Opening in Slab and Beam

Beam
Most reinforced concrete members are statically indeterminate because they
are part of monolithic structure, i.e., in this form of building construction,
slabs are cast monolithically with a beam-and girder floor framing that
carries the floor load to columns. A beam is a flexure member. It may be of
steel, wood or any other structural materials. Reinforced concrete beams are
nonhomogeneous in that they are made of two entirely different materials. A
flexural member should suffer a axial compression force less than Ag fc/10.
The member must be at least 10 in wide and its clear span should be least 4
times the effective depth and the width-to-depth ratio should be at least 0.3.
Slab
Slabs are used to furnish a flat and useful surface in reinforced concrete
construction. It is broad, flat plate, usually horizontal, 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, by directly by columns or continuously by the ground.
Slabs in which the deflected surface is predominantly cylindrical is called
one-way slabs spanning in the direction of curvature. This condition arises
when slabs are supported on two opposite sides, and those supported on all
four sides with the longer span greater than twice the shorter span and also
in cantilever slabs. In many cases, rectangular slabs are of such proportions
and are supported in such a way that two-way action results. when loaded,
such slabs bend into a dished surface i.e., an any point the slab is curved in
both principal directions, and since bending moments are proportional to
curvature, moments also in both directions.
Concrete slabs may in some cases be carried directly by columns, without
the use of beams or girders. Such slabs are called flat plates. In some cases,
to reduce the stresses due to shear and negative bending around columns, a
thickened slab region in the vicinity of column and flared column tops are
incorporated. Such construction is called flat- slab construction.
Occurrence of Opening
Slabs
In almost all constructions, slab system include openings. These may be of
substantial size, as required by stair-ways and elevators shafts, or they may
be of smaller dimensions, like those needed to accommodate heating,
plumbing, and ventilating risers, floor and roof drains, and access hatches.

Beams
These may occur when opening in slabs pass through the effective flange
width of T-beams, for installation of building services. Opening are also
frequently provided through beam web.
Codes Recommendation for Placement of Opening
Slabs
As far as possible, opening in slabs should be located in zones where shear
stresses are small and bending moment are below maximum. However,
small opening for pipe sleeves etc. can be made anywhere in slab. In case of
slabs supported directly by columns, from structural view point, they are
best located well away from the columns, preferably in the area common to
the slab middle strips. Opening of any size may be provided in slab systems
if shown by analysis that the design strength is at least equal to the required
strength and that specified limits on deflection meets. For strength the strip

method

is

appropriate.

Code Requirements
13.5.1 Opening of any size are permitted in slabs if analysis shows that both
strength and deflection are acceptable.
13.5.2 In lieu of special analysis as required by 13.5.1 opening may be
provided in slab systems without beams only in accordance with the
following.
13.5.2.1 Opening of any size may be located in the area common to
intersecting middle strips.
13.5.2.2 In area common to intersecting column strips, not more than 1/8
the width of column strip in either span shall be interrupted by openings.

13.5.2.3 In the area common to one column strip and one middle strip,
opening size is limited to 1/4 the width of column strip in either span.
Beams
In regions of small shear, as near the middle of a beam span, a horizontal
pipe sleeve is not serious. Elsewhere, shear strength must be closely
watched and in many places bending strength as well.
Strip Method to analyze Opening
The strip method was first developed by Hillerborg, and later Wood and
Armer analyzed the method critically and performed test on slabs designed
by this method. They found that a design made by the strip method and
reinforced exactly according to moments found, was an exact solution.
The strip method is the simplest one for slabs on simple supports, but
continuity can be handled on a basis similar to limit design. The most
difficult slabs for this method are slabs supported on columns. For such a
case, Hillerborg developed the advanced strip method, using a rectangular
element carrying load in two directions to a support at one corner of the
element.
The equilibrium equation for slabs is

All elements of this equation, except w, follows the Timoshenkos notation.

i.e.,

Mx

and

My

Mxy
and

bending

moment

=
w

about

respective

twisting
load

per

unit

directions.
moment.

area

on

slab.

Hillerborg designs the slab to make Mxy unnecessary, that is he assumes

Mxy = 0 and than apportions the load to Mx/x and My/y, usually at
a particular spot wholly to one or to the other. This particular apportionment
is more of a convenience than a necessity, however, loads in a particular
area are assign to particular slab strips and continuity of the resulting
moments and shear must be carefully maintained. Apparent discontinuity in
torque or deflection may be disregarded, but a discontinuity in moment or
shear is not permitted. Both elastic and plastic analysis concepts are
permissible in evaluating moments on strips.

