Abstract

Nowadays flat slabs are a widely adopted solution for buildings, because of their economic and functional advantages. In addition, they simplify and speed up site operations, allow easy and flexible partition of space and reduce the overall height of buildings. Flat slabs are a popular form of construction in concrete buildings combining aesthetics and economy. The form of construction provides large uninterrupted floor areas with minimum construction depth at each floor level. In particular, the flat-plate type of construction has considerable appeal to both architects and structural engineers as thinner slabs are employed without the column heads providing clear spaces along the column lines for service ducts.

There is a definite trend towards large spans in buildings due to the fact that there is now more emphasis on providing large uninterrupted floor space which can result in higher rental returns. Post-tensioning is an economical way of achieving these larger spans. For spans 7.0 metes and over, post-tensioning will certainly be economic as the spans increase. There are two principal reasons for post-tensioned floorings popularity. It is ideal for the booming high rise residential sector and, because of escalating steel prices and supply problems; it is increasingly specified for nonresidential schemes too. Posttensioned concrete is perfect for high rise residential schemes; according to Price because the thin floor slab means an extra storey can be gained on a tall building.

This dissertation studied on computer aided design for Post-Tensioned flat slab using the ADAPT 6.15- Structural Concrete Software System and compared results of various parameters with Reinforced concrete flat slab, Reinforced concrete flat slab with drop cap and waffle slab. Detail design of flat slab, flat slab with drop cap and waffle slab is prepared on excel sheet inclusion of all codal provisions. The detail cost analysis worked out for varying the span of Post-Tensioned slab and Reinforced concrete slab. Effect on moments, thickness of slab and stresses are shown through graphical presentation. The study also includes the comparison of total quantity of required steel and volume of concrete, also cost of steel compared separately.

Design of Reinforced Concrete & Post-Tensioned flat slab using software

Abstract
Required quantity of steel is reduced around 25-45% for Post-Tensioned flat slab than required in Reinforced concrete flat slab, whereas compared with Reinforced concrete waffle slab percentage reduction in steel quantity for Post-Tensioned flat slab with drop cap is around 50%. It is observed that though the quantity of steel required is less, cost of steel is more over equal or higher than the cost of steel required in reinforced concrete flat slab. The most significant factor affecting the cost of Post-Tensioned slab system is the prestressing tendon. In the case of waffle slab compared with Post-Tensioned flat slab with drop cap it is observed that cost of required steel in Post-Tensioned flat slab with drop cap is also reduces by 10-25%. Other parameters like thickness of slab, span moment and stresses are also reduce more and finally tends to reduce total cost of slab.

Comparing total cost of slab excluding cost of form work, it is observed that, for span up to 6.0m, cost of Reinforced concrete flat slab is lesser than the cost of Post-Tensioned flat slab, while observing graph of total cost of slab for Reinforced concrete Vs PostTensioned flat slab with drop cap, from 7.0m and above cost of Post-Tensioned flat slab with drop cap is 10-12% lesser than Reinforced concrete flat slab with drop cap.

Design of Reinforced Concrete & Post-Tensioned flat slab using software

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