References: ACI Code / Structural Concrete, Theory and Design (Copyright 1998), By M.

Nadim Hassoun
Design of Waffle Slabs
Two-way ribbed slabs and the waffle slab system: This type of slab consists of a floor slab with
a length-to-width ratio less than 2. The thickness of the slab is usually 2 to 4 inchs (5 to 10cm)
and is supported by ribs (or joists) in two directions. The ribs are arranged in each direction at
spacings of about 20 to 30 inchs (50 to 75cm), producing square or rectangular shapes.

The ribs can also be arranged at 45 to 60 degrees from the centerline of the slabs, producing
architectural shapes at the soffit of the slab. In two-way ribbed slabs, different systems
can be adobted:
a. A two-way rib system with voids between the ribs is obtained by using special removable
and usable forms (pans) that are normally square in shape. The ribbes are supported on
four sides by girders that rest on columns. This type is called a two-way ribbed (joist)
Slab system.
b. A two-way rib system with permanent fillers between ribs that produce horizontal slab
soffits. The fillers may be of hollow, lightweight or normal-weight concrete or any other
lightweight material. The ribs are supported by girders on four sides, which in turn are
supported by columns. This type is also called a two-way ribbed (joist) slab system
or a hollow-block two-way ribbed system.
c. A two-way rib system with voids between the ribs with the ribs continuing in both
directions without supporting beams and resting directly on columns through solid
panels above the columns. This type is called a waffle slab system.
A two-way waffle slab system consists of concrete ribs that normally intersect at right angle.
These slabs might be constructed without beams, in which case a solid column head is
made over the column to prevent any punching due to shear. Wide beams can also be used
on the column centerlines for uniform depth construction. Square metal or fiberglass pans
are commonly used to form these joists. A thin slab of 3 to 5 in. is cast with these joists
to form the waffle slab.

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Page 1 of 14

References: ACI Code / Structural Concrete, Theory and Design (Copyright 1998), By M. Nadim Hassoun

Each panel is divided into a column and a middle strip. The column strip includes all joist
that frame into the solid head, the middle strip is located between consecutive column
strips. Straight or bent bars could be used as a reinforcement in a waffle slab. In the case
of bent bars, the part of the reinforcement that is bent can be used for the negative
moment. The design of a two-way waffle slab is similar to that slabs by considering
the solid head as a drop panel. To prevent any excess in the diagonal tension in the head,
a sufficient size of column must be used or a shear cap must be provided.
In the design of a waffle slab, the top slabs with each rip form a T-section, with considerable
depth relative to flat plates. Consequently, long spans carrying heavy loads may be
designed with great savings in concrete. Waffle slabs also provide an attractive ceiling,
which is achieved by leaving the rip pattern or by integrating lighting fixtures.
The standard pans that are commonly used in waffle slabs can be one of the following:
1. 30x30-in. square pans with a 3-in. top slab, from which 6-in wide ribs at 36 in. (3 ft) on centers
are formed. These are available in standard depths of 8 to 20 in. in 2-in. increments.
2. 19x19-in. square pans with a 3-in. top slab, from which 5-in. wide ribs at 24 in. (2 ft) on
centers are formed. These are available in standard depth of 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 in.

Table1: Gross section properties

For the joists (30x30-in. pans)
Top Slab Rib Depth Volume Gross area
Ycg
(in.)
(in.)
(cf/pan)
(in.2)
(in.)
3
8
3.85
161.3
3.28
3
10
4.78
176.3
3.95
3
12
5.53
192
4.66
3
14
6.54
208.3
5.42
3
16
7.44
223.3
6.2
3
20
9.16
261.3
7.83
4.5
8
3.85
215.3
3.77
4.5
10
4.78
230.3
4.35
4.5
12
5.53
246
4.97
4.5
14
6.54
262.3
5.66
4.5
16
7.44
279.3
6.36
4.5
20
9.16
315.3
7.86
For the joists (19x19-in. pans)
3
6
1.09
105
2.886
3
8
1.41
117.4
3.564
3
10
1.9
130.4
4.303
3
12
2.14
144
5.083
4.5
6
1.09
141
3.457
4.5
8
1.41
153
4.051
4.5
10
1.9
166.4
4.709
4.5
12
2.14
180
5.417

