LECTURE # 4

STRUCTURAL SYSTEM - I
 Flat Slabs
 Ribbed Slabs
 Waffle Slabs

By
Ar. Izna Isar
Ar. Khizra Shahzad Dated: October 10th, 2018
FLAT SLABS

Slabs
Slabs are constructed to provide flat surfaces, usually horizontal, in building floors, roofs,
bridges, and other types of structures.
slabs are utilized in floors and roofs of buildings and frequently combined with the supporting
beams, bear the distributed loads mainly by bending.

Flat Slab
Concrete slabs are often carried directly by columns with or without the use of beams or
girders.
Slabs are classified into two types:
1.One Way Slab
2.Two Way Slab
These slabs are commonly used where spans are not large and not particularly heavy.
ONE-WAY SLABS

 One-way slabs transfer the imposed loads in one direction only.

 They may be supported on two opposite sides only in which the structural action is essentially
one-way, the loads being carried in direction perpendicular to the supporting beams or walls.
One way slab should contain the following properties:

 A slab is recognized as one way slab when the support is provided to a slab on two edges and the slab is
bent in only one direction.
 If the support is provided to a rectangular on all the four edges, the slab is treated as a one-way slab if the
length-to-breadth (L/B) proportion of the slab is equivalent or larger than two.
 A one-way slab is designed for the spanning direction alone; the main tension reinforcing bars of such
slabs run parallel to the span. For the transverse direction, a minimum amount of shrinkage reinforcement
is provided.
 Cantilever slab is one-way at all times.
 Primary steel is only arranged parallel to span.
 One-way slab is designed like singly reinforced rectangular section.
TWO-WAY SLABS

 When the ratio of long side to short side of a slab is less than two, it is called two-way slab.
 Two-way slabs are designed to transfer their loads to all the four support walls.
 The load gets divided in the two directions, depending on the ratio of the sides.

Two way slab should contain the following properties:

 Two way slabs are the slabs that are supported on four sides and the ratio of longer span (l) to shorter span
(b) is less than 2.
 In two way slabs, load will be carried in both the directions. So, main reinforcement is provided in both
direction for two way slabs.
 Loads shall be due to gravity only and live load shall not exceed 2 times the dead load.
Comparison of One-way and Two-way slab behavior
For flat plates and slabs the column connections can vary between:
Difference Between Onw-Way Slab & Tw-Way Slab

One Way Slab Two Way Slab

 One way slab is supported by beams in only  Two way slab is supported by beams in all
2 sides. four sides.

 The ratio of longer span panel (L) to shorter  The ratio of longer span panel (L) to shorter
span panel (B) is equal or greater than 2. span panel (B) is less than 2. Thus, L/B < 2.
Thus, L/B >= 2

 Main reinforcement is provided in only one  Main reinforcement is provided in both the
direction for one way slabs. direction for two way slabs.

 One-way Slab on beams suitable span 10 to  Two-way Slab suitable span 20 to 30 ft with
20 ft with LL= 60-100 psf LL= 80 -150 psf
RIBBED & WFFLE SLAB STRUCTURE
 Ribbed floors consisting of equally spaced ribs are usually supported directly by columns.
 They are either one-way spanning systems known as ribbed slab or a two-way ribbed system
known as a waffle slab.

Ribbed & Waffle Slab should contain the following properties:

 Ribbed slabs are made up of wide band beams running between columns with narrow ribs
spanning the orthogonal direction. Normally the ribs and the beams are the same depth.
 A thin topping slab completes the system.
 Waffle slabs tend to be deeper than the equivalent ribbed slab. Waffle slabs have a thin
topping slab and narrow ribs spanning in both directions between column heads or band
beams.
 Ribbed One-way Slab
 Flat Slab suitable span 25 to 35 ft with LL= 80-120 psf
 Two-way Waffle Slab
 Waffle Slab suitable span 30 to 48 ft with LL= 80 -150 psf
RIBBED & WFFLE SLAB STRUCTURE

 A waffle slab is a type of building material that has two-directional reinforcement on the
outside of the material, giving it the shape of the pockets on a waffle.

 This type of reinforcement is common on concrete, wood and metal construction.

 A waffle slab gives a substance significantly more structural stability without using a lot of
additional material.
 This makes a waffle slab perfect for large flat areas like foundations or floors.
 Straight lines run the entire width and length of the slab, generally raised several inches from
the surface.
 Waffle slab can be used as both ceiling and floor slab. They are used in the areas where less
number of columns are provided, i.e. it is basically used in the areas which has huge spans.
 This form of construction is used in airports, parking garages, commercial and industrial
buildings, bridges, residences and other structures requiring extra stability.
The features of the Waffle slab are as follows;

 They are used on flat sites

 They are wholly above ground
 No beam excavation is required
 Cardboard slab panel/void formers are used
 Slab panels are on 1 metre grids (approximately)
 Trench mesh or individual bars can be used
 Slab thickness is 4 – 8 Inches
 Internal beams are 4 – 8 inches wide
 There is minimal concrete volume
 No beam down drag from clay (above ground slab) occurs
 Shrinkage of slab is lower than stiffened rafts and footing slabs
 They use 30% less concrete than a stiffened raft
 They use 20% less steel than a stiffened raft.
The features of the Waffle slab are as follows;

 There are three basic designs for concrete slabs that improve the strength-to-weight ratio. For
each design, the top surface is flat while the underside is modulated with either a corrugated,
ribbed or waffle design.
 Corrugated slabs are created when concrete is poured into a wavy metal form. This shape
prevents the slab from sagging.
 Ribbed slabs add strength in one direction, while the concrete waffle slab design adds strength
in perpendicular directions.
 Concrete slabs can be reinforced for additional strength.
 Due to the holes in the waffle system following services can be provided:
1. Air-conditioning
2. Plumbing
3. Lighting
4. Insulation Materials
5. Wiring, etc.
 EXAMPLE OF THE SLAB

Reflected Ceiling View of the

slab
3d view of the Ceiling

Load deflection in the provided

Plan of tendon placement
layout 3d view of tendon placement waffle slab
 CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Arranging the Fixing the Fixing the Providing a Placing the Pods
Framework Connectors Framework horizontal
connector

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Fixing pods to the Removing Removing Removing pods Providing stacking
connectors framework connectors
 ADVANTAGES & DIS-ADVANTAGES
Advantages
 Waffle slabs are able to carry heavier loads
and span longer distances than flat slabs as
these systems are light in weight.
 Suitable for spans of 7m – 16m ; longer
spans may be possible with posttensioning.
 It is also economical as the amount of
concrete and steel is reduced as compared
to flush slabs. Saving 15% concrete and 10%
steel as compared to traditional T beams.
 These systems are light in weight and
hence considerable saving is ensured in the
framework as light framework is required.
 Coffered underside is usually left exposed
for visual appearance.
Dis-advantages
 Construction requires strict
supervision and skilled labour.
 The casting forms or moulds
required for pre-cast units are
very costly and hence only
economical when large scale
production of similar units are
desired.
 Headroom is reduced , hence
increased storey height.
 Due to waffle ceiling , it creates
problem in lighting facilities and
hanging pipes or ducts.