STEPS IN THE DESIGN OF ONE-WAY SLABS (FLEXURE)

I. Identify the uniform floor pressure (Pa) to be carried by the slab. This load may consist of:
1) Live load pressure
2) Dead load pressure
3) Ceiling load and other attachments below the slab

II. Determine the minimum slab thickness “h” from Table 407.3.1.1(NSCP 2015). If necessary adjust
this value depending on your judgment.

Table 407.3.1.1 Minimum Thickness of Solid Non-Prestressed One-Way Slabs

Support Condition Minimum "h"

Simply Supported L/20
one End Contiuous L/24
Both Ends Continuous L/28
Cantilever L/10

Expresssion applicable for normal weight of concrete and fy = 420 Mpa.

For other cases, minimum "h" shall be modified in accordance with Sections 407.3.1.1.1 Through
407.3.1.1.3, as approriate.

407.3.1.1.1 For fy other than 420 Mpa, the expressions in Table 407.3.1.1 shall be multiplied by
(0.4 + fy/700).

407.3.1.1.2 For non-prestressed slabs made of lightweight concrete having Wc in the range of 1440
to 1840 kg/m3, the expressions in Table 407.3.1.1 shall be multiplied by the greater of
(a) and (b):
a. 1.65 - 0.0003Wc
b. 1.09

III. Compute the weight of slab (Pa)

Weight = γconc x h

IV. Calculate the factored moment ( to be carried by the slab.

Uniform load, Wu = Factored Pressure x 1m

V. Compute the effective depth, d:

d=h-covering (usually 20 mm)-1/2 (main bar diameter)

VI. Compute the required steel ratio ρ:

Solve for Rn from Mu = ϕ Rn b d2 where b = 1000 mm
ρ=(0.85𝑓^′ 𝑐)/𝑓𝑦 [1−√(1−2��/(0.85�^′ �))]

Solve for ρmin

If ρ is less than ρmax and greater than ρmin, use ρ
If ρ is greater than ρmax , increase the depth of slab to ensure ductile failure
If ρ is less than ρmin, use ρ = ρmin.

VII. Compute the required main bar spacing.

As = ρ b d = ρ (1000) d ≥ ρmin b h

Spacing, S1 = 𝐴𝑏𝑎𝑟/𝐴� x 1000

Use the smallest of the following for the main bar spacing:
a) S1
b) 3 x h
c) 450 mm

VIII. Temperature bars: See Section 407.13.2.1 (NSCP 2010) for the required steel ratio, ρt
407.13.2.1 Area of the shrinkage and temperature reinforcement shall provide at least the
following ratios of reinforcement area to gross concrete area, but not less than 0.0014:

1. Slabs where Grade 280 and Grade 530 deformed bars are used ……………………….0.0020

2. Slabs where Grade 415 deformed bars or welded wire fabric ……………………….0.0018
(smooth or deformed) are used

3. Slabs where reinforcement with yield stress exceeding 415 Mpa …………….. (0.0018 𝑥 415)/𝑓𝑦
measured at a yield strain of 0.35 percent is used
𝐴��= 𝜌� b h
�2=𝐴𝑏𝑎𝑟/𝐴� 𝑥 100

Use the smallest of the following for temperature bar spacing:

a) S2
b) 5 x h
c) 450 mm