CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
1.1

Background of Study
Reinforced concrete flat slab is the slab that usually does not have beams and
girders. The loads from the slab are transferred directly to the supporting concrete
columns. In flat-slab construction, beams are used only at points of discontinuity, with the
typical system consisting only of the slab and the strengthening elements at column
supports. Because of the absence of deep beams and shear walls, flat-slab structural
system is significantly more flexible for lateral loads the traditional RC frame system and
that make the system more vulnerable under seismic events. The system consists of
columns resting directly on floor slabs for which sufficient strength and ductility should
be provided to enable sustaining of large inelastic deformations without failure.
Flat-slab building structures possesses major advantages over traditional slab-beamcolumn structures because of the free design of space, shorter construction time,
architectural functional and economical aspects. The absence of beams, i.e., the
transferring of their role to the floor RC structure which gains in height and density of
reinforcement in the parts of the hidden beams, the bearing capacity of the structural
system, the plate-column and plate-wall connection, all the advantages and
disadvantages of the system have been tested through long years of analytical and
experimental investigations. For the last 20 to 30 years, the investigations have been
directed toward definition of the actual bearing capacity, deformability and stability
of these structural systems designed and constructed in seismically active regions.
A flat slab is a highly indeterminate structure and its exact analysis is difficult. An
approximate analysis can be made by considering an interior panel of slab. IS4562000 provides an empirical approach Direct Design Method and Equivalent Frame
Analysis for the analysis of flat slab. Via Direct Design Method this its easy to
calculate bending moment and shear force in flat slab without use of computer. But
the Equivalent Frame Analysis gives more exact results. The behaviour and design of
flat slabs structures for gravity loads are well established but their seismic behaviour
is not well understood and generally found to be unsatisfactory. Flat slab is
susceptible to progressive brittle punching shear failure under seismic loading. In flat
slab building the most vulnerable part is slab-column joint. Flat slabs with drop panels
or column capitals are generally constructed as these extra projections provide safety

against punching shear and also reduce the heavy negative moment. If drop panels
are not provided then the system is termed as Flat Plate.
Extensive research has been carried out to find out the behaviour of slab-column
connection. The failure mode depends upon the type and extent of loading. Punching
shear strength of slab-column connection is of importance which very much depends
on the gravity shear ratio. The mechanism of transfer of moments from slab to
column is very complex when subjected to lateral loading and unbalance moments.
These unbalanced moments produce additional shear and torsion at the connections
and then get transferred into the column which results in excessive cracking of slab
leading to further reduction in the stiffness of the slab. A flat-plate structure, as
shown in Figure 4, consists of a slab with uniform thickness supported on the columns
with no beams or drop panels. The economy of flat plate buildings has lead to their
wide spread utilization throughout the world. Conventionally flat-plate structure is
generally used for lightly loaded structures such as apartments, hotels, and office
buildings with relatively short spans, typically less than 6m. For longer spans or
heavier loads, flat-slabs system with shear capitals or drop panels would be more
feasible.
Flat-plates have been widely used due to the reduced construction cost associated
with the simple formwork and simple arrangement of flexural reinforcement. An
additional advantage of a flat-plate is reduced building storey heights that result in
more usable space in a building for a given or limited height and reduces lateral
loads acting on the system, as well as mechanical, electrical, and cladding costs.

1.2

Problem Statement
Reinforced concrete slab that use in the construction nowadays are thick and the
minimum thickness is 125 mm. Load on slab will transfer to the beam, column and
foundation. Thick slab lead to higher self weight of slab and cause the increases of load
that has to withstand by the slab. The size of beam, column and foundation will be bigger
result from the higher load. The usage of reinforced concrete thin slab is important to
reduce the self weight of slab. Thin slab usually result in smaller size of beam and
column with less concrete. If it is widely use in the construction, the whole project will be
more economic because of the reduction in material use. Additionally, reduced building

loads may also yield a less-expensive foundation design depending on the proposed
system.
Thin slab also experienced the vibration just like the other common structures.
Floor vibration can be accepted as long it is does not cause the harm and the failure to the
structures. The suitable thickness of thin slab should be determined to avoid the
discomfort to the users. This problem should be done by the further research of the floor
vibration of thin slab and obtain the natural frequency, damping ratio and mode shape
with different thickness of thin slab.
Common practice of design and construction is to support the slabs by beams
and support the beams by columns. This may be called as beam-slab construction.
The beams reduce the available net clear ceiling height. Hence in warehouses, offices
and public halls sometimes beams are avoided and slabs are directly supported by
columns. These types of construction are aesthetically appealing also.

