class C25/30 concrete and
ρ = 0.5%. The effective span is taken as 4.5m between centerlines of
support
First Design Solution

Estimate of slab depth

Try a basic span-depth ratio of 27
Minimum effective depth = span/(27 x correction factors (c.f)

= 4500/(27 x c.f.) = 167/ c.f.

As high yield steel is being used and the span is less than 7m, the
correction factors can be taken as unity. Try an effective depth of
170mm. For XC-1 exposure, the cover is 25mm. Allowing for half
the bar diameter (5mm) of the reinforcing bar.

Overall depth of slab = 170 + 25 + 5 = 200mm

Slab loading
Self- Weight of slab = 200 x 25 x 10-3 = 5.0kN/m2
Total permanent load = 1.0 + 5.0 =6.0kN/m2
For a 1m width of slab:
Ultimate load = (1.35gk + 1.5qk) 4.5 x 1
= (1.35 x 6.0 + 1.5 x 3.0) x 4.5 = 56.7 KN
M = 56.7 x 4.5/8 = 31.9KNm
Bending Reinforcement

M 31.9 x 106
2
= 2
= 0.044
bd fck 1000 x 170 x 25
From the lever-arm curve, figure 4.5, la = 0.96. Therefore,
adopt the upper limit of 0.95 and lever arm z = la x d = 0.95 x
170 = 161mm.

M 31.9 x 106
As = = = 455mm2 /m
0.87f z 0.87 x 500 x 161
yk

Provide H10 bars at 150 centres, As = 523mm2/m ( As shown in

A.3 in the appendix)
Check span-effective depth ratio
100 As.req 100 x 455
ρ= =
bd 1000 x 170
= 0.268% > 0.13% 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡

From figure 6.3, this corresponds to a basic span-effective

depth ratio of 32. The actual ratio = 4500/170= 26.5; hence
the chosen depth is acceptable.
Shear

56.7
At the face of the support shear 𝑉𝐸𝑓 = −
2
(12.6 x 0.15)= 25.9 kN

100 x 523
𝜌1 = = 0.31
1000 x 170

𝑉𝑅𝑑,𝑐 = ν𝑅𝑑,𝑐 bd where ν𝑅𝑑,𝑐 from table 8.2 = 0.55 ( note:

no concrete strength adjustment since 𝜌1 < 0.4%
 VRd,c = 0.55 x 1000 x 170 = 93.5 kN

As 𝑉𝐸𝑓 is less than

𝑉𝑅𝑑,𝑐 then no shear reinforcement is required.

End anchorage

From the table of anchorage lengths in the appendix, the

tension anchorage length
= 40φ = 40 x 10 = 400mm.
Distribution steel
Provide minimum = 0.0013bd = 0.0013 x 1000 x 170 = 221mm2/m
Provide H10 at 300mm centres. (262mm2/m)
Continuous solid slab spanning in one
direction
• Reinforcement is required within the span and top reinforcement
over the supports,
• The effective span is the distance between the centerline of the
supports
• The basic span/ effective depth ratio of an interior span 30 for a
lightly stressed where grade 500 steel and C30/ 35 concrete are used.
• The corresponding limit of the end span is 26.
 Design of a continuous solid slab
The four –span slab supports a variable load of 3.0kN/m2 plus floor
finishes and a ceiling load of 1.0 kN/m2. The characteristic material
strengths are fck = 25 N/mm2 and fyk = 500 N/ mm2.
Estimate the slab depth
Try a basic-effective depth of 30% above the end-span limit of 26 (i.e.
33)
Span
𝑀inimum Effective depth =
33 x c. f.
4500 136
= =
33 x c. f. c. f.
As high yield steel is being used and the span is less than 7m, the
correction factor can be taken as unity.
Try an effective depth of 140mm. For a class XC-1 exposure, the cover
= 25mm.
Allowing say 5mm as the bar diameter of the reinforcing bar,
Overall depth = 140 + 25 + 5 = 170mm
Slab loading
Self-weight of slab = 170 x 25 x 10 -3 = 4.25kN/m2
Total permanent load = 1.0 + 4.25 = 5.25 kN/m2
For a 1m width of slab
Ultimate load F = (1.35 gk + 1.5qk ) 4.5
= (1.35 x 5.25 + 1.5 x 3.0)4.5 = 52.14kN

Using the coefficients of 8.1, and assuming that the end support is
pinned, the moment at the middle of the end span is given by:

M = 0.086 FL = 0.086 x 52.14 x 4.5 = 20.18kNm.

Bending reinforcement
M 20.18 x 106
2
= 2
= 0.0412
bd fck 1000 x 140 x 25
From the lever-arm curve, figure 4.5, la = 0.96. Therefore,
adopt the upper limit of 0.95 and lever arm z = la x d = 0.95 x
140 = 133mm.
M 20.8 x 106
As = = = 349mm2 /m
0.87fyk z 0.87 x 500 x 133
Provide H10 bars at 200mm centres, As = 349mm2 /m
Check span-effective depth ratio
100As,req 100 x 349
= = 0.249
bd 1000 x 140

From fig, 6.3, this corresponds to a basic span-effective depth

ratio in excess of 32 x 1.3 (for an end span) = 41.
The actual ratio =4500/ 140 = 32.1; hence the chosen effective
depth is acceptable
From fig, 6.3, this corresponds to a basic span-effective depth ratio in
excess of 32 x 1.3 (for an end span) = 41.
The actual ratio =4500/ 140 = 32.1; hence the chosen effective depth
is acceptable.
At the end supports, there is a monolithic connection between the
slab and the beam, therefore the top steel should be provided to
resist any negative moment. The moment to be designed for is a
minimum of 25% of the span moment, that is 5.1 kNm.

A minimum of 0.13 % of steel is provided, H10 bars of 400mm

centres.
Transverse reinforcement = 0.0013bd
= 0.0013 X 1000 x 140
= 182 mm2/m

Provide H10 at 400 mm centres top and bottom, where ever there is
main reinforcement, As prov = 196 mm2/m
Reinforcement in continuous slab.
Simplified rules for curtailment of bars in slab spanning
in one direction
Read up on curtailment of reinforcement

Go through examples on Solid Slab spanning in two directions.