Araujo, Loriggio, and Camara

3rd fib International Congress - 2010

ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF HOLLOW CORE SLABS

Carlos M. Araujo, Msc, PPGEC, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil
Daniel D. Loriggio, Dr, Dept. Civil Eng., Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil
Jose Carmara, Dr, Dept. Engineering and Architecture, Instituto Superior Tcnico, Portugal

ABSTACT
Pre-fabrication of structural concrete element will certainly gain in the future
a even more important role on the construction industry and, specially, for
pavements. For these situations pre-moulded hollow core slabs are efficient
structural systems for different types of buildings.
For the analysis of these types of slabs it is fundamental to evaluate the time
effects of concrete creep and steel relaxation on the stress distributions at
section and structural level. The basis of the numerical model adopted in this
paper, based on the equivalent prisms method, is summarized.
Systems with continuity and concrete topping in site are analysed and the
stress distribution and deformations obtained at different stages of
construction process and of its life time are shown. In this context the effects of
non uniform shrinkage are also discussed.

Keywords: Hollow Cores, Time Effects, Stages of Construction.

Araujo, Loriggio, and Camara

3rd fib International Congress - 2010

INTRODUCTION
The efforts in research and investment of precast structures joints permitted the restoration of
the characteristics of monolithic buildings and greater competitiveness of this construction
system. Moreover, in the case of hollow core slab allowed the compatibility with different
types of structures and distribution of this as an efficient system for floors.
In this paper systems with continuity and concrete topping in site are analysed and the stress
distribution and deformations obtained at different stages of construction process and of its
life time are shown. In this context the effects of non uniform shrinkage are also discussed.
For the case study, additional routines were developed for the software PROTENLAJE1,
which allows the analysis and verification of members with pre-tensioning and generic cross
section in the service and ultimate limits states.

FORMULATION FOR TIME DEPENDANT ANALYSIS

In this item, the methodology used for analyzing the time-dependent behavior of the
materials, as the equations and resolutions, is summarized.
The theory used have as main references GUALI, NEVILLE2, LEONHARDT3, GUALI et.al4
and admit the validity of simplifications: hypothesis of plane section, perfect bond between
the materials, loading applied in a vertical axis of symmetry and deformations resulting from
tangential stress are negligible.

GENERAL AGING COEFFICIENT METHOD

The Aging coefficient method is based in two concepts. First, the relationship between stress
and strain is linear, hypothesis accepted as true by the international codes to the serviceability
situations with stress less than 40% of characteristic cylinder strength of concrete. Second,
that creep deformation, due a stress increment applied gradually in time, is smaller than
would be in the case the total stress was applied and maintained constant. Then, the strain
which occurs between t and t0 may be expressed as Eq. 1.

c (t ) = c (t 0 )

1 + (t , t 0 )
1 + (t , t 0 ) (t , t 0 )
+ (t )
+ cs (t , t 0 )
Ec (t 0 )
Ec (t 0 )

(1)

In the formulation used here, the aging coefficient is calculated through relaxation
function for concrete2. The strain in the prestressed steel is obtained similarly, however the
creep coefficient is calculate from relation with the relaxation of steel5.

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3rd fib International Congress - 2010

CROSS SECTION ANALYSIS

Considering the perfect bond between the materials and taking into account the equilibrium
and compatibility equations and constitutive laws of materials, the time-dependent behavior
in composite sections, e.g. Fig. 1, can be defined as shown in Eq ( 2).

N E dA

=
M E y dA

E y dA N
E y dA M

(2)

where
E c (t , t0 ) =

Ec (t0 )
1 + (t , t0 ) (t , t0 )

(3)

The values N e M are the hiperstatic axial and bending moment. The values N * e
M * are the forces necessary to generate the deformations equal to the initial deformations
(Eqs. (4) and (5)).

(t , t 0 )
dA + E cs (t , t0 ) dA
1 +

(4)

(t , t 0 )
y dA + E cs (t , t 0 ) y dA
1 +

(5)

N * = (t 0 )
M * = (t 0 )

Using the equivalent prisms method6, the integrals are replaced by summation of prisms. In
this case, each component of concrete is replaced by a pair of prisms, as the original idea of
BUSEMANN3. Each reinfociment or prestress layer is a prism. Thus, changes in deformation
in the cross section can be obtained.
Reinforcement layer

Concrete topping

N (t)

M (t)

dA

Prestress strand

Precast slab

Fig. 1 Composite cross section and possible strain distributions

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Araujo, Loriggio, and Camara

3rd fib International Congress - 2010

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
For the structural analysis was used the generalized classical matrix formulation, where
elements of the structure are discretized in order to match the integration points of each bar
with the cross sections analyzed. For the case study, the method of forces was the most
appropriate.
Based on the equations system (2), the changes in cross sections deformations can be divided
into two parts: one part on this occasion called static determinate, corresponding to
deformations that would occur in free structure, and another called indeterminate static,
corresponding the deformation due to hiperstatic internal forces in the cross section. The
equations (6) to (7) show this partition.
j = hip j + iso j
hip j =

