FLAT SLAB

Normally the slab is supported by beam and beam is supported by column is called as slab
beam frame construction.
The beams reduce the available net clear floor to floor height of structure. Hence in
warehouses, commercial building shopping mall, offices and public halls sometimes beams
are avoided and slabs are directly supported by columns.
These types of construction are aesthetically appealing and avoid the obstruction due to the
beam. These types of slabs which are directly supported by columns. these type structures
are also called flat slab
Definition of flat slab
"The term flat slab means a reinforced concrete slab with or without drops, supported
generally without beams, by columns with or without flared heads. A flat slab may be solid
slab or may have recesses formed on the soffit so that a soffit comprises a series of ribs in
two directions. The recess may be formed of permanent or removable filler blocks.
A flat slab is reinforced concrete flat slab reinforced in two or more directions to bring the
load acting normal to its plane directly to supporting columns without the help of any beam
or girder."

Types of Flat slab:

Typical flat slab (without drop and column head)

Slab without Drop and Column with Column Head

Slab with Drop and Column without Column Head

Slab with Drop and Column with Column Head
Banded Flat slab

Drops The drops when provided shall be rectangular in plan, and have a length in each
direction not less than one third of the panel in that direction. For exterior panels, the width
of drops at right angles to the non-continuous edge and measured from the centre-line of
the columns shall be equal to one half of the width of drop for interior panels.
Column heads Where column heads are provided, that portion of the column head which
lies within the largest right circular cone or pyramid entirely within the outlines of the
column and the column head, shall be considered for design purpose as shown in figure

Thickness of flat Slab The thickness of the flat slab up to spans of 10 m shall be generally
controlled by considerations of span (L) to effective depth (d) ratios given as below: Table 1:
Span to depth ratio Cantilever 7 Simply supported 20 Continuous 26 For slabs with drops,
span to effective depth ratios given above shall be applied directly; otherwise, the span to
effective depth ratios in accordance with above shall be multiplied by 0.9. For this purpose,
the longer span of the panel shall be considered. The minimum thickness of slab shall be 125
mm.

• The column tends to punch through the slab in Flat Slabs, which can be treated by
three methods:
• Using a drop panel and a column capital in flat slab
• Using a drop panel without a column capital in flat slab
• Using a column capital without drop panel in flat slab

Uses of column heads:

• Shear strength of flat slab is increased by using column heads.
• Column heads reduce the clear or effective span, and therefore, reduce the moment
in the flat slab floor
Uses of drop panels:
• Drop panels increase the shear strength of flat slab floor.
• Drop panels increase flat slab's negative moment capacity.
• Drop panels reduce deflection by stiffening the flat slabs.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM

The flat slabs can be cast in situ (cast-in-place). Else, the slabs can be precast at ground level
and lifted to the final height. The later type of slabs is called lift slabs.
1. POST TENSIONING SYSTEM&. PRE-TENSIONING SYSTEM

PRE-TENSIONING SYSTEM

PURPOSE TENSIONING SYSTEM

To reduce the deflection.
To reduce the punching shear.
Reduced structure depth.

To greater column free areas.

Reduces the required number of columns and foundations.
To increase load bearing capacity.
To bear seismic forces.

COMPONENT PARTS OF FLAT SLAB

Drop Panels: The 'drop panel' is formed by the local thickening of the slab in the
neighbourhood of the supporting column. Drop panels or simply drops are provided mainly
for the purpose of reducing shear stress around the column supports. They also help in
reducing the steel requirements for the negative moments at the column supports. The
code recommends that drops should be rectangular in plan, and have length in each
direction not less than one third of the panel length in that direction. For exterior panels,
the length measured perpendicular to the discontinuous edge from the column centreline
should be taken as one half of the corresponding width of drop for the interior panel.
Column Capital: The column capital or column head provided at the top of a column is
intended primarily to increase the capacity of the slab to resist punching shear. The flaring
of the column at top is generally done such that the plan geometry at the column head is
similar to that of the column. The code restricts the structurally useful portion of the column
capital to that portion which lies within the largest (inverted) pyramid or right circular cone
which has a vertex angle of 90°, and can be included entirely within the outlines of the
column and the column head. This is based on the assumptions of a 45° failure plane,
outside of which enlargement of the support is considered ineffective in transferring shear
to the column.

THICKNESS OF FLAT SLAB

The thickness of flat slab shall be generally controlled by considerations of span of effective
depth ratios given
For slabs with drops conforming to figure, span to effective depth ratios given in figure shall
be applied directly otherwise the span in effective depth ratios obtained in accordance with
provisions in figure shall be multiplied by 0.9. For this purpose, the longer span shall be
considered. The minimum thickness of slab shall be 125mm.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Flat Slabs
Advantages:

• Increases speed of construction. The construction is simple and economical because

of the simplified form work, the ease of placement of reinforcement.
• The plain ceiling gives an attractive and pleasing appearance; in absence of beams,
provision of acoustical treatment is easy.
• In general, flat slab construction is economical for spans up to 10m and relatively
light loads.
• Compare to the RCC less self-weight, which results in reduced dead load, which also
has a beneficial effect upon the columns and foundations
• Reduces the overall height of buildings or enables additional floors to be
incorporated in buildings of a given height.
Disadvantages:

• Slab column connection does not possess the rigidity of the beam column joint.
• Shear concentration around column is very high due to the possibility of the column
punching through the slab.
• Deflections tend to be very large due to lesser depth of slab.
APPLICATION OF FLAT SLAB

