REINFORCED CONCRETE SLAB DESIGN

Reinforced concrete slabs are one of the most widely used structural elements. In many
structures, in addition to providing a versatile and economical method of supporting gravity loads,
the slab also forms an integral portion of the structural frame to resist lateral forces.
Usually a slab is a broad, flat plate, with top and bottom surfaces parallel or nearly so. It may
be supported by reinforced concrete beams, by masonry or reinforced concrete walls, by structural
steel members, directly by columns, or continuously by the ground.
The design of any slab system may be divided into the following steps:
Step 1:
Step 2:

Choose layout and type of slab.

Select Design Method and Slab Thickness.

Equivalent Frame Method

Use elastic frame analysis to compute positive and negative moments.
A 3D building is divided into a series of 2D equivalent frames by cutting the building along
lines midway between columns. The resulting frames are considered separately in the longitudinal
and transverse directions of the building and treated floor by floor.
Direct Design Method
Use coefficients to compute positive and negative slab moments.
Limited to slab systems to uniformly distributed loads and supported on equally spaced
columns. Method uses a set of coefficients to determine the design moment at critical sections.
Method Coefficient
The coefficient give more exact analysis, significant economy can be achieved by making a
more precise analyses. There should be no reversal of moments at the critical design sections near
mid-span or at the support face.

Step 3:
Step 4:
Step 5:
Step 6:
Step 7:

Compute the Design Moment.

Check Design Thickness
Choose Flexural Reinforcement.
Check Shear Capacity
Control of Deflection

STEPS 1 CHOOSE LAYOUT AND TYPE OF SLAB

Type of slab is strongly affected by architectural and construction considerations.

FLAT PLATE

For relatively light loads as in apartments or offices, suitable span from 4.5m to 6m with live
load LL = 3~5kN/m2.
Advantages
Low cost formwork
Exposed flat ceilings
Fast
Disadvantages
Low shear capacity
Low stiffness (notable deflection)

FLAT SLAB

For heavy industrial loads, suitable span from 6m to 9m with LL = 5~7.5kN/m2.

Advantages
Low cost formwork
Exposed flat ceilings
Fast
Disadvantages
Need more formwork for capacity and
panels

WAFFLE SLAB

Two-way joist system, suitable span from 7.5m to 12m with LL = 4~7.5kN/m2.
Advantages
Carries heavy loads
Attractive exposed ceilings
Fast
Disadvantages
Formwork with panels is expensive
2

TWO-WAYS SLAB WITH BEAM

Two way slabs are the slabs that are supported

on four sides and the ratio of longer span to shorter
span is less than 2. In two way slabs, load will be
carried in both the directions. So, main
reinforcement is provided in both directions for two
way slabs.

One-way Slab on beams suitable span 3m to 6m with LL = 3~5kN/m2. Can be used for
larger spans with relatively higher cost and higher deflections.
One-way joist system suitable span 6m to 9m with LL = 4~6kN/m2.
Deep ribs, the concrete and steel quantities are relative low,
Expensive formwork expected.

STEPS 2 SELECT DESIGN METHOD AND SLAB THICKNESS

As the slabs in a building will comprise a high percentage of the overall mass of the structure,
the selection of slab thickness should be made carefully. The slab thickness will generally be driven
by deflection limits and punching shear at the supports. The success or failure of a slab design is
almost always judged on the basis of serviceability.
ONE WAY SLAB DESIGN
0.5 < la / lb < 1

one way slab design

Thickness slab hmin,

Simply supported

ln/20

One end continuous

ln/24

Both end continuous

ln/28

Cantilever
ln/10
Table1. One way slab design thickness (ACI 318-14 table 7.3.1.1).

Where
lb, long direction (m);
la, short direction (m);
ln, clear span in long direction (m);
TWO WAY SLAB DESIGN

la / lb < 0.5

Thickness slab

two ways slab design

(Coefficient Method)

Where
lb, long direction (m);
la, short direction (m);
P, panel perimeter (m)

STEPS 3 CALCULE THE FACTORED LOAD Wu

Wu (kN/m2)

= 1.2DL + 1.6LL

Where
DL
supports.
LL

Dead Load includes own weight of the slab in addition to the covering materials it
Live Load is dependent on the intended use of the slab.

STEPS 4 OBTAIN DESIGN MOMENT

ONE WAY SLAB DESIGN
Positive Moment
End Spans :
When discontinues end unrestrained Mu = wuln2 / 11
When discontinues end is integral with support Mu = wuln2 / 14
Where
ln

is the corresponding clear span length.

