Concrete flooring & roofing system

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Concrete floor
Reinforced concrete floor is called SLAB. Slab is generally constructed in two major types : slab on grade and slab on beam. SLAB ON GRAE or SLAB ON GROUND can construct only on ground floor that touch the earth. It distributes load directly on the soil or compacted sand. The ground beam is only tied the columns and to be building perimeter. The initial construction cost is cheaper than the other type because formwork can be omitted at the slab underside. The disadvantage of slab on grade is the differential settlement due to soil settlement. Cracking usually occurs at the joint of slab and beam and at the slab surface. Then major maintenance is often needed at high cost. SLAB ON BEAM can construct at all levels. It transfers load to beam and then on to the columns. This can ensure differential settlement up to one point. The initial construction cost is higher than slab on grade because formwork at the slab underside and the reinforcement to join beam and slab is needed. Slab can be classified by load transfer system and construction methods. The two classifications are mainly concern on slab on beam.

Concrete slab classifiy by load transfer system

1. One-way slab
A pair of beam or bearing wall is designed to transfer load from slab. One-way slab is used with short span range from 1.80-3.60 m. Rectangular shaped slab (w : L = 1: 3) also appropriate to use one way slab system. Bottom reinforced bars resist tensile stress. Top bars are used as temperature steel to prevent cracking

2. Two-way slab with beam

Two pairs of beam are designed to transfer load from slab to the four columns. Bay should be as nearly square as possible. Two-way slab is used with long span and heavy loads, or when high lateral force resistance is required.

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3. One-way concrete joist system (ribbed slab) Ribbed slab is used for long spans and heavier load than one-way slab. Broader joists at beam (joist band) can resist greater shear.

4. Two-way concrete joist system (waffle slab)

Waffle slab is used for long spans heavy loads. Bays should be as square as possible.

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5. Two-way flat slab

Flat slab is supported by columns without beams. Drop panel, which min. width of 0.45 span and min. depth is span/85, and column capital are for increase shear strength and moment resisting capacity. Min. floor depth equal to span/36 or 4". But typical floor depth commonly used is 6"-12".

6. Two-way flat plate

Flat plate is flat slab without drop panel and column capital. Min. floor depth equal to span/33 or 5". But typical floor depth commonly used is 14".

Two-way flat slab and two-way flat plate can be constructed by post tension system. Post tension is the technology that stretch reinforcement steel with hydraulic jack and securely anchored after concrete is cured. Post tension technology can reduce floor depth since floor depth to span ration is span/40-span/45. Post tension has two systems Bonded System the steel strands is drape inside pipes. After the steel strands is stretched with hydraulic jack and securely anchored, cement grout is poured in the pipes to secure the steels.

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Unbonded System the steel strands is barely drape inside concrete. Unbonded system is hard to rearrange the space which require the drill and opening on the floor. The steel strand may be cut and lose the strength when slab cutting is performed. When maintenance work and space remodel is done, the as built drawing of the post tension must be used to secure the existing structure. To add more strength to post tension slab, band beam, a very flat beam, can be added in flat slab or flat plate design.

Concrete slab classify by construction methods

1. Cast-in-place (sitecast) can be either slab on grade or slab on beam 2. Pre-cast (prestressed, prefabricate)
2.1 Pretensioning 2.2 Post-tensioning

Four major types of precast concrete slab

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Precast components assembly

Three basic types of joints in slab

Control joint (contraction joints)
Prevent cracking due to shrinkage. Control joints are often sawed to 1/5 of the green (old) slab thickness then fill with soft material such as asphalt to prevent dirt built up in the joint. The joints sometime done by embedded steel or PVC. strips in the formwork before concrete pouring.

Isolation joint (expansion joints)

are placed around slab perimeters to prevent slab from heaving in hot weather.

Construction joint
are placed where concrete pouring stops for the day to prevent moisture penetration into the interior space.

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Nine typical types of long span concrete structure & roof

Dome

Rigid frame

Space frame

Hyperbolic Paraboloid Shells

Vierendeel truss

Barrel Shell

Arch

Folded Plate

Thin Shell

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