Reinforced

Concrete
Structures - Slabs
Prepared by: Hailu B.
Academic Year: 2011/12

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 General Methods of Analysis

EBCS-2,1995 recommends four analysis methods:

Linear analysis (elastic)

Linear analysis followed by plastic moment
redistribution
Plastic analysis
Non-linear analysis
Material non-linearity
Geometric non-linearity

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 Structural Plasticity
General Theory:
The collapse load of a structure lies between
two limits, an upper bound and a lower bound
of the true collapse load.

Lower Bound and Upper Bound theorems as applied to slabs:

Lower Bound Theorem: if, for a given external load, it

is possible to find a distribution of moments that satisfies
equilibrium requirements, with the moment not exceeding
the yield moment at any location, and if the boundary
conditions are satisfied, then the given load is a lower
bound of the true carrying capacity.
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 Structural Plasticity
Upper Bound Theorem: if, for a small increment of
displacement, the internal work done by the slab,
assuming that the moment at every plastic hinge is equal
to the yield moment and that boundary conditions are
satisfied, is equal to the external work done by the given
load for that same small increment of displacement, then
that load is an upper bound of the true carrying capacity.

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 Comparison of the Two Theorems
Lower Bound Conditions:
If satisfied, the slab can certainly carry the given load
A higher load may be carried if internal redistribution of
moments occure
E.g. Coefficient Method, Strip Method

Upper Bound Conditions:

A load greater than the given load will certainly cause a
failure
A lower load may produce collapse if the selected
failure mechanism is incorrect in any sense
E.g. Yield Line Method
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 Strip Method for Slabs
Strip method of slab design is a lower bound
approach gives results on the safe side
Satisfies both equilibrium and boundary
conditions everywhere in the slab
Sometimes refered as equilibrium theory
Forces acting on small
slab element:
surface and shear
forces

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 Strip Method for Slabs
Forces acting on small slab element:
flexural and twisting moments

This equation is independent of

elasticity or plasticity effects,
poissons ratio or whether the
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 Strip Method for Slabs - Plate Equation

This differential equation can be solved in such a

way that:
Equilibrium equation is satisfied
Boundary conditions are satisfied
Yield moment capacity is exceeded nowhere

The starting point of Hillerborgs strip theory!

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 Professor Arne Hillerborg (Sweden, 1956)

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 Hillerborgs Strip Method

Hillerborg chooses as his solution the condition

Mxy = 0
Load is carried entirely by
criterion.

Hence the slab can be considered as a system of

x-direction and y-direction strips only,
i.e. using independent torsion-free strips criss-
crossing each other.
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 Hillerborgs Strip Method

He then considers two independent equilibrium

actions which are twistless,

k proportion of the load is distributed in x-direc.

1-k proportion of the load is distributed in y-direc.
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 Choice of Load Distribution
In principle, the load, q, can be divided arbitrarily between
the x and y directions
i.e. choices open to the designer.

Differentdivisions will, of course, lead to different patterns

of reinforcement and all will not be equally appropriate.
The desired goal is:
To arrive at a practical arrangement of steel that is safe
and economical and that will avoid problems at the
service load level associated with excessive cracking and
deflection.
It should be noted that the strip method provides choice
of moment patterns instead of unique solution.
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 Choice of Load Distribution - Example
Consider a square, simply supported slab with side
length a and UDL (factored) q per unit area:

(a) Slab (b) system of twist-less strips

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 Load Distribution Solution 1
The simplest load distribution is obtained by setting
k=0.5

The load on all strips in

each direction is thus
q/2

Maximum design
moments will be
Mx=My=qa2/16
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 Load Distribution Solution 1
This would not represent an economical or serviceable
solution
Since, curvatures and moments are recognized to be
greater in the strips near the middle of the slab than
near the edges in parallel direction to supports

If the slab were reinforced according to this solution,

extensive redistribution of moments would be required

This certainly would have resulted in much cracking

in highly stressed regions near the middle of the slab
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 Load Distribution Solution 2
distribution is k=1
or 0, depending on
the region

The load in any

region is carried in
the direction giving
the shortest
distance to the
nearest support

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 Load Distribution Solution 2
The lateral distribution of moment shown in fig. d
would theoretically require a continuously variable
bar spacing.
This obviously is impractical, hence, averaging of
moment over a certain width may be needed to
provide a practical spacing of bars

However, Hillerborg notes that this is not strictly in

accordance with the equilibrium theory
Design is no longer certainly on the safe side

