Comparative Structural Analysis of Biaxial Voided Slabs and Solid Slabs

Mosioma Wycliffe Onchuru1, Moses Onyango Opiyo2,

1
Student, 2Lecturer,. Dept. of Civil Engineering, Kenyatta University
Abstract:
Introduction: Concrete has been a popular building material and was first used by the Romans
for construction as early as 300BC. In the 1950s, resource efficient hollow-core slab were
invented. In the 1990s, a new system , the Plastic Voided Biaxial Slab was invented that locked
the hollow ellipsoids between the top and bottom reinforcements meshes, thereby creating a
natural cell structure that acts as a solid slab. The slab is created with the same capabilities as a
solid slab, but with considerably less weight due to the elimination of excessive concrete. The
application of these resource efficient slab system ensures realization of lightweight structures,
offer excellent freedom in architectural design and at the same time saves on construction costs.
Project statement: Voided Biaxial Slabs (VBS) uses spheres made of recycled industrial plastic
to create air voids while providing strength through arch action. This allows the hollow slab to
act as a normal two way spanning concrete slab.
Study justification: This research is very timely as the demand for low-cost buildings in Kenya
is extremely high. The use of conventional methods in construction i.e. solid slab systems has
proven to be expensive over the years, creating a great need for proper structural member
designs. The application of the Voided Biaxial Slabs will ensure realization of lightweight
structures, offer excellent freedom in architectural design and at the same time save on
construction costs.
Key Words: VBS, concrete, Bubble deck,Cobiax

I INTRODUCTION: invented that locked the hollow ellipsoids

1.1 Background of the study
In buildings, the slab forms one of the
largest member consuming concrete.
Concrete has been a popular building
material and was first used by the Romans
for construction as early as 300BC. In the
1950s, resource efficient hollow-core slab
were invented. The concept behind the
hollow core system was to remove concrete
from the center of the slab, where it is less
useful and replace it with a lighter material
in an effort to decrease the dead weight of
concrete floor. However, these hollow
cavities significantly decrease the slabs
resistance to shear and fire, thus reducing its
structural integrity. In the 1990s, a new
system , the Plastic Voided Biaxial Slab was
between the top and bottom reinforcements
meshes, thereby creating a natural cell
structure that acts as a solid slab. The slab is
created with the same capabilities as a solid
slab, but with considerably less weight due
to the elimination of excessive concrete. The
application of these resource efficient slab
system ensures realization of lightweight
structures, offer excellent freedom in
architectural design and at the same time
saves on construction costs
II LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction of Voided Slab Concept: A
new system, the Voided Biaxial Slab was
invented in the 1990s. The system utilizes
the positive aspects of concrete slab
construction while at the same time
minimizing the negative attributes of solid
slabs by lightening the self-weight of the
structure
Fig 1: Details for the spherical hollow cores
flat slab system
Plastic Voided Slabs:
Materials - The plastic voided slabs are
composed of three main materials namely:
Steel The steel reinforcement is
fabricated in two forms:
Meshed layer for
lateral support
Diagonal girders to
provide vertical
support
Plastic spheres The hollow spheres
are made from recycled high-density
polyethylene (HDPE) or
polypropylene (PP).
Concrete The concrete is from
standard Portland cement and no
plasticizers are necessary for the
concrete mixture.
Fig 2: Typical illustration of a voided slab
and its components
Plastic Voided Slab Systems:
Since the inception of the Plastic voided slab
systems in the1990s many European
companies have patented their own
systems.The main brands of this system are
as follows:
1. Bubble Deck
Bubble Deck is a plastic void system which
comes in three forms- a precast filigree
element, reinforced modules and finished
planks (Nasvik, 2011).
2. Cobiax
In Cobiax system, decks form the bottom of
the slab, and the bottom layer of reinforcing
steel must also be placed. The voids are
locked in steel wire meshes which can be
altered to fit the particular application
(Corey, 2013). The top layer of steel
reinforcement can be placed after the
bundles are in place. Concrete is then poured
in two lifts. The first concrete pour covers
the bottom reinforcement and a portion of
the voids and holds the voids in place as the
concrete becomes stiff. The second lift is
poured after the first lift is stiff but still
fresh, finishing the slab. This method
requires more formwork and on-site labor,
but requires less transportation of materials.
3. U-Boot Beton
U-boot is a voided slab system which uses
recycled polypropylene formwork designed
to create two-way voided slabs and rafts.
These void formers create many I shaped
beams making up the slab (U-boot Beton,
2011). The U-boot system is cast entirely
on-site using formwork. After forms are
erected, the steel and void formers are
placed before the concrete is poured in two
lifts. In addition, this system is advantageous
because the shape of U-boot void formers
allows them to be stacked efficiently during
transportation to the site, saving space and
potentially leading to reduced shipping costs
compared to spherical former systems
(Corey, 2013)
III METHODOLOGY
That is,
The overall procedure for carrying out the
analysis and design of the voided biaxial The ratio ms was be calculated as:
1.96
slab is as outlaid as below: = 0.20
3
i) Stiffness and Weight reduction Where;
D = Ball diameter
h = Overall depth of the slab
Mu = Design moment on the slab, derived
from structural analysis

