Design of Slabs

A) Simply Supported Rectangular Slabs Spanning in one direction

These slabs are generally designed on the assumption that they consist of a number of
beams of breadth 1m. Strictly the slab is monolithic and is not composed of individual
separate beams. We assume so only for easy computations.
Effective Span:
The effective span of a simply supported slab shall be taken as the lesser of the following:
1. Distance between the centers of bearings
2. Clear span plus the Effective depth
Type of Slab
Simply supported and spanning in one
direction
Continuous and spanning in one direction
Simply supported and spanning in two
directions
Continuous and spanning in two
directions
Cantilever Slabs

Ratio of Span to Depth

30
35
35
40
12

For normal conditions of loading the thickness of slab may be taken as 4cms per metre
run of the span. A slab shall not ordinarily be less than 10cms in thickness.
Reinforcement:
The reinforcement for a slab spanning in one direction consists of main bars &
distribution or temperature bars. These two sets of bars form a mesh of reinforcement.
The minimum reinforcement in either direction shall be 0.15% of the total cross-sectional
area. (However this value can be reduced to 0.12% when high strength deformed bars or
welded fabric is used).
Main Bars:
The reinforcement constituting the main bars shall be based on the maximum bending
moment. The reinforcement shall not be less than 0.15% of the gross cross sectional area.
The pitch of the main bars shall not exceed the following :
i.
Three times the effective depth of slab &
ii.
45cms

Distribution or temperature reinforcement:

These are reinforcements provided running at right angles to the main steel in order to
distribute the load & the temperature and shrinkage stresses. This steel too shall have an
area atleast equal to 0.15% of the gross area of the slab.
The pitch of the distribution bars shall not exceed the following:
i.
Five times the effective depth of the slab
ii.
45cms]
Diameter of bars:
The diameter of the Main bars may be from 8mm to 14mm generally. However the
diameter of main bars shall not exceed 1/8th of the total thickness of the slab.
For distribution steel 6mm to 8mm diameter bars are generally used.
Cover to reinforcement:
The minimum cover to outside of the main bars shall not be less than the following:
15mm
Diameter of the main bar
Dead Load:
The dead load to which a slab is subjected to, consists of the weight of the slab, floor
finishes and ceiling finishes when provided.
In all calculations of loading, unless otherwise mentioned, the weight of reinforced
concrete shall be taken as 2500 kg/m2 or 25000 N/m2 and that of plain concrete as 2400
kg/m2 or 24000 N/m2.
Floor Finish
Terrazzo (20mm)
Granolithic (25mm)
Mosaic (7mm Bedded in mortar)
Saw dust filler (20mm)
Rubber Sheets (7mm)
Hard Wood blocks (25mm)

Weight (kg/m2)
46
58
51
31
12
22

Weight (N/m2)
460
580
510
310
120
220

Steps to be followed in the design of slabs:

1. Assuming suitable bearings (Not less than 10cm) Find the span of the slab
between the centers of bearings
2. Assume the thickness of the slab (Say at 4cm per metre run of the span)
3. Now find the effective span which is the lesser of :
Distance between the centers of bearing &
Clear Span + Effective Depth

4. Now find the dead load and live load per square metre of the slab
5. Determine the maximum bending moment for a one metre wide strip of the slab.
The
maximum
bending
moment
per
metre
width
M=(wl2/8).
Where w=Total load intensity per square metre of the slab
6. Equate the balanced Moment of Resistance to the Maximum Bending Moment
Qbd2=QX100d2=M
7. Find the effective depth d from the above relation and compare the value obtained
with what is available. The effective depth available should not be less than the
effective depth required.
8. Now calculate the main steel required per metre width
A t=M/
(Safe stress in steel X Lever Arm)
For M150 concrete in M.K.S. designs and for M15 concrete in S.I. designs take
lever arm a=0.87d
9. Select a suitable diameter for the main reinforcement and calculate the spacing
Spacing = (Area of one bar X 100)
-------------------------------At
10. Shear & bond stresses are usually very low in the slabs which we usually come
across In bridge slabs however check for shear and bond stresses may be made