Design of One Way Slabs and Continuous Beams

Reinforced concrete slabs are large flat plates that are supported by reinforced
concrete beams, walls, or columns; by masonry walls; by structural steel beams or
columns; or by the ground. If they are supported on two opposite sides only, they are
referred to as one-way slabs because the bending is in one direction only—that is,
perpendicular to the supported edges. Should the slab be supported by beams on all
four edges, it is referred to as a two-way slab because the bending is in both
directions. Actually, if a rectangular slab is supported on all four sides, but the long side
is two or more times as long as the short side, the slab will, for all practical purposes,
act as a one-way slab, with bending primarily occurring in the short direction. Such slabs
are designed as one-way slabs.
A one-way slab is assumed to be a rectangular beam with a large ratio of width to
depth. Normally, a 1m -wide strip of such a slab is designed as a beam (see Figure), the
slab being assumed to consist of a series of such beams side by side. The method of
analysis is somewhat conservative because of the lateral restraint provided by the
adjacent parts of the slab. Normally, a beam will tend to expand laterally somewhat as it
bends, but this tendency to expand by each of the 1m strips is resisted by the adjacent
1m.-wide strips, which tend to expand also. In other words, Poisson’s ratio is assumed to
be zero. Actually, the lateral expansion tendency results in a very slight stiffening of the
beam strips, which is neglected in the design procedure used here.

The load supported by the one-way slab, including its own weight, is transferred to
the members supporting the edges of the slab. Obviously, the reinforcing for flexure is
placed perpendicular to these supports—that is, parallel to the long direction of the 1m-
wide beams. This flexural reinforcing may not be spaced farther on center : 
3   450
according to the ACI Code (7.6.5).
1 
 
Of course, there will be some reinforcing placed in the other direction to resist shrinkage
and temperature stresses. For analysis and design the following points should be
considered:
1- The thickness required for a particular one-way slab depends on the bending, the
deflection, and shear requirements. As described in the ACI Code (9.5.2.1) provides
certain span/depth limitations for concrete flexural members where deflection are not
calculated. Because of the quantities of concrete involved in floor slabs, their depths
are rounded off to closer values than are used for beam depths. Slab thicknesses are
usually rounded off to the nearest 100mm on the high side for slabs of 150mm. The
cover for slab equal 20mm.

2- As concrete hardens, it shrinks. In addition, temperature changes occur that cause

expansion and contraction of the concrete. When cooling occurs, the shrinkage effect
and the shortening due to cooling add together. The code (7.12) states that shrinkage
and temperature reinforcement must be provided in a direction perpendicular to the
main reinforcement for one-way slabs. (For two-way slabs, reinforcement is
provided in both directions for bending.
The ACI-Code 14 states that for Grade 280MPa or 350MPa deformed bars,
.        ∗ ∗ (where h is the slab thickness).
The code (7.12.2.2) states that shrinkage and temperature reinforcement may not be spaced
farther apart than five times the slab thickness (5h), or 450mm.
When Grade 420MPa deformed bars or welded wire fabric is used,     . ∗ ∗
. For slabs with fy > 420MPa, the minimum value is (0.0018 × 420/fy ≥ 0.0014.

3- Load calculation for slabs for square meter which the same for strip with 1m width.
Dead loads are estimated as multiplying the density of material by the thickness and
the Live loads by using tables depends on the function of the structure.

2 
 
 3 
 
 4- Analysis of one way slab use elastic analysis method or coefficient method, the
span for simply supported is center to center of supports or it equal to clear
span plus 2h whichever is smaller. For continuous one way slabs clear span will
used for positive moments and the average of two adjacent spans for negative
moments.
5- Area of main steel will be calculated using the same as equations for singly
rectangular beam:
 1      1000 , 20,           
∅ 0.85 ′
∗ ∗ . ∗ ′ ∗
1 1 Or   1 1     ∗ ∗
. ∗ ′

        ∗ ∗
 
  . 1000 ∗
.      1               
    .
3∗
                         1.5 ∗
450 
          ∶ .     .
For shrinkage and temperature steel reinforcement use the spacing

5∗
    
450 
 
The ACI-Code specify the following diagram for steel distribution:
 

4 
 
Ex. 1: One way precast concrete slabs support on S.S. beams with span 7.5m, using fy =
400 MPa and f’c= 21 MPa, calculate:
1- Maximum live load that the slab could withstand.
2- Assume weight of beam 5KN/m, Design the beam.

