Chapter XI: ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF ONE-WAY SLABS

Introduction:

Reinforced concrete slabs are large flat plates that are supported by various structural
elements including reinforced concrete beams, walls, or columns; masonry walls; structural steel
beams or columns; or directly by the ground. The classification of a slab depends on how it is
supported and the resulting bending behavior.

One-Way Slabs

One-way slabs are supported on two opposite sides only, causing bending in one
direction only – perpendicular to the supported edges. This is in contrast to two-way slabs,
which are supported on all four edges and experience bending in both directions.

A slab is classified as one-way when the ratio of the longer span to the shorter span is greater
than or equal to 2:

L/S ≥ 2 = One-Way Slab

L/S < 2 = Two-Way Slab

Where:

 L = Longer span length

 S = Shorter span length
Types of Structural Slabs - There are several
types of structural slabs used in
construction:

1. One-Way Slab: Supported on two

opposite sides, bending occurs in
one direction only.

2. Two-Way Slab: Supported on all four

sides, bending occurs in both
directions.

3. Flat Plate: A two-way slab system

that is supported directly on
columns without beams.

4. Flat Slab: Similar to flat plates but

includes column capitals or drop
panels to increase punching shear
resistance.
 5. Grid or Waffle Slab: A two-way system with closely spaced ribs in both directions,
forming a grid pattern.

Analysis and Design of One-Way Slabs

A one-way slab is considered as a wide, shallow, rectangular beam. The reinforcing steel
is usually spaced uniformly over its width. One-way slabs are analyzed by considering a one-
meter strip, which is assumed independent of the adjacent strips. This method of analysis is
somewhat conservative because it neglects the lateral restraint provided by the adjacent strips.

Minimum Slab Thickness (NSCP 2015 Section 407.3.1)

According to NSCP 2015 Section 407.3.1.1, for solid non-prestressed slabs not
supporting or attached to partitions or other construction likely to be damaged by large
deflections, the overall slab thickness (h) shall not be less than the limits in Table 407.3.1.1,
unless the calculated deflection limits of Section 407.3.2 are satisfied.

Support Condition Minimum h

Simply supported L/20

One end continuous L/24

Both ends continuous L/28

Cantilever L/10

Note: Expression applicable for normal weight concrete and fy = 420 MPa. For other cases,
minimum h shall be modified according to Sections 407.3.1.1.1 through 407.3.1.1.3 as
appropriate.

For fy other than 420 MPa, the expression in the table shall be multiplied by (0.4 + fy/700).

Minimum Flexural Reinforcement in Non-Prestressed Slabs (NSCP 2015 Section 407.6.1)

According to Section 407.6.1.1, a minimum area of flexural reinforcement (As min) shall be
provided in accordance with the following table:

Reinforcement Type fy As min

(MPa)

Deformed Bars < 420 0.0020Ag

Deformed Bars or welded wire ≥ 420 Greater of: [0.0018(420)/fy]Ag or

reinforcement 0.0014Ag
Minimum Shrinkage and Temperature Reinforcement (NSCP 2015 Section 407.6.4)

Section 407.6.4.1 requires reinforcement to resist shrinkage and temperature stresses in

accordance with Section 424.4.

According to Section 424.4.3.2, the ratio of deformed shrinkage and temperature reinforcement
area to gross concrete area shall satisfy:

Reinforcement Type fy Minimum Reinforcement Area

(MPa)

Deformed Bars < 420 0.0020

Deformed Bars or welded wire ≥ 420 Greater of: [0.0018(420)/fy] or

reinforcement 0.0014

The spacing of deformed shrinkage and temperature reinforcement shall not exceed the lesser
of 5h and 450 mm.

Minimum and Maximum Spacing of Reinforcement (NSCP 2015 Section 407.7.2)

 Minimum spacing: The clear spacing between parallel non-prestressed reinforcement in

a horizontal layer shall be at least the greatest of 25 mm, db (bar diameter), and
(4/3)dagg (maximum aggregate size).

 Maximum spacing: The maximum spacing of deformed reinforcement shall be the lesser
of 3h and 450 mm.