IV DISCUSSION
The data calculated was plotted on graphs
The stiffness of uncracked Cobiax slab and tables then compared for different slab
sections was investigated with theoretical thickness. The data was then presented in
calculations. The second moment of inertia form of a relationship.
of a solid slab without void former was
calculated using the following notations: 1) Stiffness Reduction Factor and
3 Weight Saving
= In this study for the second moment of
12
Where, b = Width of solid section inertia and percent weight saving, the slab
surrounding a single sphere. thickness was taken from 280mm to 600mm
h = Thickness of the slab with their respective ball diameter being
The second moment of inertia of circle was from 180mm to 450mm. The computed
obtained from the following equation which stiffness reduction factors are as shown in
considered the average void area with radius the table below.For this analysis, the
y. computations of weight reduction was
4 carried out by the same section that of used
= for stiffness reduction factor. The stiffness
4
The stiffness reduction factor was then be reduction factor and weight saving were as
derived from the below notations: shown in Table 1 below.

=

Stiffness Modification
ii) Bending Strength
0.88
Factor
If ms was less than 0.2, then the moment 0.9
stress was allowed to redistribute within the 0.84
0.85 0.8
section of the slab and the voided biaxial 0.78
0.76 0.75 0.78
Factor

slab designed using conventional design 0.8

principles. 0.75
0.7
Note: The variable ms refers to the ratio of
0.65
the moment resisted by the void region to
280 330 370 420 470 520 600
the total moment resisted by the whole cross
section. Slab Thickness
 Fig 3: Slab Thickness Vs Stiffness modification factor (Source Author 2015)

Table 1: Stiffness reduction factor and 330 225 80858 68300 0.85 26.
weight saving (Source Bhagat 2014) 2500 0859.4 77
370 270 13085 10481 0.80 28.
Slab Ball Mome Mome Stiff % 35833 29743 98
thic Dia nt of nt of ness We 420 315 22226 17402 0.78 30.
knes mete Inertia Inertia Redu ight 40000 05569 07
s (h) r (d) of of ction Sav 470 360 34607 26377 0.76 32.
mm mm Solid Voide Fact ing 66667 55482 48
Sectio d or 7
n Is Sectio
( 520 405 52728 39544 0.75 33.
( = n Iv
00000 94160 03
3 )
) ( = 600 450 90000 69906 0.78 31.
12 4
) 00000 69375 81
4
280 180 42074 36930 0.88 20. 0
6666.7 8426.7 62
ss (mm) er Load (Mu) 1.96
Weight Saving %
32.533.031.8 (mm) (KN/m (KN.m/ 3
35
29.030.1 2
) m) )
30 26.8
25 20.6 280 180 15.29 122.31 0.08
% Saving

20
15 330 225 16.53 132.25 0.06
10
370 270 17.12 136.97 0.06
5
0 420 315 18.18 145.44 0.05
280 330 370 420 470 520 600
Slab Thickness
470 360 19.27 154.16 0.05
Figure 4: Slab Thickness Vs % Weight
Saving (Source Author 2015)
520 405 20.26 165.36 0.04
2) Bending Strength
In this study, the design moment was 600 450 22.45 170.6 0.03
derived by considering the span of voided
slab 7m x 7m interior panel, while load
applied on the voided flat plate slabs was 4
KN/m2 Live load and 1 KN/m2 floor finish V CONCLUSIONS
load and self-weight of the slab was also
considered. The grade of concrete was From the analysis it was found that we could
considered to be 25 N/mm2. The results are achieve 30 50% concrete reduction in slab.
as shown in the table below The Biaxial design allows weight reductions
in steel reinforcement. Further reductions
Table 2: Values of Factored load, Design from reduced columns, beams,
Moment and the Variable ms foundations.Potential cost savings of 4% for
Slab Ball Factor Design ms the slab,Concrete and reinforcement steel
Thickne Diamet ed Moment ( saving.Further cost savings for supporting
structure.Reduced weight can result in lower
transport costs andCheaper lifting
equipment.Up to 40% time savings have
been achieved due to Few columns and
beams hence faster construction and
installation of services.Potential embodied
carbon reductions of 41% for the
slab.Further embodied carbon reductions for
supporting structure.It is possible to
incorporate heating/cooling within the slab
to reduce operational energy
consumption.Recycled HDPE spheres can
be used. Downstand beams can be
eliminated.
Since the value of variable for all cases
falls below 0.2, strength calculations of
voided biaxial slabs can be performed same
as conventional solid flat plate slabs with the
substitution of modified moment of inertia.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Further studies to be conducted with view of
assessing the viability of VBSs as a new
construction method of buildings.
The National Construction Authority to
encourage and adopt new techniques of
structural designs in order to facilitate the
construction of cheaper and structurally
sound housing units.
This study mainly focuses on the structural
analysis of the voided slabs. It would be
recommended that further study be
conducted on the material properties of the
voided slab elements and tests performed on
the same.
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