Design of 1-way slabs

Slabs can span load in one or two directions, depending on their support conditions.
A one-way slab is essentially a very broad, shallow beam, and can be designed much in
the same way. A design strip of 1m width in generally used to simplify the calculations.
Slabs are much shallower than beams, and relatively lightly loaded. Consequently they
are generally lightly reinforced (in terms of the steel proportion Ast/bd).
This leads to a few variations in the design process and the checks that have to be made.
A significant problem with slabs is cracking due to shrinkage and temperature effects.
Slabs poured on the ground are often jointed to initiate these cracks on a regular grid for
cosmetic purposes. One-way suspended slabs require steel in both directions to control
shrinkage cracking.
As a slab is lightly loaded relative to its breadth, proportioning the steel for strength often
leads to insufficient reinforcement to provide sufficient crack control.
Limits on the total steel area apply in the secondary direction for one way slabs. See
Clause 9.4.3.3 and .4.

The maximum of the following limits on the steel area apply in the primary direction for
one way slabs:
1 1) Ast ≥ 0.[2((D/d)^2)(f’ct.f/fsy)]bw*d (Clause 8.1.6.1)
2 2) Total steel 75% of the steel proportion in the secondary direction.

The small proportion of reinforcement may also lead to ductility problems, as the
required ultimate moment may be smaller than the cracking moment. The ductility
requirement is the same as for beams, i.e. Mu ≥ 1.2 Mcr0 , where Mcr0 is calculated without
taking into account stress due to shrinkage and creep (Clause 8.1.6).
As the neutral axis is generally high in the section (due to being lightly reinforced), any
“compression” steel present will be below the neutral axis and hence will not help reduce
the creep deflections. Consequently the shrinkage and creep coefficient for calculating
long term deflections of slabs is always kcs = 2.0.
Shear capacity for one way slabs is evaluated in the same way as for beams. If the
capacity is insufficient it is usually better to increase the depth of the slab rather than
introduce shear reinforcement. However, for one way slabs with continuous supports,
shear due to flexure is not usually a critical design factor.
Termination and development: See Clause 9.1.3.1.

Design procedure for one-way slabs:

1. Estimate the depth based on the span of the slab Ln: simply supported Ln/21 - Ln/19;
continuous one end Ln/26 - Ln/24; continuous both ends Ln/31 - Ln/28. First ratio applies
for light superposed loading (2kPa), second to heavy (6kPa).
2. Determine the cover from the exposure condition. Try to use the minimum cover for
the exposure conditions.
3. Estimate the area of steel using an approximate lever arm of 0.925d (note the
difference from beams, where 0.85d is used).
4. Check the area of steel against the minimum area for ductility and the minimum area
for crack control. If crack control dominates, consider putting the steel into two layers,
with sufficient steel for strength on the tension side and the balance on the compression
side (up to 50% of the total). Select the bar size and spacing.
If the slab is continuous, repeat steps 2 and 3 for the negative moment over each support
(calculated at 0.7as from the middle of the support). This is all that is required for
preliminary design. For detailed design, using a 1m design strip:
5. Check the short and long term serviceability deflections (in the same way as a beam
but with kcs = 2.0), and increase or decrease the slab depth as necessary.
6. Check the ultimate moment capacity against M* at the midspan and over any
continuous supports. Adjust the steel bar size and spacing if necessary (keeping in mind
the minimum steel proportion).
7. Check the shear capacity at the critical sections (d from support faces) Vuc.
8. Terminate reinforcement as necessary, complying with code requirements.
9. Check development lengths and employ hooks or cogs at simple supports if necessary.
As with beams, it is generally helpful from a construction point of view if the steel can be
tied together into a rigid cage.