DESIGN OF TWO-WAY REINFORCED

CONCRETE BEAM SUPPORTED SLABS

BY DIRECT DESIGN METHOD USING
AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET
By
Guillermo Suega Jr., M Eng.
17th National Civil Engineering Students Summit
2016 PICE National Mid-year Convention
Fontana Convention Center, Fontana Leisure Parks & Casino,
Clark Freeport, Angeles City
June 18, 2016
BEAM SUPPORTED SLABS

Figure 1a- Beam Supported Slab

OTHER TYPES OF SLABS/FLOOR
SYSTEM

Figure 1b- Flat Plate

Figure 1c - Flat Slab
TWO-WAY SLAB DESIGN

Figure 2 -Two-way slab on simple edge supports and showing bending of center
strips of the slab

When the ratio of the long span lb to the short span la as shown
in the above figure is less than 2, the panel is a two-way slab
TWO-WAY SLAB DESIGN
Figure 2 shows that the deflected surface
becomes one of double curvature or dished
surface which means that the load is carried in
both directions to the four edge supports around
the panel. This means that any point on the slab is
curved in both principal directions, and since
bending moments are proportional to curvatures,
moments also exist in both directions.
Therefore analysis of bending moments due to
loads, in the 2 principal directions (x and y) must be
made
 lb

Two-way slab reinforcement

la

when l b /l a < 2Two-way Slab

Figure 3 Two-way slab plan showing orthogonal steel reinforcements

To resist these moments, the slab must be reinforced in both directions,
by at least two layers of bars perpendicular, respectively to two pairs of
edges, as shown in Figure 3. The slab must be designed to take a
proportionate share of the load in each direction.
 Although the Code (ACI Code) permits design of slabs
by any procedure satisfying the conditions of equilibrium
and geometrical compatibility,

it made specific reference to two alternative

approaches: the Direct Design Method which is
semi-empirical and an approximate elastic analysis called
the Equivalent Frame Method.

In either method, a typical panel, for design purposes is

divided into column strips and middle strips as shown in
Figures 4 and 5.

The column strip includes the column-line beams. In all

cases L1 is defined as the span in the direction of moment
analysis and L2 as the span in the lateral direction
measured center to center of the support.
Figure 4 A two-way slab analyzed for bending moments along x-x
direction (or L1 shown), divided into column strip and middle strip
Figure 5 A two-way slab analyzed for bending moments along y-y direction
(or L1 shown), divided into column strip and middle strip.
EFFECTIVE BEAMS
In the usual case of monolithic construction, beams are defined to
include that part of slab on each side of the beam extending a distance
equal to the projection of the beam above or below the slab hw
(whichever is greater) but not greater than 4 times the slab thickness (see
Figure 6 ).

Figure 6 - Cross-section of effective beams: (a) interior beam and (b)

exterior or edge beam
THE DIRECT DESIGN METHOD (DDM)

Limitations on use of Direct Design Method

1. There shall be a minimum of three continuous spans

in each direction.

2. The panels shall be rectangular, with the ratio of the

longer to the shorter spans within a panel not greater
than 2.
3. The successive span lengths in each direction shall not
differ by more than 1/3 of the longer span.

4. Columns may be offset a maximum of 10 percent of

the span in the direction of the offset from either axis
between centerlines of successive columns.
THE DIRECT DESIGN METHOD (DDM)

5. Loads shall be due to gravity only and the

live load shall not exceed 2 times the
dead load.

6. If beams are used on the column lines, the

relative stiffness of the beams in the 2
perpendicular directions, given by the
ratio 1 l 22 must be between 0.20
and 5.0 l
2 1
2
TOTAL STATIC MOMENT AT FACTORED
LOADS = MO

For purposes of calculating the total static

moment Mo in a slab panel, clear span ln in the
direction of moments is used, which is defined
to extend from face to face of columns, but is not
less than 0.65l1.
The total factored loads in the span is wu, for a
strip bounded laterally by the centerline of the
panel on each side of the centerline of supports,
Mo is calculated by
 Mo = wuL2Ln2
8
Where:
wu = 1.2D + 1.6L, D and L are uniform dead and
live loads, respectively
L2 = span perpendicular to L1 as shown in previous
figures
Ln = L1 column dimension along L1
 ASSIGNMENT OF MOMENTS AT
CRITICAL SECTIONS

Figure 7 - Distribution of total static moment Mo to critical sections for

positive and negative bending in end span and interior span.
 For interior spans, the total static moment is apportioned
between the critical positive and negative bending sections
according to the following ratios:

Negative factored moment: Neg Mu = 0.65 Mo

Positive factored moment: Pos Mu = 0.35 Mo

The critical section for bending is taken at the face of

rectangular supports, or at the face of an equivalent
square support having the same cross-sectional area as a
round support.
 In the case of end spans, the apportionment of
the total static moment among the three critical
sections namely;

Ext Neg Mu = 0.16 Mo

Pos Mu = 0.57 Mo
Int Neg Mu = 0.70 Mo
 Three General Cases of Slab Panels in a floor
System:
Interior Slab Panel