Ig
(in.4)
1393
2307
3541
5135
7127
12469
2058
3227
4783
6773
9238
15768

Page 2 of 14

598
1098
1824
2807
957
1618
2550
3794

References: ACI Code / Structural Concrete, Theory and Design (Copyright 1998), By M. Nadim Hassoun

Column Strip
0.3Ln
0.2Ln

0.3Ln
0.2Ln

0.2Ln

0.3Ln

0.125Ln

0.125Ln

Middle Strip
0.22Ln

0.22Ln

0.15Ln

0.22Ln

0.15Ln

Page 3 of 14

References: ACI Code / Structural Concrete, Theory and Design (Copyright 1998), By M. Nadim Hassoun

Page 4 of 14

Project Name
Subject
Design of Waffle Slabs
Element Number S1
Done By
Date
1/12/2017 14:31

Your LOGO

Span length, center to center of columns =

15
m
Width of rib =
15
cm
Spaced on centers at =
90
cm
Depth of rib =
35
cm
Slab thickness =
7.5
cm
Column size, long side length =
70
cm
Span length ln =
14.3
Short side length =
70
cm
Dead Load (Excluding self-weight) =
100
Kg/m
Live load =
480
Kg/m
fc' =
30
Mpa
fy =
420
Mpa
Concrete density =
2500
Kg/m
Type of Slab from the table below =
5
Note: Choose 4, 5 or 6 Only and take the maximum
Minimum Thickness of slabs without interior beams (without drop drop panel)
Exterior Panels
fy
Without
With
Interior
(Mpa) edge beam edge beam Panels
280
1
2
3
420
4
5
6
1. Minimum Slab Thickness
Minimum total depth = 43.33333 cm
Assume Slab thickness depth =
7.5
cm
Assume rib depth =
70
cm

77.5

7.5cm
77.5cm
70cm
90cm
2. Loads on the waffle slab
Ultimate load of solid head part = 2712.5
Voided volume of the 70cm rib = 0.39375
Total weight of the 0.81 m2 =
819
Weight per square meter = 1011.111
Ultimate additional dead plus live load =
Uniform wu (at solid head) = 3668.5
Uniform wu (at ribbed area) = 1967.111

Kg/m2
m3
on
0.81
Kg
Kg/m2
956
Kg/m2
Kg/m2
Kg/m2

Page 5 of 14

m2 area

Project Name
Subject
Design of Waffle Slabs
Element Number S1
Done By
Date
1/12/2017 14:31

Your LOGO
Column strip

7.5m

7.5m

5.55

Column
Strip

Middle
Strip

15m

15m

Mid. Pans 11
Col. Pans 6
5.1

11pans
9.9

6 pans

15m
Loads on panel:

At Solid head, W = 38183.75 Kg/m

At ribbed area, W = 29506.67 Kg/m

3. Shear and total static moment

38183.75 Kg/m
29506.667 Kg/m
1.85

9.9 m

1.85

Vu (at the face of column) = 216697.9 Kg

Mo (at midspan) = 697042.8 Kg.m
4. Check punching shear
a. In Solid head
Column cover =
2.5
d=
75
cm
bo =
580
cm
Vu = 479140.1 Kg
Vc = 668317.37 Kg

cover

Punching shear in column head

cm
70cm
37.5cm
Vc>Vu

Page 6 of 14

Project Name
Subject
Design of Waffle Slabs
Element Number S1
Done By
Date
1/12/2017 14:31