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 Load Distribution Solution 3
discontinuity lines are
parallel to the edges
Hence doesnot
require averaging
of moment
distribution is k=1 or
0 along middle edges
K=0.5 corners and
centers of slab

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 Load Distribution Comparison
The first would be unsatisfactory
Requires more redistribution of moments
Exccessive cracks and large deflections
In the second solution reinforcement more nearly matches
the elastic distribution of moments
But results in an impracticable bar spacing
Moment averaging may be needed

The third solution, with discontinuity lines parallel to edges,

doesnot require moment averaging, and leads to a practical
reinforcing arrangements
Often prefered

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 Rectangular Slabs
It is reasonable to assume that
throughout most of the area, the
load will be carried in the short
direction
Consistent with elastic theory
Hillerborg presents one possible
division as shown in the first figure
However, it is impractical

Hillerborg suggested that the load

can be distributed as shown in the
second figure.
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 Rectangular Slabs
It is reasonable to take edge bands of width equal to one-
fourth of the short span dimension
No averaging of moments, and is always on the safe side
Simple & economical

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 Fixed Edges and Continuity
Strip method provides a large amount of flexibility in
assigning loads to various regions of slabs.
This flexibility extends to the assignment of moments
between Negative and Positive bending sections of slabs that
are fixed or continuous over their supported edges.
Attention should be paid to elastic moment ratios (-ve/+ve) to
avoid problems of cracking and deflections.

Consider a slab strip carrying

loads only near the supports
and unloaded in the central
region

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 Fixed Edges and Continuity
It is convenient if the unloaded region is
subjected to a constant moment (and hence, zero
shear)

The sum of absolute values of

+ve span moment and ve end
moment at the left or right end
(Ml & Mr) is numerically equal
to the negative moment if the
strip carries the load as a
Cantilever.

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 Fixed Edges and Continuity
Steps in Calculation of Design Moments
1) Determine the Cantilever moment
2) Decide on the ratio of ve moment to +ve moment
As a general rule (Hillerborg suggests) for fixed
edges, the support moment should be between 1.5-
2.5 times the span moment in the same strip
3) Calculate the span moments and support moments

** The first two steps determine the location of the

discontinuity lines.

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 Fixed Edges and Continuity
The side
strips
around
continuous
edges are
wider to
account for
the greater
stiffness of
the strips
with fixed
ends.

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 Non-Standard Problems
The real power of the strip method becomes evident
when dealing with non-standard problems, such as
Slabs with unsupported edges
Slabs with holes or
Slabs with reentrant corners (L-shaped slabs)

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 Unsupported Edges
The basis for analysis:
Strips along unsupported edges acts as a support for
the strips at right angles
Hence, they carry greater load per unit area than the
actual unit load acting
Such strips have been referred to as Strong Bands,
(Wood and Armer)
A strong band is, in effect, an integral beam,
usually having the same total depth as the
remainder of the slab but containing a
concentration of reinforcement.
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 Unsupported Edges short span
The load on a unit
middle strip in x-dir.
(fig. b) includes the
downward load q
around the fixed
support and the
upward reaction kq
around the free edge.

K can be calculated
after Mxs is selected
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 Unsupported Edges long span
A significant fraction
of the load in the slab
central region is
distributed in the
short direction.

The distribution
shown in the figure is
more suitable

Moment in y-dir. strip

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 Slabs With Holes
Integral load-
carrying beams are
provided along the
edges of the
openings, usually
having the same
depth as the rest of
the slab, but with
extra reinforcement.

Loads are distributed as shown by arrows

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 F
Slabs With Holes
E

B A
G
D

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 Examples 1
Figure below shows a typical interior panel of a
slab floor in which support is provided by beams
on all column lines. Hence the slab can be
considered fully restrained on all sides. The
floor must carry a live load of 6 kN/m2 with C30
grade concrete and steel having fyk = 420 MPa.
The dimensions of the slab panel are shown in
the figure. Find the moments at all critical
sections and determine the required slab
thickness and reinforcement.