Interior Spans :
Mu = wuln2 / 16

Negative Moment

Negative moment at exterior face of first interior support:

Two spans, Mu = wuln2 / 9
More than two spans, Mu = wuln2 / 10
Where
ln

is the average of adjacent clear span length.

Negative moment at other face of interior support :

Mu = wuln2 / 11
Negative moment at interior face of exterior support :
Support is edge beam, Mu = wuln2 / 24
Support is edge column, Mu = wuln2 / 16
TWO WAY SLAB DESIGN

Coefficient
Ca,neg , Cb,neg , Ca,pos,dl , Cb,pos,dl, Ca,pos,ll, Cb,pos,ll
Where
lna, length of clear span in short direction (m);
lnb, length of clear span in long direction (m);
Ca , Cb , tabulated moment coefficients by table 2~5.

Table 2. Coefficients for negative moments in slabs.

Table 3. Coefficients for dead load positive moments in slabs.

Table 4. Coefficients for live load positive moments in slabs.

Table 5. Ratio of load W in la and lb directions for shear in slab and load on supports.

Middle strip moment

Negative Design Moment for continuous Edge

Ma,neg
Mb,neg

= Ca,negWula2
= Cb,negWulb2

Positive Design Moment

Ma,pos
Mb,pos

= Ca,pos,dlWu,dlla2 + Ca,pos,llWu,llla2
= Cb,pos,dlWu,dllb2 + Cb,pos,llWu,lllb2

Negative Design Moment for Discontinuous Edge

Ma,neg
Mb,neg

= 1/3*Ma,pos
= 1/3*Mb,pos
9

Where
Wu,
Wu
Wu,dl
Wu,ll

ultimate uniform load (kN/m2),

= 1.2DL + 1.6LL,
= 1.2DL,
= 1.6LL;

Column strip moment

The moments in column strips should be taken as 2/3 of middle strip moment in respective
directions.

STEPS 4 CHECK DESIGN THICKNESS

fy < 413 MPa

In SI units,

shrinkage = 0.0018

fc 28 MPa
1 = 0.85
28 MPa < fc 56 MPa
fc > 56 MPa.
1= 0.65

1 = 0.85 0.008(f c 28 MPa)

If (d + clear cover) h ; design is ok. Otherwise redesign the thickness.

STEPS 5 CHOOSE FLEXURAL REINFORCEMENT

ONE WAY SLAB DESIGN

Reinforcement

10

Where
At first assumed a to calculate As ; that value can substituted in equation of a to get a better
estimate of a and hence a new (d-a/2) can be determined.
For structural slabs of uniform thickness the minimum area of tensile reinforcement, As,min in
the direction of the span shall be the same as temperature and shrinkage reinforcement area. In no
case is the reinforcement ration to be less than 0.0014.
In slabs, primary, flexural reinforcement shall be spaced not farther apart than three times
slab thickness or 450mm. Shrinkage and temperature reinforcement shall be spaced not farther
apart than 5times the slab thickness or 450mm.
TWO WAY SLAB DESIGN
Reinforcement shall be determined for short direction and long direction separately as
follows;
Short Direction
Mid-span
Continuous Edge
Discontinuous Edge
Long Direction
Mid-span
Continuous Edge
Discontinuous Edge

Where

min s max OK

As = s b d

Where
b, slab section 1m;
d, effective depth (m).

s = b/n
11

Where
n, number of reinforcements n = As/A .
smax = min(3h, 450mm)
s > 1.5h
Reinforcement for Column Strip
Bars selected for middle strip are used in column strips, with the spacing 3/2 times that in the
middle strip, but spacing 2h.
Make sure that the net tensile strain in the reinforcement, t doesnt exceed 0.004. Compute
the area of shrinkage reinforcement,
Where
Shrinkage Reinforcement

As = shrinkage b h
smax = min(5h, 450mm)

STEPS 6 CHECK SHEAR CAPACITY

The shear to be transmitted by the slab to these beams is = beam loads

Shear at critical section at a distance d from beam face = Vu

Shear at face of all other supports

Shear at end members at first interior support is

At d distance Vu,

Critical shear at a distance d from support,

Design strength for shear,

; = 0.85
If
12

Vc > Vu , slab design for shear is OK, otherwise slab thickness should be revised.
Or calculate the maximum spacing for a given bar size (or Av) from:
1. Live load deflection
l = 3Mblb2/32EcIe