NSCP Coefficients for Continuous Beams and One-Way Slabs (NSCP 2015 Section 406.5)

The NSCP Coefficient Method is a simplified and approximate method used for the
analysis of continuous beams and one-way slabs. This method allows for real rotation restraint at
external supports where the real moment is not equal to zero, making it more realistic. However,
it is only valid when its conditions of application are satisfied according to Section 406.5.1:

It shall be permitted to calculate Mu due to gravity loads in accordance with this section
for continuous beams and one-way slabs satisfying (a) through (e):

a) Members are prismatic

b) Loads are uniformly distributed

c) L ≤ 3D

d) There are at least two spans

e) The longer of two adjacent spans does not exceed the shorter by more than 20 percent
According to Section 406.5.2, the factored moments (Mu) due to gravity loads shall be calculated
using the following coefficients:

Positive Moment Locations:

Location Condition Mu

End Span Discontinuous end integral with support wuLn²/14

End Span Discontinuous end unrestrained wuLn²/11

Interior Span All wuLn²/16

Negative Moment Locations:

Location Condition Mu

Interior face of Member built integrally with supporting spandrel beam wuLn²/24
exterior support

Interior face of Member built integrally with supporting column wuLn²/16

exterior support

Exterior face of first Two spans wuLn²/9

interior support

Exterior face of first More than two spans wuLn²/10

interior support

Face of other All wuLn²/11

supports

Face of all supports a. Slabs with spans not exceeding 3 m<br>b. Beams where wuLn²/12
satisfying (a) or (b) ratio of sum of column stiffness to beam stiffness exceeds 8
at each end of span

Note: To calculate negative moments, Ln shall be the average of the adjacent clear span lengths.

For shear forces, the following values should be used:

Location Vu

Exterior face of first interior support 1.15wuLn/2

Face of all other supports wuLn/2

Design Procedure for One-Way Slabs

Load Analysis

When designing one-way slabs, the following loads should be considered:

 Dead load (DL): Self-weight of the slab and any permanent fixtures

 Live load (LL): Occupancy loads as specified by building codes

 Environmental loads: Wind, seismic, snow (if applicable)

The self-weight of reinforced concrete is typically taken as 24 kN/m³ (2400 kg/m³) for normal
weight concrete.

Design Steps

1. Determine the slab thickness:

o Select preliminary thickness based on minimum requirements from Table

407.3.1.1
o Consider deflection control requirements
o Verify adequacy for shear strength
2. Calculate factored loads and moments:

o Apply appropriate load combinations (typically 1.2DL + 1.6LL for NSCP)

o Use moment coefficients from Table 406.5.2 for continuous spans
o For non-standard configurations, perform structural analysis
3. Design flexural reinforcement:

o Calculate required steel area using: As = Mu/(φ·fy·(d-a/2))

o Where a = As·fy/(0.85·f'c·b)
o Check against minimum reinforcement requirements from Table 407.6.1.1
o Select appropriate bar size and spacing
4. Check for shear capacity:

o Calculate factored shear forces using Table 406.5.4

o Verify that φVc ≥ Vu where Vc = 0.17λ√f'c·bw·d
o For most residential and light commercial one-way slabs, shear is rarely critical
5. Design temperature and shrinkage reinforcement:

o Calculate required steel area using ratios in Table 424.4.3.2

o Select appropriate bar size and spacing within limits of Sec 424.4.3.3
 One-way slabs represent an efficient and economical structural system for many building
applications. Their design is relatively straightforward, following established principles of
reinforced concrete design as outlined in building codes like NSCP 2015.

The key considerations in one-way slab design include:

1. Proper determination of slab thickness to satisfy deflection requirements

2. Accurate calculation of design moments using simplified methods or structural analysis

3. Provision of adequate main reinforcement to resist flexural stresses

4. Inclusion of appropriate temperature and shrinkage reinforcement

5. Verification of shear capacity, which is rarely critical for most slabs

6. Careful detailing of reinforcement to ensure proper load transfer

When designed correctly, one-way slabs provide a reliable structural system that efficiently
transfers loads to supporting elements while maintaining serviceability throughout the
structure's lifespan.
SAMPLE ANALYSIS PROBLEM:

The one-way slab has a thickness of 200mm, it is reinforced with 25mm Ø bars spaced at 150mm
on center. Clear covering is 18.75 mm. fc'= 20.7Mpa fy= 276.5Mpa. Wt. of concrete is 24 kN/m³.
Span of slab is 3.6 m. center to center of support.

a) Compute the depth of the compression block.

b) Compute the Ø Mn of the slab shown.

c) Compute the service live load in kPa that the slab can carry, assuming that the only dead load
is the weight of the slab.

SOLUTION:

a) Depth of compression block.

Consider 1000 mm strip of

slab.

d = 200 – 18.75 – 12.5

d = 168.75 mm

b) Value of Ø Mn of the slab shown.

