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Fig. R9.5.2.5Multipliers for long-term deflections. 9.5.2.6 Deflection computed in accordance with 9.5.2.2 through 9.5.2.5 shall not exceed limits stipulated in Table 9.5(b). R9.5.2.6 It should be noted that the limitations given in this table relate only to supported or attached nonstructural elements. For those structures in which structural members are likely to be affected by deflection or deformation of members to which they are attached in such a manner as to affect adversely the strength of the structure, these deflections and the resulting forces should be considered explicitly in the analysis and design of the structures as required by 9.5.1. (See Reference 9.18.) Where long-term deflections are computed, the portion of the deflection before attachment of the nonstructural elements may be deducted. In making this correction, use may be made of the curve in Fig. R9.5.2.5 for members of usual sizes and shapes. 9.5.3 Two-way construction (nonprestressed) 9.5.3.1 Section 9.5.3 shall govern the minimum thickness of slabs or other two-way construction designed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 13 and conforming with the requirements of 13.6.1.2. The thickness of slabs without interior beams spanning between the supports on all sides shall satisfy the requirements of 9.5.3.2 or 9.5.3.4. The thickness of slabs with beams spanning between the supports on all sides shall satisfy requirements of 9.5.3.3 or 9.5.3.4. TABLE 9.5(b) MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE COMPUTED DEFLECTIONS
Type of member Flat roofs not supporting or attached to nonstructural elements likely to be damaged by large deflections Floors not supporting or attached to nonstructural elements likely to be damaged by large deflections Deflection to be considered Immediate deflection due to live load L Immediate deflection due to live load L Deflection limitation l /180* l /360 l /480 l /240

R9.5.3 Two-way construction (nonprestressed)

Roof or floor construction supporting or attached to nonstructural That part of the total deflection occurring after attachment elements likely to be damaged by large deflections of nonstructural elements (sum of the long-term Roof or floor construction supporting or attached to nonstructural deflection due to all sustained loads and the immediate deflection due to any additional live load) elements not likely to be damaged by large deflections

*Limit not intended to safeguard against ponding. Ponding should be checked by suitable calculations of deflection, including added deflections due to ponded water, and considering long-term effects of all sustained loads, camber, construction tolerances, and reliability of provisions for drainage. Long-term deflection shall be determined in accordance with 9.5.2.5 or 9.5.4.3, but may be reduced by amount of deflection calculated to occur before attachment of nonstructural elements. This amount shall be determined on basis of accepted engineering data relating to time-deflection characteristics of members similar to those being considered. Limit may be exceeded if adequate measures are taken to prevent damage to supported or attached elements. Limit shall not be greater than tolerance provided for nonstructural elements. Limit may be exceeded if camber is provided so that total deflection minus camber does not exceed limit.

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9.5.3.2 For slabs without interior beams spanning between the supports and having a ratio of long to short span not greater than 2, the minimum thickness shall be in accordance with the provisions of Table 9.5(c) and shall not be less than the following values: (a) Slabs without drop panels as defined in 13.2.5.......................................... 125 mm; (b) Slabs with drop panels as defined in 13.2.5 ...................................................... 100 mm. 9.5.3.3 For slabs with beams spanning between the supports on all sides, the minimum thickness, h, shall be as follows: (a) For fm equal to or less than 0.2, the provisions of 9.5.3.2 shall apply; (b) For fm greater than 0.2 but not greater than 2.0, h shall not be less than fy l n 0.8 + ------------ 1400 h = ------------------------------------------------36 + 5 ( fm 0.2 ) and not less than 125 mm; (c) For fm greater than 2.0, h shall not be less than fy l n 0.8 + ------------ 1400 h = -------------------------------------36 + 9 and not less than 90 mm; (d) At discontinuous edges, an edge beam shall be provided with a stiffness ratio f not less than 0.80 or the minimum thickness required by Eq. (9-12) or (9-13) TABLE 9.5(c)MINIMUM THICKNESS OF SLABS WITHOUT INTERIOR BEAMS*
Without drop panels Exterior panels Without With edge edge fy , MPa beams beams 280 ln /33 ln /36 420 520
*

COMMENTARY
R9.5.3.2 The minimum thicknesses in Table 9.5(c) are those that have been developed through the years. Slabs conforming to those limits have not resulted in systematic problems related to stiffness for short- and long-term loads. These limits apply to only the domain of previous experience in loads, environment, materials, boundary conditions, and spans.