Interior Span

INTERIOR SLAB

Interior Span

Analysis of moment Mo distribution: both directions are

interior spans
 End/Edge/Exterior Slab Panel

End Span

END/EXTERIOR SLAB

Interior Span

Analysis of moment Mo distribution: one interior

span and an end span
 Corner Slab Panel

End Span

CORNER SLAB

End Span

Analysis of moment Mo distribution: both

directions are end spans
Among the formulas used in the design by DDM:
Required minimum thickness of slab = h
h is calculated using any of the following formulas:

For m greater than 2.0 For m less than 2.0

(1) h = l n (0.8 + (fy/1400)) OR (2) h = l n (0.8 + (fy/1400))
36 + 9 36 + 5(m -0.2)

and not less than 0.090 m. and not less than 0.125 m
m is the average value of for all beams on the edges of
a given panel.
= ratio of clear span in long direction to clear span in
short direction
fy = yield strength of reinforcement bar
ln = clear span in long direction, mm
A convenient parameter that defines the relative stiffness
of the beam and slab spanning in either direction is

= Ecb Ib/Ecs Is
where:
Ecb and Ecs are the moduli of elasticity of the beam and the
slab, usually the same because of monolithic construction

Ib and Is are the moments of inertia of the effective beam

and slab, respectively

1 and 2 are used to identify computed for the

directions of L1 and L2 respectively.
 The Direct Design Method (DDM) is essentially a
series of steps involving tedious calculations
when done manually that is why the presenter
developed an Excel Spreadsheet to streamline
the process.
 Summary of Succeeding Steps in the design of
Slab by DDM:
(Please refer to the accompanying file consisting of manual
solution of a given design problem and the flowchart that
guided the said solution as well as the development of the
spreadsheet.)
1. Determination of thickness required for beam
supported slabs using specified formulas given in the
Code.
2. Using the established thickness and applied loads,
check the shear capacity of the slab and the
supporting beams. If this capacity is not adequate, the
thickness of the slab and/or the dimensions of the
supporting beam should be increased.
3. Lateral distribution of moments in the slab
obtained from previous step determining the
share or percent of critical moments that are
carried by the beam, the column strip and the
middle strip.
4. Based on the moments obtained in step (3),
determine required reinforcement at critical
sections of the column and middle strips
considering the requirements of the code on
minimum reinforcement and maximum spacing of
reinforcement bars.
5. Drawing of sketch of details of slab reinforcement
An example of this sketch follows:
In slide show, press ESC then double click the image below
to go to the Spreadsheet for Design of Beam Supported
R.C. Slabs by Direct Design Method
DESIGN OF TWO-WAY BEAM SUPPORTED FLOOR SYSTEM BY DIRECT DESIGN METHOD

STEP 1 ENTER THE REQUIRED DATA OR CHOOSE FROM DROP DOWN LIST
WHERE REQUIRED IN THE YELLOW CELLS
DESIGN CRITERIA
I. Material Properties and Loads:
1. Concrete Data:
28th Day Strength of Concrete = f' c = 28 MPa.
3
Unit Weight of Concrete = w c = 24 kN/m
2. Reinforcement Data for Slab:
Grade of Reinforcement Bar 40
Yield Strength of Bar = f y = 276 MPa.
Bar Diameter = db = 10 mm
3. Dead Loads: =
Floor Finish = 2.00 kPa.
Ceiling Loads = 0.60 kPa.
Movable partition = 0.80 kPa.
Others = 0.70 kPa.
Superimposed Dead Loads = 4.10 kPa.

4. Floor Live Load = L = 6.00 kPa.

II. GEOMETRY OF FLOOR SYSTEM

5. Beam Dimensions: (thickness of slab excluded)
Along X-X direction:
Width of Beam, b = 0.30 m
Depth of Beam, h = 0.50 m
Not OK, Increase beam dimension along X-X
Along Y-Y direction:
Width of Beam, b = 0.30 m
Depth of Beam, h = 0.50 m
OK, beam dimension is adequate
7. Thickness of Slab:
Assumed Thickness of Slab = hs 0.05 m
Slab weight = 1.20 kPa.
Total Dead Load = D = 5.30 kPa.
OBSERVATIONS ON USING THE SPREADSHEET
1. The minimum required thickness hs is affected by:
1) The grade of steel or its yield strength Fy the higher
the value of Fy the bigger hs will be.

2) The dimension of supporting beams the smaller the

beam dimensions, the greater the value of hs

3) If the assumed thickness of slab inputted is ver small, hs

will be at a minimum value while if inputted value is too
big, the tendency is for hs to be bigger than minimum.

2. Inputting small beam dimension would result to inadequacy

to support loads.
2) Changing the strength of concrete fc does not affect hs.
 END OF PRESENTATION

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

OBSERVATIONS ON USING THE SPREADSHEET

4. The larger the diameter of bars used, the smaller

the spacing of bars will be.

5. The greater the loads inputted results to smaller

the spacing of reinforcement bars and will
require bigger beam dimensions.

6. Middle strip reinforcements are often more

closely spaced than column strip moments.