• In the case of high rise building thinner slabs are required so that additional floors
can be added.
• The distance that be spanned by post Tensioned slabs exceeds that of reinforced
constructions with the same thickness.
• For increasing span lengths so as to increases the usable unencumbered floor space
in buildings.
• For diminishing the number of points in the structure.
• For the speedy construction of the protect.
• The amount of steel required is much less than in normal, structure.
• The moulds can be used $o. of times as per the demand.
• Due to reduce beam section the load transferred to foundation is less compared to
that of, structure.
• The structure is crack free as the whole structure is in compression.
• Large span of slab can obtain easily.
Benefits of Using Flat Slab Construction Method
• Flexibility in room layout
• Saving in building height
 • Shorter construction time
• Ease of installation of M&E services
• Use of prefabricated welded mesh
• Buildable score

Flexibility in Room Layout

Flat slabs allows Architect to introduce partition walls anywhere required, this allows owner
to change the size of room layout. Use of flat slab allows choice of omitting false ceiling and
finish soffit of slab with skim coating.
Saving in Building Height
• Lower storey height will reduce building weight due to lower partitions and cladding
to façade
• Approximately saves 10% in vertical members
• Reduced foundation load

Shorter Construction Time

Use of flat slabs requires less time for construction by the use of big table formwork.
Single Soffit Level

Ease of Installation of Flat Slabs

All M & E services can be mounted directly on the underside of the slab instead of bending
them to avoid the beams.
Use of Prefabricated Welded Mesh
Use of prefabricated welded mesh minimizes the installation time of flat slabs. These mesh
are available in standard size and provides better quality control in construction of flat slab.

Buildable Score
This allows standardized structural members and prefabricated sections to be integrated
into the design for ease of construction. This process makes the structure more buildable,
reduce the number of site workers and increase the productivity at site, thus providing
more tendency to achieve a higher Buildable score.
Code provision for flat slab

Drop
The drops when provided shall be rectangular in plan and have a length in each direction
not less than one- third of the panel length in that direction. For exterior panels, the width
of drops at right angles to the non-continuous edge and measured from the centre- line of
the columns shall be equal to one-half the width of drop for interior panels.

Column Heads
Where column heads are provided, that portion of a column head which lies within the
largest right circular cone or pyramid that has a vertex angle of 90 degree and can be
included entirely within the outlines of the column and the column head, shall be
considered for design purposes.
Direct design method
The successive span length in each direction shall not differ by more than one-third of the
longer span. The end spans may be shorter but not longer than the interior span.

The design lived load shall not exceed three times the design dead load.
Design steps for flat slab
Check preliminary dimension
Check for applicability of DDm

Divide the slab with frame in X and Y directions and obtain dimension of X and Y frames.
Analysis the interior and exterior panel.
a. Longitudinal distribution
b. Transverse distribution

Estimate the design moment in the external column

Estimate the design moment in the internal column
Design for shear
Detailing should be done as per code requirement.
Design for shear

Punching shear
Punching shear reinforcement

REINFORCEMENT DESIGN AND DETAILING

Reinforcement design is one of the critical parts of flat plate/slab design; maximum forces
from the analysis shall be used in the design of the reinforcement. Reinforcement required
for flexure by using minimum slab thickness per table 1 typically will not require
compression reinforcement. The tension steel area required and detailing for appropriate
strips can be as per IS 456:2000 or ACI-318, both being similar. However, design for
punching shear force (including additional shear due to unbalanced moment) per IS
456:2000 is 32% conservative compared to ACI-318, because Indian code underestimates
the concrete two-way shear strength by 32% compared to ACI. Design of Flat slab by Direct
Design Method has some restrictions that (a) It should have minimum three spans in each
direction. (b) It must not have staggered column orientation Hence many a times Equivalent
Frame Method is adopted.
All the Negative & Positive moments are distributed in the column strips & Middle strips
respectively using equivalent codes. IS 456-2000 gives Distribution of moments across
panels for Exterior and interior Slab. whereas ACI 318 also gives distribution table for
moments. According to design considerations these codal provisions must be used.
Reinforcement Details
The longitudinal reinforcement for all three slab specimens was the same. But, for the slabs FS2 and
FS3, additional shear reinforcement was provided. The detailing of reinforcement for the slab and
column is shown in table 2 and table 3 respectively. Figure 1 shows the reinforcement details of slab
FS1, which has no shear reinforcement in it. Figure 2 shows the reinforcement details of slab FS2,
which has shear reinforcement in the form of open legged stirrups. Figure 3 shows the
reinforcement details of slab FS3, which has shear reinforcement in the form of structural shear
bands.
General Considerations for use of Flat slab Floor System
The following are the main factors to be considered before adopting the use of the concrete flat
plate with steel/concrete column system 1. Spacing of columns 2. Long term deflection of the flat
plate 3. Punching shear checks at column areas. Steps involved in the design of flat slab structures 1)
Framing system 2) Engineering analysis 3) Reinforcement design and detailing Framing system Initial
framing system formulation provides a detailed geometric description of the column spacing and
overhang. Architect provides this part of the design; the engineer should emphasis on the following:
• Three continuous spans in each direction or have an overhang least one-fourth times adjacent
span length in case of only two continuous spans and

• Typical panel must be rectangular and

 • The spans must be similar in length i.e., adjacent span in each direction must not differ in
length by one-third

References

Advanced, reinforced concrete Design: P.C. Varghese.

A.K. Jain limit state design of, reinforced concrete.
Reinforced concrete design: Sunni Krishna Pillai Devdas Menon
D.$& DaGirani @ S.? -handola Hand boo' of civilEngineering.