1.3

Objectives
The main objectives of this study are:
a) To develop the finite-element modeling of thin slab.
b) To determine the dynamic properties of thin slab.

1.4

Scope of Study
This study is carry out to develop the finite-element modeling of thin slab by using SAP
2000 software to know the effect of different thickness towards the structure of thin slab.
The result of natural frequency, damping ratio and mode shape will be analyzed to know
the changes of dynamic properties for the thin slab. This study will be done towards
different thickness of thin slab.
Characteristics of the thin slab are:
a) The thicknesses of thin slab are 40mm, 50mm, and 60mm.
b) Materials used for thin slab are concrete and cement boiler slag.

CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction
2.2 Flat Slab Floor
Reinforced concrete flat slab is the slabs which are directly supported by the columns.
Moments in the slabs are more near the column. Hence the slab is thickened near the
columns by providing the drops as. Sometimes the drops are called as capital of the
column. Thus we have the following types of the slabs.
i.
Slabs without drop and column with column head
ii.
Slabs without drop and column without column head
iii.
Slabs with drop and column with column head

Figure 1: Types of flat slab

The column head is sometimes widened so as to reduce the punching shear in the slab.
The widened portions are called column heads. The column heads may be provided with
any angle from the consideration of architecture but for the design, concrete in the
portion at 45 on either side of vertical only is considered as effective for the design.
Drop panels consisting of thickened portions of the slab, square in plan, are used to give
additional resistance to the high shear and bending moment that develop at the column
supports. Enlarged portions are also sometimes provided at the top of columns (called
column capital) to reduce the stresses in the slab further, especially the punching shear
effect.

Advantages
-flexibility in room layout
Allows architect to introduce partition walls anywhere required
Allows owner to change the size of room layout
Allows choice of omitting false ceiling and finish soffit of slab with skim coating
-reinforcement placement is easier
-ease of installation of M&E services
All M&E services can be mounted directly on the underside of the slab instead of
bending them to avoid the beams
Avoids hacking through beams
-building height can be reduced
Lower storey height will reduce building weight due to lower partitions and cladding to
faade
Approximate saves 10% in vertical members
Reduce foundation load
-less construction time
Flat plate design will facilitate the use of big table formwork to increase productivity
-prefabricated welded mesh
Prefabricated in standard sizes
Minimized installation time
Better quality control
-auto sprinkler is easier
Disadvantages
-span length is medium
-not suitable for supporting brittle (masonry) partitions
-use of drop panels may interfere with larger mechanical ducting
-critical middle strip deflection
-higher slab thickness

2.2.1

Theory

2.2.2

Past Study

2.3 Floor Vibration

2.3.1 Theory on Vibration
2.3.2 Past Study

2.3.3

Natural Frequency

Natural frequency is a measure of how the floor system will respond to the sources that can
cause vibration, and is related to how occupants will perceive such vibrations. Numerous
resources and methods are available to determine this property. It is usually convenient to obtain
this and other vibration characteristics from a commercial computer program. Like all software,
it is very important to understand the methodologies that are used to calculate this parameter.
The equations in the Table give approximate values of the natural frequency for various
reinforced concrete floor systems. They have been developed using fundamental principles of
dynamics. More information on their use, including worked-out design examples for commonly
used reinforced concrete floor systems, can be found in the Design Guide for Vibrations of
Reinforced Concrete Floor Systems (Fanella and Mota, 2014).

Approximate equations for natural frequency of reinforced concrete floor systems.

2.3.4

Damping Ratio

Damping is a measure of how quickly vibration will subside and eventually stop. It is greatly
dependent on the nonstructural items that are supported on the floor, such as people, partitions,
file cabinets, bookshelves, and furniture, to name a few.
The amount of damping is usually expressed as a percentage of critical damping and is
commonly referred to as the damping ratio. A damping ratio of 0.02 is recommended for floors
with few nonstructural components (like electronic offices), while a ratio of 0.05 can be used

where full-height partitions are present between floors (ATC 1999). A value of 0.03 is commonly
used for office spaces with partial height partitions. Additional information on how to choose an
appropriate damping ratio can be found in Hewitt and Murray, 2004.

2.3.5

Mode Shape

2.4 Summary