Your LOGO
37.5cm

Page 7 of 14

70cm

Project Name
Subject
Design of Waffle Slabs
Element Number S1
Done By
Date
1/12/2017 14:31
b. In the Slab
Thickness of Slab = 7.5cm
Slab cover =
1.5
cm
d=
6
cm
bo =
2064
cm
Vu = 389177.11 Kg
Vc = 190263.04 Kg
Warning Vu>Vc shear reinf. is required
5. Design moments and reinforcement
a. Exterior panel Mo = 697042.79 Kg.m
Exterior neg. moment = 0.26Mo = 181231.1
Positive moment = 0.52Mo
= 362462.3
Interior neg. moment = 0.7Mo =
487930
b. Interior panel
Negative moment = 0.65Mo
= 453077.8
Positive moment = 0.35Mo
=
243965
Design of an exterior and interior waffle slab
Column strip
Exterior
Exterior
Interior
Panel
(-M)
(+M)
(-M)
Moment
factor (%)
100
60
75
Mu (kg.m) 181231.13 217477.35 365947.5
strip width
b (m)
5.55
7.5
5.55
d (m)
0.75
0.75
0.75
Ru
(Kg/m2) 58052.012 51550.187 117220.4
Steel ratio
(%)
0.1555699 0.1379432 0.318459
As (mm2) 6475.5953 7759.3047 13255.85
Min. As
7742.25
10462.5 7742.25
Controling
mm2 / rip
As (mm2)
7742.25 1494.6429 13255.85
Bar No.
20
20
20
Bar
20.13
20.13
20.13
Diameter
No. of bars
25
5/rip
42

Your LOGO

2.5cm
5.16m

Kg.m
Kg.m
Kg.m

2.5cm
5.1m

Kg.m
Kg.m
6pans
in column strip and
Middle strip
(-M)

11pans

(+M)

25
40
91486.87 144984.9
1.65
0.75

7.5
0.75

98571.71 34366.79
0.266626 0.091609
3299.499 5152.981
2301.75 10462.5
mm2 / rip
3299.499 871.875
20
20
Choose the Bar No.
20.13
20.13
11

Page 8 of 14

3/rip

in middle strips.

Project Name
Subject
Design of Waffle Slabs
Element Number S1
Done By
Date
1/12/2017 14:31
Column strip
Interior
Panel
Moment
factor (%)
Mu (kg.m)
strip width
b (m)
d (m)
Ru
(Kg/m2)
Steel ratio
(%)
As (mm2)
Min. As
Controling
As (mm2)
Bar No.
Bar
Diameter
No. of bars

Exterior
(-M)

(+M)

60
146379

x
x

7.5
0.75

Your LOGO

Middle strip
Interior
(-M)

(-M)

(+M)

75
25
40
339808.4 113269.5 97585.99
5.55
0.75

1.65
0.75

7.5
0.75

34697.241 108847.5 122041.2 23131.49

x
x
x

0.0924962 0.295129 0.331934 0.061506

5202.9123 12284.76 4107.682 3459.711
10462.5
7742.25 2301.75 10462.5
mm2 / rip
mm2 / rip
1494.6429 12284.76 4107.682 871.875
22
20
20
20
Choose the Bar No.
22.2
20.13
20.13
20.13

x
x
x
x

4/rip

39

13

3/rip

Column Strip
4.29m
2.86m
25#20

Bar #22
5/rip

4.29m
2.86m

21#20
42#20

13#20

Bar #22
3/rip

Bar #22
4/rip

1.7875m

15m

39#20
20#20

Bar #22
2/rip

15m

Middle Strip
3.146m

3.146m

3.146m

11#20

Bar #20
3/rip

13#20

Bar #20
2/rip

2.145m
2.145m

Bar #20
3/rip

15m

15m

Page 9 of 14

Bar #20
2/rip

Price : 10 US $

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Price : 10 US $

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Price : 10 US $

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Price : 10 US $

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Price : 10 US $

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