Sol.:
1-   0.4 0.4 128.7       130

  130 20 5 105

1000 ∗ 79 ∗ 1000
  527.7 /
120
0.003 21 0.003
 0.85 ∗ ∗ ∗ 0.85 ∗ ∗ 0.0142
0.008 400 0.008
527.7
→→ 0.00503 0.002   
1000 ∗ 105
2 2
0.0142 ∗ 1000 ∗ 105 1491 527.7   . .   .

∗ . ∗ .
  11.8     13.88 
. ∗ ∗ . ∗ ∗ .

0.003 105 13.88

0.0197 0.005    ∅ 0.9
13.88
11.8
400 105
0.9 ∗ 526.7 ∗ 2 18.8  . /
10

∗ 2.525
18.8   →    23.59  / 2 
8 8
  1.2 1.6
5 
 
 130
23.59 1.2 ∗ 24 ∗ 1.6 
1000
∴ 12.4  /

    : (1  . for bending:
0.9 ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ 1 0.59 ∗
′
400
18.8 ∗ 10 0.9 ∗ 0.00503 ∗ 1000 ∗ ∗ 400 1 0.59 ∗ 0.00503
21
. ∗
104.9  used 105        130      . .
.
For shear:
2.65
23.59  ∗ 31.26 
2
√21
 31.26 23.59 ∗ 0.75 ∗ 1000 ∗
1000 6 1000

d required for shear = 52.4 mm we used d= 105 mm then o.k.

2- For the simply supported beam design:

Load on beam from slab= 23.59 *(2.4+0.125+0.125)= 62.51 kN/m2

Total load = 1.2*5 + 62.51 = 68.51 kN/m

7500
0.4 0.9714 455.3   
16 700 16

68.51 ∗ 7.5
  481.71    .
8 8
   0.0142
481.71 ∗ 10
    611.34   620
400
0.9 ∗ 300 ∗ 0.0142 ∗ 400 1 0.59 ∗ 0.0142 ∗
21
620 80 700    455.3    . . 
481.71 ∗ 10 400
4.64         22.408
∅ 0.9 ∗ 300 ∗ 620 0.85 ′ 0.85 ∗ 21

6 
 
 1 2∗ ∗ 1 2 ∗ 4.64 ∗ 22.408
1 1    1 1 0.0137
22.408 400

As = 0.0137* 300 * 620 = 2548.2 mm2

Try ∅25     491 2

No. of bars = 2548.2 /491 = 6 bars two layers

Ex. 2: Design a simply supported one way slab with 3m span and using f’c= 20.7 MPa
and fy = 276MPa. The slab support distributed live load of 7 kN/m2( use bars with
10mm ).
276
3000 0.4
0.4 700 119.14
20 700 20

   120      120 20 5 95

Wd= 1.2 * 24 *0.12 = 2.88 kN/m2

  1.2 1.6 2.88 1.6 ∗ 7 14.08  / 2

14.08 ∗ 3
  15.84  .
8 8
3
14.08 ∗ 21.12 
2
 21.12  14.08 ∗ 19.78 kN
√20.7 95
∅ 0.75 ∗ 1000 ∗ 54.027     . .
6 1000
15.84 ∗ 10 276
1.95           15.686
∅ 0.9 ∗ 1000 ∗ 95 0.85 ′ 0.85 ∗ 20.7

1 2∗ ∗ 1 2 ∗ 1.95 ∗ 15.686
1 1 1 1 0.0075 0.002
15.686 276

As = 0.0075 * 1000 *95 = 712.5 mm2/m

∗ 712.5 ∗ 276
  11.18
0.85 ∗ ∗ 0.85 ∗ 20.7 ∗ 1000
7 
 
 ‫∗ ‪0.9 ∗ 0.85‬‬ ‫∗‬ ‫‪∗  ‬‬ ‫‪2‬‬
‫‪10‬‬
‫‪11.18‬‬
‫‪15.84  ∗ 10‬‬ ‫‪0.9 ∗ 0.85 ∗ 20.7 ∗ 1000 ∗ 11.18‬‬
‫‪2‬‬
‫‪d = 95.06mm‬‬ ‫‪95mm o.k.‬‬

