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V.M.RAJAN, CE/CIVIL/TANGEDCO
What is the classification of slab ?
What is maximum span to be adopted for various types of slab ?
What are the standard values of slab thickness, diameter of bars, Grade of
Concrete, Grade of steel used in practice ?
How to calculate the bending moment and shear force values in slabs
Steel arrangement in one way and two way slabs.
How to connect the slab reinforcement with the beam reinforcement for
different edge conditions?
A slab is a flat two dimensional planar structural element having thickness small
compared to its other two dimensions. It provides a covering shelter in buildings. It
primarily transfer the load by bending in one or two directions. Reinforced concrete
slabs are used in floors, roofs and walls of buildings and as the decks of bridges. The
floor system of a structure can take many forms such as in situ solid slab, ribbed slab
or pre-cast units. Slabs may be supported on monolithic concrete beam, steel beams,
walls or directly over the columns. Concrete slab behave primarily as flexural
members and the design is similar to that of beams.
PLANNING OF SLAB
One-way or two way slab details can be obtained from aspect ratio = 2
L
Aspect Ratio =
B
Where L = Longer Span B = Shorter Span L
If L / B is > 2 then slab is designed as one way slab
B
L
1. For one way slab design, there could be serious of long beams with spacing
2. For two way slabs, cross beams shall be provided so that the smaller span of
4. Two way slab can be adopted for shorter spans above 3.0m.
5. However as per design practice slabs up to 2.5m spans may be designed as
one way slabs. Canopy, Chajja, balcony slabs are generally provided as
cantilever slabs.
6. As two way slabs are not economical for short spans, in practice, even though a
slab may be supported on all four sides, still it is designed as one ways slab
minimum steel at top across the short edge support to avoid the cracks to be
8. The maximum and minimum spans, which decided the spacing of beams, are
Live Load = 5 KN / m2
Supported Fixed /
Cantilever Simply supported
condition continuous
Two
Slab type One way Two way One way Two way One way
way
Maximum
span in 1.50 2.0 3.50 4.50 4.50 6.0
meters
9. Types of slabs:-
Slabs are classified based on whether the slab is supported on four edges or
not. If the slab is supported on four edges, check the aspect ratio ly/lx. If ly/lx
is < 2 it is two way slab. If ly/lx is >2, it is one way slab. For two way slab,
there are 9 edge conditions. In two way slab, the main reinforcement is
provided in two directions. In one way slab, the main reinforcement is provided
in one direction only. For slab not supported on four edges, they are classified
as follows:-
(i) If the slab is supported on 3 edges all around, the slab is designed as
(ii) If the slab is supported on two opposite edges, then the slab is
(iii) If the slab is supported on two adjacent edges, the slab may be
10. W.C. slab is generally made sloping or sunk by about 50 cm below general
floor level for Indian type water closet. Slabs for toilet block and Nahani
11. Stair case waist slab shall be generally one way slab.
12. Loft slabs over toilets are generally supported on partition walls of toilet and
W.C. Loft load should be considered while designing the beams supporting
these walls.
13. Flat slabs may be found economical for spans of 6.0 to 9.0m
Classification of Slab:
1) Based of shape: Square, rectangular, circular,Triangular and polygonal in shape.
2) Based on type of support: Slab supported on walls, Slab supported on beams,
Slab supported on columns (Flat slabs).
3) Based on support or boundary condition: Simply supported, Cantilever slab,
Overhanging slab, Fixed or Continues slab.
4) Based on use: Roof slab, Floor slab, Foundation slab, Water tank slab.
5) Basis of cross section or sectional configuration: Ribbed slab /Grid slab, Solid
slab, Filler slab, Folded plate
6) Basis of spanning directions :
One way slab – Spanning in one direction
Two way slab _ Spanning in two direction
GENERAL GUIDELINES
a. Effective span of slab :
Effective span of slab shall be lesser of the two
1. l = clear span + d (effective depth )
2. l = Center to center distance between the support
b. Depth of slab:
As a thumb rule depth of slab is 1cm per 1 feet run. Example for 4m
span ( l=4m x3=12 feet.) Thickness D= 12 x 1cm=12cm
(Take 1m=3 feet approximately)
The depth of slab depends on bending moment and deflection criterion. the trail
depth can be obtained using:
• Effective depth d= Span /((l/d)Basic x modification factor)
• For obtaining modification factor, the percentage of steel for slab can be assumed
from 0.2 to 0.5% deponding on type of Grade of Torsteel
Case 1:
For span Lx up to 3.50 m and Live Load up to 3.0 KN/m 2
Support condition L/D ratio As per thumb rule
Simply Supported slab 28 40 mm per metre run
Continuous slab 32 35mm per metre run
Case 2:
For span Lx > 3.50 m and Live load > 3.0 KN/m2
Cantilever slab :
Based on thumb rule:
Flat slab
Based on thumb rule:
Grid Floor :
Based on thumb rule:
Load on slab:
The load on slab comprises of Dead load, floor finish and live load. The loads are
calculated per unit area (load/m2).
Dead load = D x 25 kN/m2 ( Where D is thickness of slab in m)
Floor finish (Assumed as)= 1KN/m2 . For roof slab 2 to 2.25 kN/m2
Live load (Assumed as) = 2 KN/m 2 for residential building; 2.5 to 4 KN/m 2 for office
building depending on the occupancy of the building as per IS875-part 2-1987
• 0.12% of the total cross sectional area for Fe-415 & Fe-500 steel.
c. Spacing of bars : The maximum spacing of bars shall not exceed
• Main Steel – 3d or 300 mm whichever is smaller
• Distribution steel –5d or 450 mm whichever is smaller
Where, ‘d’ is the effective depth of slab.
Note: The minimum clear spacing of bars is not kept less than 75 mm (Preferably 100
mm) though code do not recommend any value.
d. Maximum diameter of bar: The maximum diameter of bar in slab, shall not
exceed D/8, where D is the total thickness of slab.
e. Whenever the slab thickness is 150mm, the bar diameter shall be 10mm for
normal spacing.(It can be 8mm at very closely spaced).
f. Slab thickness can be 100mm,110mm,120mm,125mm,140mm,150mm,175mm and
200mm.
h. The maximum spacing of Main bar shall not exceed 200mm(8”) and the
distribution bars @ 250mm(10”).
i.If the roof slab is supported by load bearing wall(without any frames) a bed block of
150/200mm shall be provided along the length of supports which will aid in resisting
the lateral forces.
Standard slab thickness adopted in practice in mm are :
100,110,120,125,130,140,150,160,180,200 in multiples of 5mm.
Other Aspects:
1. Adjustment of spacing of bars in slabs when size is changed spacing of bars actually
provided =
steel bars of slabs, beams and footings only. (For columns no direct conversion
permitted)
3. Chair roads:
Chair of approved type shall be used to support slab steel where necessary.
Atleast one chair shall be used for each 1.5 m2 of floor area.
For the reinforcement of roof slab, provide a min. of 0.24% of slab cross sectional
area reinforcement to take care of the temperature and other weathering agent
and for the ponding of rain water etc since it is exposed to outside the building
enclosure.