# Both ends continuous or equally restrained or, One or

both ends discontinuous, but monolithic with beam.
# Mb = live load +ve moment

2. Live load deflection

l = 5Mblb2/48EcIe

# Slab supported by masonry walls

# Mb = live load +ve moment

3. Dead load deflection

d = Mblb2/16EcIe

# Both ends continuous and fully fixed

# Mb = maximum dead load +ve moment

4. Dead load deflection

d = 5Mblb2/48EcIe

# Both ends free if restraint (supported on masonry wall)

# Mb = maximum dead load +ve moment

lb = Clear span in long direction

Mb = Un-factored moment = Mb,pos,dl /1.4 or Mb,pos,ll/1.7 in long direction
Deflection can be calculated in short direction also in the same way
Ie = Effective moment of inertia for computation of deflection

sv = 0.95fy Av/bv (v-vc)

Stirrup is not required

if

Stirrup is minimum

if

Stirrup is required

if

Concrete is enough

if

STEPS 7 CONTROL OF DEFLECTION

For non-pre-stresses two-way construction, minimum thickness as required by

When there is need to use member depths shallower than are permitted by
Immediate Deflection

Immediate deflection is also termed as Short-Term deflection and calculated using the
formula given in Table 6.

13

Table 6. Immediate deflection.

Determination of Ie

Where

(ACI Code 9.5.2.3)

yt
= distance from centroid axis of gross section, neglecting reinforcement, to
extreme fiber in tension, m.
fr
= modulus of rupture of concrete,
, N/mm2.
Ie for Continuous Span
Ie
= 0.5Iem + 0.25(Ie1 + Ie2)
Where
Iem
= effective moment of inertia for the mid-span section,
Ie1, Ie2 = negative moment sections at the respective beam ends.

Long Term Deflection

Initial deflection increase significantly if dead loads sustain over a long period of time, due to
the effects of shrinkage and creep According to ACI Code 9.5.2.5
14

long

= d,short *

Where,

=
=
=

value at mid-span for simple and continuous span,

at support for cantilever,
time-dependent factor.
5 years or more

2.0

12 months

1.4

6 months
3 months
Type of member
Flat roofs not supporting or attached to
nonstructural
elements likely to be damaged by large
deflection.
Floors not supporting or attached to
nonstructural
elements likely to be damaged by large
deflection.
Roof or floor construction supporting
or attached to
nonstructural elements likely to be
damaged by large
deflection.
Roof or floor construction supporting
or attached to
nonstructural elements not likely to be
damaged by
large deflection.
Table7. Value of

1.2
1.0
Deflection to be considered

Deflection
limitation

Immediate deflection due to

LL

l/180

Immediate deflection due to

LL

l/360

That part of the total

deflection which occurs after
attachment of the
nonstructural elements, the
sum of the long-time
deflection due to all
sustained loads, and the
immediate deflection due to
LL.

l/480

l/240

Total Deflection
Total

= long + short

Deflection should be calculated along both direction and maximum values will be considered
(ACI code 9.5.2.6).

15

REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAM DESIGN

RECTANGULAR BEAM
STEPS 1 ASSUME h
Simply
Supported

One End
Continuous

Both End
Continuous

Cantilever

L/16

L/18.5

L/21

L/8

STEPS 2 CALCULATE d
d = h Effective cover

STEPS 3 ASSUME THE VALUE OF b BY THE RULE OF THUMB

Assume Beam width b = (ratio of width and depth is about 1:2)

d/b = 1.5 to 2.0 for beam spans of 4.6m to 7.7m

d/b = 3.0 to 4.0 for beam spans > 7.7m
b is taken as an even number
Larger the d/b, the more efficient is the section due to less deflection

STEPS 4 ESTIMATE FACTORED LOAD

STEPS 5 COMPUTE DESIGN MOMENT, Mu

Nominal flexural strength

Flexural resistance factor

16

STEPS 6 DETERMINE THE NOMINAL MOMENT CAPACITY, Mn

Mn Mu

Singly reinforced beam

Mn Mu

Doubly reinforced beam

Singly Reinforced Section Design ( Tension Only ):

Calculate

Calculate

Calculate

Calculate
Doubly Reinforced Section Design:

Calculate

Calculate
In accordance with the safety provisions of the ACI Code, the net tensile strain is checked,
and if t 0.005, this nominal capacity is reduced by the factor = 0.9. For t between 0.005 and
0.004, must be adjusted, as discussed earlier.

Compression steel Design:

1.