‫‪Spacing of main reinf. Try 10mm diameter area of bar =79mm2‬‬

‫‪1000 ∗ 79‬‬
‫‪110 ‬‬ ‫‪≫≫≫  ∅10‬‬ ‫‪ @100‬‬ ‫‪3‬‬ ‫‪3 ∗ 120‬‬
‫‪712.5 ‬‬
‫‪ ‬‬ ‫‪   450‬‬
‫‪2‬‬
‫‪0.002‬‬ ‫‪then As min=0.002 * 1000 * 120= 240mm /m‬‬

‫‪Spacing of secondary reinf. Try ∅10mm, diameter area of bar =79mm2‬‬

‫‪1000 ∗ 79‬‬
‫‪329 ‬‬ ‫‪ ‬‬ ‫‪ 300‬‬
‫‪240‬‬
‫‪≫≫≫  ∅10‬‬ ‫‪ @ 300‬‬ ‫‪5‬‬ ‫‪5 ∗ 120‬‬ ‫‪600‬‬ ‫‪ ‬‬ ‫‪ ‬‬

‫‪Continuous Beams and One Way Slabs‬‬

‫لتصميم وتحليل البالطات والعتبات المستمرة نستخدم طريقة المعامالت للعزم وتحدد المواصفة االمريكية ‪ACI-‬‬
‫‪318‬الشروط التالية العتبارھا مستمرة‪:‬‬
‫‪ .١‬توفر على االقل فضائين‬
‫‪ .٢‬المسافات الصافية للفضاءات المتجاورة متساوية تقريبا واليزيد الفضاء الكبيرعن الصغير بحوالي ‪%٢٠‬‬
‫‪ .٣‬االحمال منتشرة التوزيع‬
‫‪ .٤‬ال يزيد الحمل الخدمي الحي عن ثالثة امثال الحمل الخدمي الميت‬
‫‪ .٥‬المقاطع ثابتة على طول العتبة او السقف‪.‬‬

‫اما قيم العزوم فتحسب من المعادلة التالية ‪:‬‬

‫∗‪.‬‬ ‫∗‬

‫محددة بالجدول وحسب عدد الفضاءات وموقع النقطة المراد حساب العزم كما في‬ ‫حيث ان قيمة المعامالت‬
‫ھي‪  :‬‬ ‫الشكل اما قيمة الحمل االقصى‬

‫ھي قيمة المسافة الصافية لحساب العزم الموجب والقص وھي معدل فضائين صافيين متجاوريين عند‬ ‫وان‬
‫حساب العزم السالب‪ .‬كما حددت المواصفة كيفية حساب قيم القص في جميع المساند وكالتالي‪:‬‬

‫‪Shear in end members at face of first interior support .............. 1.15*Wu* ln /2‬‬
‫‪Shear at face of all other supports .................. Wu *ln /2‬‬

‫‪8 ‬‬
‫‪ ‬‬
ACI-318 -Section 8.3.3 — As an alternate to frame analysis, the following approximate moments and
shears shall be permitted for design of continuous beams and one-way slabs (slabs reinforced to resist
flexural stresses in only one direction), provided (a) through (e) are satisfied:
(a) There are two or more spans;
(b) Spans are approximately equal, with the larger of two adjacent spans not greater than the shorter by
more than 20 percent;
(c) Loads are uniformly distributed;
(d) Un-factored live load, L, does not exceed three times un-factored dead load, D; and
(e) Members are prismatic.
For calculating negative moments, ln is taken as the average of the adjacent clear span lengths.

9 
 
 Ex. 3: The slab shown below using f’c= 25 MPa and fy = 420 MPa. The service dead
loads are 4 kN/m2 including its own weight and service live loads are 6 kN/m2:
1- Find area of steel required for the slab.
2- Area of steel required for interior beam B1, at critical section.
3- Spacing required for 8mm diameter stirrups for interior beam B1.