T=C

As fy = 0.85 fc' ab

As = (π/4)(25)²(1000/150)

As = 3272.50mm²

As fy = 0.85 fc' ab

3272.50(276.50) = 0.85(20.7)(a)(1000)

a = 51.43 mm

Ø Mn = Ø as fy(d - a/2)

Ø Mn = 0.90(3272.50)(276.50)(168.75 - 51.43/2)

Ø Mn = 116.50 kN.m
c) Service live load in kPa that the slab can carry, assuming that the only dead load is the
weight of the slab.

Mu = (Wu L²)/8

Mu = (Wu(3.6)²)/8

Wu = 71.91 kN/m

DL = 0.20(1)(24)

DL = 4.8 kN/m

Wu = 1.2 DL + 1.6 LL

71.91 = 1.2(4.8) + 1.6 LL

LL = 41.34 kN/m

LL = 41.34 kPa
SAMPLE DESIGN PROBLEM:

A simply supported one way reinforced concrete floor slab has a span of 3m. it carries a service
load of 8.4 kPa and a service dead load of 1.2 kPa. fc' = 20.7Mpa fy = 414.6Mpa. Use steel
covering of 25 mm measure from center to center of bars.

a) Determine the spacing of 16 mm Ø main bars of the slab for minimum thickness as specified
by the NSCP.

b) Determine the spacing of the 12 mm Ø shrinkage and temperature bars for minimum
thickness of slab. c) Determine the spacing of the 16 mm Ø main bars of the thinnest possible
slab allowed by the NSCP.

SOLUTION:

a) The spacing of 16 mm Ø main bars of the slab for minimum thickness as specified by the
NSCP

Min. thickness of solid one way slab with a simply supported span of 3m for no pre stressed
beams unless deflection are computed.

t = L/20

t = 3000/20

t = 150 mm

Consider one meter strip of slab:

d = 150 - 25

d = 125

Wu = 1.2 DL + 1.6 LL LL = 8.4 kN/m

Wt. of slab = 0.15(1)(24) Wu = 1.2(4.8) + 1.6(8.4)

Wt. of slab = 3.6 kN/m Wu = 19.2 kN/m

Total DL = 1.2 + 3.6 Mu = (Wu L²)/8

Total DL = 4.8 kN/m Mu = 19.2(3)²/8

Mu = 21.6 kN.m

Mu = Ø fc' bd² ω(1 - 59ω)

21.6 × 10⁶ = 0.90(20.7)(1000)(125)²

ω(1 - 59ω)

ω(1 - 59ω) = 0.07420

ω² - 1.6949ω + 0.12577 = 0 ω = 0.0778

ω = ρ fy/fc' ρ min = 1.4/fy

0.0778 = ρ(414.6)/20.7 ρ min = 1.4/414.6

ρ = 0.00388 ρ min = 0.003377

Use ρ = 0.003388

As = ρ bd

As = 0.003388(1000)(125)

As = 423.5mm²

Spacing of 16 mm Ø main bars, no. of

bars = 1000/S

(π/4)(16)²(1000/S) = 423.5

S = 474.76 mm

Use S = 470 mm on centers

b) The spacing of the 12 mm Ø shrinkage and temperature bars for minimum thickness
of slab.

For slabs with grade 415 deformed bars.

Area of shrinkage or temp. bars.

As = 0.0018 bd

As = 0.0018(1000)(125)

As = 225 mm²

Spacing of 12 mm Ø temp. bars: No. of

bars = 1000/S

(π/4)(12)²(1000/S) = 225

S = 502.65 mm

Use spacing S = 500 mm. on centers

c) The spacing of the 16 mm Ø main bars of the thinnest possible slab allowed by the
NSCP.

t = L/30

t =

3000/30

t = 100 mm

d = 100 - 25

d = 75 mm

Mu = Ø fc' bd² ω(1 - 59ω)

21.6 × 10⁶ = 0.90(20.7)(1000)(75)² ω(1 - 59ω)

ω(1 - 59ω) = 0.20612

ω - 1.6949ω + 0.034936 = 0

ω = (1.6949 ± 1.2146)/2

ω = 0.4803

ω = ρ fy/fc'

0.4803 =
ρ(414.6)/20.7

ρ = 0.024

ρ min = 1.4/fy ρ min = 0.003377

ρ min = 1.4/414.6

Use ρ = 0.024

As = ρ bd
As = 0.024(1000)(75)

As = 1800 mm²

Spacing of 16 mm Ø main bars, no. of bars = 1000/S

(π/4)(16)²(1000/S) = 1800

S = 111.70mm

Use S = 110 mm on centers