Determine , , (-), max = 0.625b, b = 0.851(f c/fy)

(600/600+fy) , min = 1.4/fy

2. Determine
3. If (-) K , compression steel yield fs = fy , where fs = 600((c-d)/c)
17

4. If (-) K , compression steel is not yield fs < fy

5. If compression steel is yield,

a.

check max (-) min or t 0.005, use = 0.9

b.
c. determine
d. As,max = bd(max + ) As
6. If compression steel is not yield,
a.

determine

calculate c, use T = Cs + Cc, where T = Asfy , Cs = As(f s-0.85fc), Cc

= 0.85fcab
b. determine
check max (-f s/fy), As,max = bd(max + fs/fy) As

c.
d.
e. determine

determine

STEPS 6 SECTION DESIGN FOR SHEAR, Vn

Shear analysis design for reinforced concrete beam

.
Where

Vu Vn
18

Strength reduction factor, = 0.75,

Nominal shear strength of the section, Vn

Vn = Vc + Vs

Shear strength provided by concrete, Vc

Shear strength provided by shear reinforcement, Vs

Where Av
s

total cross section area of shear reinforcement,

spacing of shear reinforcement.

Calculate the required area of stirrup Av,

Stirrup is not required

If

no need to use shear reinforcement.

Stirrup is minimum

If

provided minimum shear reinforcement

Stirrup is required

if

Concrete is enough if

Minimum web reinforcements

19

Maximum spacing of stirrup

Case
Case

Where

T-SHAPE BEAM
1.

Compute the design moment (Mu).

2.

Assume the effective depth.

3.

Decide the effective flange width (b) based on ACI criteria.

4.
Compute the practical moment strength (Mn) assuming the total effective flange is
supporting the compression.
5.
If the practical moment strength (Mn) is bigger than the design moment (Mu), the
beam will be calculated as a rectangular T-beam with the effective flange width b. If the practical
moment strength (Mn) is smaller than the design moment (M u), the beam will behave as a true Tshape beam.
6.

Find the approximate lever arm distance for the internal couple.

7.

Compute the approximate required steel area.

8.

Design the reinforcement.

9.

Check the beam width.

10.

Compute the actual effective depth and analyze the beam.

20

Column Design
The design procedure for the reinforced concrete columns of the structure involves the
following steps:
Generate axial force/biaxial moment interaction surfaces for all of the different concrete section
types of the model. A typical biaxial interaction surface is shown in Figure 1. When the steel is
undefined, the program generates the interaction surfaces for the range of allowable reinforcement 1 to 8 percent for Ordinary and Intermediate moment resisting frames (ACI 10.9.1) and 1 to 6
percent for Special moment resisting frames (ACI 21.4.3.1).
Calculate the capacity ratio or the required reinforcing area for the factored axial force and biaxial
(or uniaxial) bending moments obtained from each loading combination at each station of the
column. The target capacity ratio is taken as one when calculating the required reinforcing area.
Design the column shear reinforcement.
The following four sections describe in detail the algorithms associated with this process.
Spiral Columns
Spiral columns are cylindrical columns with a continuous helical bar wrapping around the
column. The spiral acts to provide support in the transverse direction and prevent the column from
barreling. The amount of reinforcement is required to provide additional load-carrying capacity
greater than or equal to that attributed from the shell as to compensate for the strength lost when the
shell spalls off. With further thickening of the spiral rebar, the axially loaded concrete becomes the
weakest link in the system and the strength contribution from the additional rebar does not take
effect until the column has failed axially. At that point, the additional strength from spiral comes
into play and prevents catastrophic failure, instead giving rise to a much slower ductile failure.
Tied Columns
Tied columns have closed lateral ties spaced approximately uniformly across the column. The
spacing of the ties is limited in that they must be close enough to prevent barreling failure between
them, and far enough apart that they do not interfere with the setting of the concrete. The ACI
codebook puts an upward limit on the spacing between ties.

The strength of short columns is controlled by the strength of the material and the geometry
of the cross section. Reinforcing rebar is placed axially in the column to provide additional axial
stiffness. Accounting for the additional stiffness of the steel, the nominal loading capacity P n for the
column in terms of the maximum compressive stress of the concrete f c, the yield stress of the steel
fy, the gross cross section area of the column Ag, and the total cross section area of the steel rebar
Ast.

