9/13/2019 Flat Slab – Types of Flat Slab Design and its Advantages

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Flat Slab – Types of Flat Slab Design and its Adv

Flat slab is a reinforced concrete slab supported directly by concrete columns without the us
slab is defined as one sided or two-sided support system with sheer load of the slab being con
supporting columns and a square slab called ‘drop panels’.

Drop panels play a significant role here as they augment the overall capacity and sturdiness
system beneath the vertical loads thereby boosting cost effectiveness of the construction. Usu
drop panels is about two times the height of slab.

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9/13/2019 Flat Slab – Types of Flat Slab Design and its Advantages

Flat Slabs are considered suitable for most of the construction and for asymmetrical column
with curved shapes and ramps etc. The advantages of applying flat slabs are many like depth
soffit and flexibility in design layout.

Even though building flat slabs can be an expensive affair but gives immense freedom to arc
engineers the luxury of designing.

Benefit of using flat slabs are manifold not only in terms of prospective design and layout eff
helpful for total construction process especially for easing off installation procedures and sav
construction time.

If possible, try to do away with drop panels as much as possible and try to make the best use
slabs. The reason is to permit the benefits of flat soffits for the floor surface to be maintained
panels are cast as part of the column.

To utilize the slab thickness to optimum level, the essential aspects that should be kept

1. Procedure related to design

2. Presence or absence of holes

3. Significance of deflections

4. Previous layout application experience

Types of Flat Slab Construction

Following are the types of flab slab construction:

Simple flat slab

Flat slab with drop panels

Flat slab with column heads

Flat slab with both drop panels and column heads

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9/13/2019 Flat Slab – Types of Flat Slab Design and its Advantages

Uses of Column Heads

It increase shear strength of slab

It reduce the moment in the slab by reducing the clear or effective span

Uses of Drop Panels

It increase shear strength of slab

It increase negative moment capacity of slab

It stiffen the slab and hence reduce deflection

Advantages of Flat Slabs

It is recognized that Flat Slabs without drop panels can be built at a very fast pace as the fra
structure is simplified and diminished. Also, speedy turn-around can be achieved using an a
early striking and flying systems.

Flat slab construction can deeply reduce floor-to –floor height especially in the absence of
slab construction does act as limiting factor on the placement of horizontal services and part
prove gainful in case of lower building height, decreased cladding expense and pre-fabricate

In case the client plans changes in the interior and wants to use the accommodation to suit th
construction is the perfect choice as it offers that flexibility to the owner. This flexibility is p
use of square lattice and absence of beam that makes channelling of services and allocation
difficult.

Thickness of flat slab

Thickness of flat slab is another very attractive benefit because thin slab provides the adva
floor to ceiling height and lower cladding cost for the owner. However, there is profound low
thickness of slab because extra reinforcements are needed to tackle design issues. Besides th
must be provided to facilitate architectural alterations at later stages.

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9/13/2019 Flat Slab – Types of Flat Slab Design and its Advantages

Types of Flat Slab Design

Multitudes of process and methods are involved in designing flat slabs and evaluating these
Some of these methods are as following:

The empirical method

The sub-frame method

The yield line method

Finite –element analysis

For smaller frames, empirical methods are used but sub-frame method is used in case of m
frames. The designs are conceptualized by employing appropriate software but the fact is us
methods for very complicated design can be very expensive.

The most cost effective and homogenous installation of reinforcements can be achieved by a
line method. A thorough visualization in terms of complete examination of separate crackin
required since this procedure utilises only collapse mechanism.

Structures having floors with irregular supports, large openings or bears heavy loads, applic
element analysis is supposed to be very advantageous. Great thought is put into choosing m
or installing loads on the structures. Deflections and cracked width can also be calculated us
analysis.

Areas That Require Attention in Design of Flat Slab

1. Deflections-Usually at the center of each panel deflections are maximum. Foreseeing defle
tricky and will engage some form of elastic appraisal. While designing structure layout and d
implementation using sub frame method, one way to evaluate mid-panel deflection is to use
parallel column strips.

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9/13/2019 Flat Slab – Types of Flat Slab Design and its Advantages

2. Proprietary punching sheer reinforcement systems- In case of thin flat slab constructio
reinforcements are indispensable.

3. Optimization of Main reinforcement- In certain design procedures, especially in yield lin

optimized than in other design methods.

Benefits of Using Flat Slab Construction Method

Flexibility in room layout

Saving in building height

Shorter construction time

Ease of installation of M&E services

Use of prefabricated welded mesh

Buildable score

Flexibility in Room Layout

Flat slabs allows Architect to introduce partition walls anywhere required, this allows owner
of room layout. Use of flat slab allows choice of omitting false ceiling and finish soffit of slab

Saving in Building Height

Lower storey height will reduce building weight due to lower partitions and cladding to fa

Approximately saves 10% in vertical members

Reduced foundation load

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9/13/2019 Flat Slab – Types of Flat Slab Design and its Advantages

Shorter Construction Time

Use of flat slabs requires less time for construction by the use of big table formwork.

Single Soffit Level

Ease of Installation of Flat Slabs

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9/13/2019 Flat Slab – Types of Flat Slab Design and its Advantages

All M & E services can be mounted directly on the underside of the slab instead of bending th
beams.

Use of Prefabricated Welded Mesh

Use of prefabricated welded mesh minimizes the installation time of flat slabs. These mesh a
standard size and provides better quality control in construction of flat slab.

Buildable Score

This allows standardized structural members and prefabricated sections to be integrated int
ease of construction. This process makes the structure more buildable, reduce the number of
increase the productivity at site, thus providing more tendency to achieve a higher Buildable

About Vinay Jain (https://theconstructor.org/author/v

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9/13/2019 Flat Slab – Types of Flat Slab Design and its Advantages

As a Civil Engineering Professional, possess more than 15 years’ experience of which Internation
years in gulf in the areas of construction-related Project management. With proven Technical &
capabilities, I have managed the operations of various prestigious high-cost construction projects
while achieving the best possible quality of work provided.

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