R9.5.3.3 For panels having a ratio of long to short span greater than 2, the use of Eq. (9-12) and (9-13), which express the minimum thickness as a fraction of the long span, may give unreasonable results. For such panels, the rules applying to one-way construction in 9.5.2 should be used. The requirement in 9.5.3.3(a) for fm equal to 0.2 made it possible to eliminate Eq. (9-13) of the 1989 Code. That equation gave values essentially the same as those in Table 9.5(c), as does Eq. (9-12) at a value of fm equal to 0.2.

(9-12)

(9-13)

With drop panels Exterior panels Without With edge edge beams beams Interior panels

Interior panels

ln /36 ln /33 ln /31

ln /36 ln /33 ln /31

ln /40 ln /36 ln /34

ln /40 ln /36 ln /34

ln /30 ln /28

ln /33 ln /31

For two-way construction, ln is the length of clear span in the long direction, measured face-to-face of supports in slabs without beams and face-to-face of beams or other supports in other cases. For f between the values given in the table, minimum thickness shall be y determined by linear interpolation. Drop panels as defined in 13.2.5. Slabs with beams between columns along exterior edges. The value of f for the edge beam shall not be less than 0.8.

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shall be increased by at least 10 percent in the panel with a discontinuous edge. Term ln in (b) and (c) is length of clear span in long direction measured face-to-face of beams. Term in (b) and (c) is ratio of clear spans in long to short direction of slab. 9.5.3.4 Slab thickness less than the minimum required by 9.5.3.1, 9.5.3.2, and 9.5.3.3 shall be permitted where computed deflections do not exceed the limits of Table 9.5(b). Deflections shall be computed taking into account size and shape of the panel, conditions of support, and nature of restraints at the panel edges. The modulus of elasticity of concrete, Ec , shall be as specified in 8.5.1. The effective moment of inertia, Ie , shall be that given by Eq. (9-8); other values shall be permitted to be used if they result in computed deflections in reasonable agreement with results of comprehensive tests. Additional long-term deflection shall be computed in accordance with 9.5.2.5. 9.5.4 Prestressed concrete construction

COMMENTARY

R9.5.3.4 The calculation of deflections for slabs is complicated even if linear elastic behavior can be assumed. For immediate deflections, the values of Ec and Ie specified in 9.5.2.3 may be used.9.18 However, other procedures and other values of the stiffness Ec Ie may be used if they result in predictions of deflection in reasonable agreement with the results of comprehensive tests. Since available data on long-term deflections of slabs are too limited to justify more elaborate procedures, the additional long-term deflection for two-way construction is required to be computed using the multipliers given in 9.5.2.5.

R9.5.4 Prestressed concrete construction The Code requires deflections for all prestressed concrete flexural members to be computed and compared with the allowable values in Table 9.5(b).

9.5.4.1 For flexural members designed in accordance with provisions of Chapter 18, immediate deflection shall be computed by usual methods or formulas for elastic deflections, and the moment of inertia of the gross concrete section, Ig , shall be permitted to be used for Class U flexural members, as defined in 18.3.3. 9.5.4.2 For Class C and Class T flexural members, as defined in 18.3.3, deflection calculations shall be based on a cracked transformed section analysis. It shall be permitted to base computations on a bilinear moment-deflection relationship, or an effective moment of inertia, Ie , as defined by Eq. (9-8).

R9.5.4.1 Immediate deflections of Class U prestressed concrete members may be calculated by the usual methods or formulas for elastic deflections using the moment of inertia of the gross (uncracked) concrete section and the modulus of elasticity for concrete specified in 8.5.1.

R9.5.4.2 Class C and Class T prestressed flexural members are defined in 18.3.3. Reference 9.23 gives information on deflection calculations using a bilinear momentdeflection relationship and using an effective moment of inertia. Reference 9.24 gives additional information on deflection of cracked prestressed concrete members. Reference 9.25 shows that the Ie method can be used to compute deflections of Class T prestressed members loaded above the cracking load. For this case, the cracking moment should take into account the effect of prestress. A method for predicting the effect of nonprestressed tension steel in reducing creep camber is also given in Reference 9.25, with approximate forms given in References 9.18 and 9.26.

9.5.4.3 Additional long-term deflection of prestressed concrete members shall be computed taking into account stresses in concrete and steel under sustained load and including effects of creep and shrinkage of concrete and relaxation of steel.

R9.5.4.3 Calculation of long-term deflections of prestressed concrete flexural members is complicated. The calculations should consider not only the increased deflections due to flexural stresses, but also the additional long-term deflections resulting from time-dependent shortening of the flexural member.

ACI 318 Building Code and Commentary