DESIGN OF SLAB

V.M.RAJAN, CE/CIVIL/TANGEDCO
 What is the classification of slab ?
 What is maximum span to be adopted for various types of slab ?
 What are the standard values of slab thickness, diameter of bars, Grade of
Concrete, Grade of steel used in practice ?
 How to calculate the bending moment and shear force values in slabs
 Steel arrangement in one way and two way slabs.
 How to connect the slab reinforcement with the beam reinforcement for
different edge conditions?
A slab is a flat two dimensional planar structural element having thickness small
compared to its other two dimensions. It provides a covering shelter in buildings. It
primarily transfer the load by bending in one or two directions. Reinforced concrete
slabs are used in floors, roofs and walls of buildings and as the decks of bridges. The
floor system of a structure can take many forms such as in situ solid slab, ribbed slab
or pre-cast units. Slabs may be supported on monolithic concrete beam, steel beams,
walls or directly over the columns. Concrete slab behave primarily as flexural
members and the design is similar to that of beams.

PLANNING OF SLAB

One-way or two way slab details can be obtained from aspect ratio = 2
L
Aspect Ratio =
B
Where L = Longer Span B = Shorter Span L
If L / B is > 2 then slab is designed as one way slab
B

If L / B is < 2 then slab is designed as two way slab B

L
1. For one way slab design, there could be serious of long beams with spacing

approximately between 3m to 5m.

2. For two way slabs, cross beams shall be provided so that the smaller span of

two way panel lies between 4m to 6m.

3. One way slab is found to be economical for spans up to 3.5m.

4. Two way slab can be adopted for shorter spans above 3.0m.
5. However as per design practice slabs up to 2.5m spans may be designed as

one way slabs. Canopy, Chajja, balcony slabs are generally provided as

cantilever slabs.

6. As two way slabs are not economical for short spans, in practice, even though a

slab may be supported on all four sides, still it is designed as one ways slab

transferring load only in one direction. Care should be taken to provide

minimum steel at top across the short edge support to avoid the cracks to be

developed at top along short edge support.

7. The maximum practical thickness for residential / office / public buildings is

200mm while minimum is 100mm.

8. The maximum and minimum spans, which decided the spacing of beams, are

governed by loading and limiting thickness as given below:-

Live Load = 5 KN / m2

Supported Fixed /
Cantilever Simply supported
condition continuous
Two
Slab type One way Two way One way Two way One way
way
Maximum
span in 1.50 2.0 3.50 4.50 4.50 6.0
meters

9. Types of slabs:-

Slabs are classified based on whether the slab is supported on four edges or

not. If the slab is supported on four edges, check the aspect ratio ly/lx. If ly/lx

is < 2 it is two way slab. If ly/lx is >2, it is one way slab. For two way slab,

there are 9 edge conditions. In two way slab, the main reinforcement is

provided in two directions. In one way slab, the main reinforcement is provided
in one direction only. For slab not supported on four edges, they are classified

as follows:-

(i) If the slab is supported on 3 edges all around, the slab is designed as

one way slab along lx or ly spanning in two opposite direction.

(ii) If the slab is supported on two opposite edges, then the slab is

designed as one way slab, based on spanning lx or ly span as the

case may be.

(iii) If the slab is supported on two adjacent edges, the slab may be

designed as cantilever slab spanning along short direction lx.

 (iv) If the slab is supported on one edge only, then slab may be designed

as cantilever slab spanning along lx.

10. W.C. slab is generally made sloping or sunk by about 50 cm below general

floor level for Indian type water closet. Slabs for toilet block and Nahani

slab are generally sunk by 20 cm. below general floor level.

11. Stair case waist slab shall be generally one way slab.

12. Loft slabs over toilets are generally supported on partition walls of toilet and

W.C. Loft load should be considered while designing the beams supporting

these walls.

13. Flat slabs may be found economical for spans of 6.0 to 9.0m

Classification of Slab:
1) Based of shape: Square, rectangular, circular,Triangular and polygonal in shape.
2) Based on type of support: Slab supported on walls, Slab supported on beams,
Slab supported on columns (Flat slabs).
3) Based on support or boundary condition: Simply supported, Cantilever slab,
Overhanging slab, Fixed or Continues slab.
4) Based on use: Roof slab, Floor slab, Foundation slab, Water tank slab.
5) Basis of cross section or sectional configuration: Ribbed slab /Grid slab, Solid
slab, Filler slab, Folded plate
6) Basis of spanning directions :
One way slab – Spanning in one direction
Two way slab _ Spanning in two direction

GENERAL GUIDELINES
a. Effective span of slab :
Effective span of slab shall be lesser of the two
1. l = clear span + d (effective depth )
2. l = Center to center distance between the support
b. Depth of slab:

As a thumb rule depth of slab is 1cm per 1 feet run. Example for 4m
span ( l=4m x3=12 feet.) Thickness D= 12 x 1cm=12cm
(Take 1m=3 feet approximately)