1- Sol.:
For slab thickness cast monolithically with beams is continuous both end then cast
with beams:
4000
142    150
28 28
150 20 5 125

  1.2 1.6 1.2 ∗ 4 1.6 ∗ 6 14.4  /

4
1.15 ∗ 14.4 ∗ 33.12  /
2
 33.12 14.4 ∗ 31.32 kN
10 
 
 √25 125
∅ 0.75 ∗ 1000 ∗ 78.125      . .
6 1000
1
.∗ ∗   ∗ 14.4 ∗ 4   9.6  . /
24
1
                 ∗ 14.4 ∗ 4   16.46  . /
14
1
                 ∗ 14.4 ∗ 4   25.6  . /
9
:   1000     125  
∗
  1.82          19.76
∅ . ∗ ∗ . . ∗

∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ .
1 1   1 1
19.76 

∗
0.0018 As = 0.0018 * 1000 *150 = 270 mm2/m

Mu Ru As mm2/m Spacing Notes:

kN.m/m mm
25.6 1.82 0.0045 562.5 130 3 3 ∗ 150

16.46 1.17 0.00286 357.5 450

9.6 0.68 0.0016 Use 200

min.=270 290 5

11 
 
 2- Sol.:

4700
    .   254    
18.5 18.5
5200
    .   247.6
21 21
Use h =260mm
. ∗ . ∗ .
Total load on beam from slab= ∗2 71.208  /

Try weight of beam = 1.2*24*0.3*0.26 = 2.24 say ( 5) kN/m

Total load on beam = 71.208 +5 = 76.208 kN/m
1 4.7 5.2
            .∗ ∗   ∗ 76.208 ∗
10 2
  186.73  .
. .
0.85 ∗ ∗ ∗ 0.85 ∗ ∗ 0.0161
. . . .

186.73 ∗ 10
    348  350
420
0.9 ∗ 300 ∗ 0.0161 ∗ 420 1 0.59 ∗ 0.0161 ∗
25

350 70 420   260    . . 

  
Then wt. of beam = 1.2*24*0.3*0.42= 3.456 kN/m   5 . .
186.73 ∗ 10 420
5.64         19.76
∅ 0.9 ∗ 300 ∗ 350 0.85 ′ 0.85 ∗ 25

1 2∗ ∗ 1 2 ∗ 5.64 ∗ 19.76
1 1    1 1 0.0159    . .
19.76 420

As = 0.0159 * 300 * 350 = 1669.5 mm2

3- Sol.:

12 
 
 . ∗ . ∗ .   . ∗ .  
1 205.952  2 198.14 

 205.95 76.208 ∗ 180.8 kN

√25 330
∅ 0.75 ∗ 1000 ∗ 61.875            .
6 1000
∅ 180.8 61.875 118.925    4∅         2∅

, 600 ,   600
    ∗ ∗
Then 420 
    ∗ ∗
 
448   
√

∗ ∗ 100 ∗ 420 ∗ 330

116.5 
118.925 ∗ 1000
Use 8mm @ 110 mm c/c

Ex. 4: A 150 mm one way slab supports on 300 mm beams, find maximum live load
that the slab could stand if f’c= 24MPa and fy= 400MPa.

h=150mm then d = 150 – 20 – 6 = 124mm

∗ ∗
        1   565 /  

13 
 
 ∗ 565 ∗ 400 11.08
  11.08    13.04
0.85 ∗ ∗ 0.85 ∗ 24 ∗ 1000 0.85

0.003 124 13.04

  0.0255 0.005    ∅ 0.9
13.04
1000 ∗ 113  
2   808
140
1000 ∗ 113
3   404
280

0.0018 As = 0.0018 * 1000 *150 = 270 mm2/m

    0.9 ∗ 1000 ∗ 124 ∗ 400 ∗ 1 0.59 ∗ /10
∗  

1.2 ∗ 24 ∗ .15
1.2 ∗ . 1.6 ∗ .               .  
1.6
As Mu Mu coef. WT .
Points
mm2/m kN.m/m kN.m/m kN/m2 kN/m2
1
A 404 0.0293 17.46 ∗ 3.2 40.92 22.87
24
1
B 565 0.041 24.095 ∗ 3.2 32.94 17.88
14
1 3.2 3.5
C 808 0.0586 33.766 ∗ 30.087 16.104
10 2
1
D 565 0.041 24.095 ∗ 3.5 31.47 16.968
16
1
E 808 0.0586 33.766 ∗ 3.5 30.32 16.25
11

14