Strength of Short Axially Loaded Columns

P0= 0.85 fc (Ag-Ast) + fyAst
Where
Ag

Gross area of column section

21

Ast

Longitudinal steel area

ACI Code Requirements for Column Strength

Pn Pu
Where
Spirally reinforced column:
Pn(max) = 0.85[0.85 fc (Ag - Ast) + fyAst],

= 0.75

Tied column:
Pn(max) = 0.80[0.85 fc (Ag - Ast) + fyAst],

= 0.70

Limits on percentage of reinforcement

0.01 g = Ast/Ag 0.08

Working Stress Design (WSD) of Short Column

Spirally reinforced column
P = Ag (0.25fc + fsg) ,
Tied column
P = 0.85Ag (0.25fc + fsg) ,

g = Ast /Ag
g = Ast /Ag

Where fs = 0.40fy but not exceed 2.100kg/cm2

Length Effects
ACI permits neglect of length effect when

M1 = the smaller bending moment

M2 = the larger bending moment
M1/M2 is positive for single curvature and negative for double curvature

for un-braced system

Minimum Number of Bars (longitudinal bars)

4 within rectangular or circular ties

3 within triangular ties
6 for bars enclosed by spirals
22

Clear distance between bars

The clear distance between longitudinal bars must not be less than 1.5 times the nominal bar
diameter nor 1.5in.
Cover
Cover shall be 1.5in. Minimum over primary reinforcement ties or spirals.

Step 1:

Column load transfer from beams and slabs.

Load on column = area x floor load

Step 2:

Type of Colum

Tie
Spiral
Step 3:

Strength of Short Axially Loaded Columns

P0= 0.85 fc (Ag-Ast) + fyAst

Where
Ag

Gross area of column section,

Ast

Longitudinal steel area.

23

1.
I.

k
Flexure Design

M As

Shear Design

V As,bar , gap

tor
con

24

In castin-place construction, the single reinforced rectangular beam is uncommon. The Tshape and L-shape beams are typical types of beam because the beams are built monolithically with
the slab. When slab and beams are poured together, the slab on the beam serves as the flange of a Tbeam and the supporting beam below slab is the stem or web. For positive applied bending
moment, the bottom of section produces the tension and the slab acts as compression flange. But
negative bending on a rectangular beam puts the stem in compression and the flange is ineffective
in tension. Joists consist of spaced ribs and a top flange.
Design Procedure
Rectangular Beam
1.
Assume the depth of beam using the ACI Code reference, minimum thickness unless
consideration the deflection.
2.

Assume beam width (ratio of with and depth is about 1:2).

3.

Compute self-weight of beam and design load.

4.

Compute factored load (1.4 DL + 1.7 LL).

5.

Compute design moment (Mu).

6.

Compute maximum possible nominal moment for singly reinforced beam (Mn).

7.
Decide reinforcement type by Comparing the design moment (M u) and the
maximum possible moment for singly reinforced beam (Mn). If Mn is less than Mu, the beam is
designed as a doubly reinforced beam else the beam can be designed with tension steel only.
8.
couple)
9.

Determine the moment capacity of the singly reinforced section. (Concrete-steel

Compute the required steel area for the singly reinforced section.

10.
Find necessary residual moment, subtracting the total design moment and the
moment capacity of singly reinforced section.
11.

Compute the additional steel area from necessary residual moment.

12.

Compute total tension and compressive steel area.

13.

Design the reinforcement by selecting the steel.

14.

Check the actual beam depth and assumed beam depth.

T-shape Beam

1.

Compute the design moment (Mu).

2.

Assume the effective depth.

3.

Decide the effective flange width (b) based on ACI criteria.

25

4.
Compute the practical moment strength (Mn) assuming the total effective flange is
supporting the compression.
5. If the practical moment strength (Mn) is bigger than the design moment (Mu), the beam
will be calculated as a rectangular T-beam with the effective flange width b. If the practical moment
strength (Mn) is smaller than the design moment (Mu), the beam will behave as a true T-shape
beam.
6. Find the approximate lever arm distance for the internal couple.
7. Compute the approximate required steel area.
8. Design the reinforcement.
9. Check the beam width.
10. Compute the actual effective depth and analyze the beam.

26

4.3.3 Design Procedures

Short Columns with small eccentricities
1. Establish the material strength and steel area.
2. Compute the factored axial load.
3. Compute the required gross column area.
4. Establish the column dimensions.
5. Compute the load on the concrete area.
6. Compute the load to be carried by the steel.
7. Compute the required steel area.
8. Design the lateral reinforcing (ties or spiral).
9. Sketch the design.
Short Columns with large eccentricities
1. Establish the material strength and steel area.
2. Compute the factored axial load (Pu) and moment (Mu).
3. Determine the eccentricity (e).
4. Estimate the required column size based on the axial load and 10% eccentricity.
5. Compute the required gross column area.
6. Establish the column dimensions.
7. Compute the ratio of eccentricity to column dimension perpendicular to the bending axis.
8. Compute the ratio of a factored axial load to gross column area.
9. Compute the ratio of distance between centroid of outer rows of bars to thickness of the
cross section, in the direction of bending.
10. Find the required steel area using the ACI chart.
11. Design the lateral reinforcing (ties or spiral).
12. Sketch the design.

27