The depth of slab depends on bending moment and deflection criterion. the trail
depth can be obtained using:
• Effective depth d= Span /((l/d)Basic x modification factor)
• For obtaining modification factor, the percentage of steel for slab can be assumed
from 0.2 to 0.5% deponding on type of Grade of Torsteel

One way slab:

Support condition L/d ratio As per thumb rule

Simply Supported slab 25 40 to 50mm per
metre run
Continuous slab 30 40mm per metre run

Two way slab :

Case 1:
For span Lx up to 3.50 m and Live Load up to 3.0 KN/m 2
 Support condition L/D ratio As per thumb rule
Simply Supported slab 28 40 mm per metre run
Continuous slab 32 35mm per metre run

Case 2:
For span Lx > 3.50 m and Live load > 3.0 KN/m2

Support condition L/d ratio

Simply Supported slab 25
Continuous slab 30

Cantilever slab :
Based on thumb rule:

D= 110 mm to 150 mm/ metre of span at support.

Do= 50 mm up to span 1.20 m & 75 mm above 1.50 m at free end.

Based on L/d ratio:

L/ d ratio = 9 to 11 (average 10)

Flat slab
Based on thumb rule:

(i) Flat slab without drop = 350 mm / metre

(ii) Flat slab with drop = 285 mm / metre

Based on L/d ratio :

Flat slab without drop and without column capital = l/28

Flat slab with drops and columns with capital = l/35

Grid Floor :
Based on thumb rule:

Panel up to 2.0 m width = 80 mm thick

Panel above 2.0 m width =100 mm thick

Based on L/d ratio :

Simply supported two way grid panels = l/25

Load on slab:
The load on slab comprises of Dead load, floor finish and live load. The loads are
calculated per unit area (load/m2).
Dead load = D x 25 kN/m2 ( Where D is thickness of slab in m)
Floor finish (Assumed as)= 1KN/m2 . For roof slab 2 to 2.25 kN/m2
Live load (Assumed as) = 2 KN/m 2 for residential building; 2.5 to 4 KN/m 2 for office
building depending on the occupancy of the building as per IS875-part 2-1987

DETAILING REQUIREMENTS AS PER IS 456 : 2000

a. Nominal Cover :
For Mild exposure – 20 mm
For Moderate exposure – 30 mm
However, if the diameter of bar do not exceed 12 mm, or cover may be reduced by 5
mm. Thus for main reinforcement up to 12 mm diameter bar and for mild exposure,
the nominal cover is 15 mm
b. Minimum reinforcement : The reinforcement in either direction in slab shall not
be less than
• 0.15% of the total cross sectional area for Fe-250 steel

• 0.12% of the total cross sectional area for Fe-415 & Fe-500 steel.
c. Spacing of bars : The maximum spacing of bars shall not exceed
• Main Steel – 3d or 300 mm whichever is smaller
• Distribution steel –5d or 450 mm whichever is smaller
Where, ‘d’ is the effective depth of slab.
Note: The minimum clear spacing of bars is not kept less than 75 mm (Preferably 100
mm) though code do not recommend any value.
d. Maximum diameter of bar: The maximum diameter of bar in slab, shall not
exceed D/8, where D is the total thickness of slab.
e. Whenever the slab thickness is 150mm, the bar diameter shall be 10mm for
normal spacing.(It can be 8mm at very closely spaced).
f. Slab thickness can be 100mm,110mm,120mm,125mm,140mm,150mm,175mm and
200mm.

h. The maximum spacing of Main bar shall not exceed 200mm(8”) and the
distribution bars @ 250mm(10”).
i.If the roof slab is supported by load bearing wall(without any frames) a bed block of
150/200mm shall be provided along the length of supports which will aid in resisting
the lateral forces.
Standard slab thickness adopted in practice in mm are :
100,110,120,125,130,140,150,160,180,200 in multiples of 5mm.
Other Aspects:

1. Adjustment of spacing of bars in slabs when size is changed spacing of bars actually

provided =

Dia of bar actually 2

Spacing of bars as per
x provided
design
Dia of bar as per design
2. Conversion table for change of one type of steel into another, valid for tension

steel bars of slabs, beams and footings only. (For columns no direct conversion

permitted)

Type of steel Dia of bars in mm

Fe – 250 6 8 10 12 16 20 22 25 28 30 32
Fe – 415 - 6 8 10 14 16 18 20 22 24 25
Fe – 500 - 6 8 10 12 16 16 18 20 22 24
Note: 1. This conversion table is based on the principle that steel area is

directly proportional to yield stress.

2. This conversion table is conservative and may be used only in

emergency when necessary design aids are not available.

3. Chair roads:

Chair of approved type shall be used to support slab steel where necessary.

Atleast one chair shall be used for each 1.5 m2 of floor area.

4. Minimum Reinforcement for Roof slab:

For the reinforcement of roof slab, provide a min. of 0.24% of slab cross sectional

area reinforcement to take care of the temperature and other weathering agent

and for the ponding of rain water etc since it is exposed to outside the building

enclosure.