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 Examples

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 Example 1 - Solution
Depth required for serviceability

d = 145.5mm,

Dused=170mm
deff,s=149mm
deff,l=137mm

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 Example 1 - Solution
Loads on the slab
DL of the slab = (0.170 * 25) = 4.25 kN/m2
LL given in the problem = 6 kN/m2
Design load = 1.3(4.25) + 1.6(6) = 15.13 kN/m2
q = 15.13 kN/m2 q/2 = 7.56 kN/m2
Strips in the slabs
The discontinuity lines are selected as shown in the figure below.
Edge strip width = b/4 = 6/4 = 1.5 m
In the corners the load is divided equally in the two directions;
elsewhere 100 percent of load is assigned to the direction indicated
by the arrows.
A ratio of support moment to the span moment of 2 is used
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 Example 1 - Solution
Calculation of moments:

X direction middle strip along A-A:

Cantilever moment: mx = 15.13 * 1.52/2 = 17.02 kNm
Negative Moment: mxs = 17.02 * 2/3 = 11.35 kNm
Positive moment: mxf = 17.02 * 1/3 = 5.67 kNm

X direction edge strip:

Cantilever moment: mx = 7.56 * 1.52/2 = 8.51 kNm
Negative Moment: mxs = 8.51 * 2/3 = 5.67 kNm
Positive moment: mxf = 8.51 * 1/3 = 2.84 kNm

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 Example 1 - Solution
Calculation of moments:

Y direction middle strip along B-B:

Simply supported span moment:
my = 15.13 * 62/8 = 68.09 kNm
Negative Moment: mys = 68.09 * 2/3 = 45.39 kNm
Positive moment: myf = 68.09 * 1/3 = 22.69 kNm
Y direction edge strip:
Cantilever moment: my = 7.56 * 1.52/2 = 8.51 kNm
Negative Moment: mys = 8.51 * 2/3 = 5.67 kNm
Positive moment: myf = 8.51 * 1/3 = 2.84 kNm
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 Example 1 - Solution

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 Example 1 - Solution

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 Example 2
Rectangular slab with long edge unsupported

The 3.65 m x 5.8 m slab shown in the figure

with three fixed edges and one long edge
unsupported must carry a uniformly
distributed service live load of 6 kN/m2.
Consider concrete grade to be used as C30
and steel to be used has fyk = 420 MPa.
Select an appropriate slab thickness,
determine all factored moments in the slab,
and select reinforcing bars and spacing for
the slab.

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 Example 2 Solution, Depth

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 Example 2 - Solution , Loads

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 Example 2 - Solution , Loads

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 Example 2 - Solution , Moments

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 Example 2 - Solution , Moments

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 Example 2 - Solution , Moments

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 Example 2 - Solution , Depth Check

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Example 2 - Solution , Reinforcements

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 Example 2 - Solution

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 Example 3 - Slab With Hole

A rectangular slab, 5 m x 8 m with fixed supports

at all the four sides has a central opening of 1.2
m x 2.4 m. Slab thickness is Calculated to be of
200mm. The slab is to carry a uniformly
distributed factored load of 15 kN/m2 including
its self weight. Device an appropriate system of
strong bands to reinforce the opening and
determine moments to be resisted at all critical
sections of the slab. Materials used include;
concrete C-25, steel S-300, and class I works.

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 Example 3 - Slab With Hole
F
E

B A
5m

G
D

8m
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 Example 3 - Solution , Moments

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 Example 3 - Solution , Moments

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 Example 3 - Solution , Moments

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 Example 3 - Solution , Moments
Because of the
hole, certain
strips lack
support at one
end.
0.3m wide
strong bands
will be
provided in
the X dir. and
0.6m wide
strong bands
in the Y
direction
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 Example 3 - Solution , Moments

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 Example 3 - Solution , Moments
The negative value of w1 indicates that the cantilever
strips are serving as support for strip D-D and in turn
for the strong bands in the Y direction

which is hardly a reasonable assumption.

Hillerborg suggests the restraint moment

to be as close to the basic case as
possible without w1 being negative i.e.
choosing w1 = 0 (cantilever alone).

mys = 15*(1.575)2 / 2 = 18.6 kNm

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 Example 3 - Solution , Moments

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 Example 3 - Solution , Moments

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 Example 3 - Solution , Moments

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 Example 3 - Solution , Moments

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 Example 3 - Solution , Moments

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 Example 3 - Solution , Moments

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 Example 3 - Solution , Depth Check

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Example 3 - Solution , Reinforcements

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 Assignments
1) Design of Flat Slab system given in example 2, up to the
reinforcement layout and bar schedule.

2) Reinforcement layouts and bar schedules of the slabs

designed in examples 1, 2 & 3 of the strip method

3) Design the slab in example 1 of the strip method using

the coefficient method, and compare the results in the
two methods of design.

Submission date: June 08, 2012

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