The suitability of the method for slabs with opening is a strong point in its
favor. This method have been using for many years by designers, designing
by their feel for the way the load has most apt to be transferred to the
supports. As slabs are normally considerably under-reinforced, it is possible
to use certain strips near the opening as small beam simply by increasing
the local reinforcement. If the opening is so large that even extra slab steel
is inadequate to care for the moment, a real beam is needed around one or
more sides of the opening, quite probably spanning to the edge beams. The
assumed beam strips are drawn as dotted around the opening and the
point of inflection as suggested by Wood and Hillerborg are added on the
slab. Then different moment for different strip is calculated. Depth can be

fixed from loads (moment and shear). The reinforcement should be arranged
in bends corresponding to the strips used, this calculation is simple.
Defection at service load must be considered in checking serviceability. In
any actual design the service load is available, and it should be on the safe
side to use the strip service load moments with EI based on
the
cracked
section.
Treatment

for

Opening

Larger opening should be framed by beams to restore, as nearly as possible,

the continuity of the slab. The beams should be designed to carry a portion
of the floor load, in addition to loads directly applied by partition walls,
elevator support beams, stair slabs etc. But, in case of flat plate
construction,
opening
near
column
render
difficulties.
Effects

on

Strength

and

Treatment

Slabs
The effect of openings on the shear strength as well as flexure action (in
case of large opening) of slab must be investigate carefully. The effect
becomes severe when the openings are within the column strip areas of
slabs or within middle strip areas when the opening are closer than 10 times
the
slab
thickness(10h)
from
a
column,
measured
radial.
To account for reduction of shear strength, it is considered that a portion of
the critical section b0 is ineffective which is enclosed by straight lines
projecting from the column centroid to the edges of the opening. If two
much resisting perimeter is lost, the designer must be sure adequate towway bending is really present; otherwise the lower shear permitted in beams
become
the
limiting
values
for
the
slab.
For slabs with shear reinforcement, the ineffective portion of the perimeter
b0 is one-half of that without shear reinforcement. One-half factor is
interpreted to apply equally to shearhead reinforcement and bar or wire
reinforcement.

Code

Recommendation

13.5.2.4 Where opening in slabs are located at a distance less than 10

times the slab thickness from a concentrated load or reaction area or when
opening in slabs are located within column strip, the critical sections shall be
modified
as
follows:
1) For slabs without shearhead, that part of the perimeter of the critical
section that is enclosed by straight lines projecting from the centroid of the
column, concentrated load or reaction area and tangent to the boundaries of
the
opening
shall
be
considered
ineffective.
2) for slabs with shearheads, the ineffective portion of the perimeter shall be
one-half
that
defined
in
(1)
above.
Beams
Large opening in beams are particularly weakening. They destroy beam

action and force the reduced section to act such as a Vierendeel truss ( a
truss without diagonals). In such a truss the average bending moment over
the length of the opening is resisted by axial compression one chord and
tension in the other, with these two forming a couple in the case of pure
flexure. Where shear is present the change in the moment over the length of
the opening superimpose a reversed bending resistance in each chord, the
total of the four end moments on the chords equaling the external shear
times the length of the opening. How the shear and these reverse moments
are shared by the chords depends on the relative chord stiffness.
Thickening

of

edge

of

opening

In case of larger openings, the edge of the slab around the opening may be
thickened to enable them to behave like trimmer beams for taking up
additional moments and forces. If opening reduce a critical design section for
moment, must be maintained by providing extra depth to offset the reduced
width.
Function

of

Steel

The steels used around opening tie the free ends of the bars which are
trimmed to form opening. It also serve as reinforcement to make the
opening stable against deformation or any other types of failure. This bars
take care of the loss of steel in a slab on account of forming opening.
Diagonal bars provided in corner control the cracking that will almost
inevitably
occur
there.
Steel

Requirement

Slabs
With regard to flexural requirements, the total amount of steel required by
calculation must be provided, regardless of opening. Any steel interrupted by
holes should be matched with an equivalent amount of supplementary
reinforcement on either sides, proper lapped to transfer stress by bond.
If minor cracking at the corners of an opening is objectionable, it is always
advisable to add one or two diagonal bars at each corner, especially at large
openings. Bars are always desirable around Window and door opening in
concrete wall slabs, because such reinforcement helps to take care of
shrinkage
stresses.
Code Requirement

Slab
13.5.2.1 In case of opening in intersecting middle strips, total amount of
reinforcement required for the panel without opening is maintained.
13.5.2.2 In case of opening in intersecting column strips, an amount of
reinforcement equivalent to that interrupted by an opening shall be added on
the
sides
of
the
opening.
13.5.2.3 In case of opening common to one column strip and one middle
strip not more than the reinforcement in either strip shall be interrupted
by openings. An amount of reinforcement equivalent to that interrupted by
an opening shall be added on the sides of the opening.
Beam
11.3.1.3 For members with significant axial tension, requires all shear to be
resisted
by
stirrups
(none
assign
to
the
concrete).
Steel

Arrangement

Reduction in critical design section for moment due to opening, can be

overcome providing more closely on each side of the opening to maintain the
necessary As. This is possible only when opening is possible to locate where
moment is well below the compression capacity of the slab, thereby leaving
the arrangement of reinforcement as the only problem. Of course, shear
strength must be maintained, but this is rarely a problem except near the
columns
in
flat
slab
type,
as
noted
previously.

The arrangement of bars around any but minor opening can constitute a real
problem. Bars running perpendicular to the face of an opening are not fully
effective when simply cut0off at the opening. This is acceptable if there is a
beam at the opening to act as reaction for the slab. If there is no beam it is
better to fan the bars out or splay them to go around the opening. If fanning
or splaying leaves too wide an area without steel, extra bars can be placed
parallel to the side of the opening, as indicated.