M j
(EI ) j

iso j =

(6)

M *j
(EI ) j

(7)

where
n

(EI ) j = E i yi2 Ai

(8)

i =1

Removal of the redundant forces from indeterminate static structure, each element became a
simply supported beam (Fig. 2) and it can be assumed that the beam is without load, however
presents an own tension state due to the time dependent effects. With this, the displacements
due to the time can be calculated integrating the changes in the curvature of each section. In
this work it used the elastic weights method2, where the curvatures are applied as loading in a
conjugate beam. The flexibility coefficients are found with a similar process, and with this
the hiperstatic internal forces in the structure can be found.

span 2

span 1

span p

span p+1

(a)
M 1

M2

M p-1

M p

(b)
Fig. 2 (a) Statically indeterminate structure (b) realeased structure

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3rd fib International Congress - 2010

HOLLOW CORE SLAB WITH CONTINUITY EXEMPLE

To demonstrate the analysis of hollow core slab with continuity will be presented in this item
a structure formed by five identical free spans. The Fig. 3 shows the structural model with
rigid support used in the analysis, which internal spans have slightly higher lengths, seeing
that there is the continuity. Only the normal stress due to prestressing and bending moments
will be discussed.
1

14.15

14.30

14.30

14.30

14.15

Fig. 3 Structural model

The same cross section was adopted in all the spans (Fig. 4) and its properties are presented
in Table 1. This cross section is also complemented with a concrete topping in site with
characteristics presented in Table 2.
1140
195

1140
195

195

180

380

380

380

400

195

400

180

1200

1200

(a)
(b)
Fig. 4 (a) Hollow core slab cross section (b) models cross section. Dimensions are in mm.
The prestressing layers was designed by an iterative process to support the loads shown in
Tab. 3, taking as a basic criterion of the absence of tensile stresses in bottom fiber of the slab
for quasi-permanent loads. The reinforcement layers under the supports was determined by
the designed of the section to a minimum bending moment that causing cracking, respected
the absolute minimum rate of 0.15%. The reinforcement layers under the supports and
welded steel mesh are embedded in the concrete topping in site.
Table 1
Characteristic cylinder strength of concrete
Thickness/cross sectional area/moment of inertia
Centroid
Minimum web width
Lower prestress layer (side span)
Lower prestress layer (intermediary span)
Edge distance of strands
Initial prestress
Tensile strength of prestressing steel

Unit
(MPa)
(cm/cm2/cm4)
(cm)
(cm)
(-)
(-)
(cm)
(MPa)
(MPa)

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Properties of hollow core slab

50
40/ 2385/ 453053
20
38
12 strands 9.5 mm (6.74 cm2)
6 strands 12.7 mm (6.05 cm2)
4
1453
1710/1900

Araujo, Loriggio, and Camara

3rd fib International Congress - 2010

Table 2
Characteristic cylinder strength of concrete
Thickness
Welded steel mesh
Upper reinforcement layer in the continuity
Tensile strength of reinforcing steel

Unit
(MPa)
(cm)
(cm2 / m)
(cm2 / m)
(MPa)

Properties of concrete topping

30
6
2.83 ( 6 mm)
7.80
500

Unit
(kN / m2)
(kN / m2)
(kN / m2)
(kN / m2)
(kN / m2)

Loads
4.95
1.50
1.50
0.50
3.00

Table 3
Dead load of slabs (g1)
Weight of in situ casts (g2)
Permanent overloads (g3)
Construction loads (qc)
Variable overloads (q)

The construction process of the structure and of its life time was divided in the stages shown
in Tab. 4.
Table 4
Cast and release of prestressing tendons (t0)
Cast of concrete topping and final castings (t1A)
Application of permanent overloads (t1B)
Variable overloads (t2)

Unit
(hours)
(days)
(days)
(years)

Time
48
28
28
10

The time dependant material characteristics considered in the analysis followed NBR61187
and are summarized in Tab. 5. Similar values are found with the MC908.
Table 5
Concrete class
Relative humidity

Ec,t0
Ec,t1
(t1 , t0 )
(t 2 , t0 )
(t 2 , t1 )
(t1 , t0 )
(t 2 , t1 )
(t1 , t0 )
(t 2 , t1 )

Unit
(-)
%
(GPa)
(GPa)

Hollow core
C50/60 (rapid hardening cement)
70
29,4
38,6

Concrete topping
C30/37 (rapid hardening cement)
70
N/A
33,5

(-)

1,00

N/A

(-)

2,21

N/A

(-)

1,21

2,85

(-)

0,81

N/A

(-)

0,63

0,75

(-)

-8.97e-6

N/A

(-)

-1,76e-4

-2,97e-4

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Araujo, Loriggio, and Camara

3rd fib International Congress - 2010

RESULTS OF SLS ANALYSIS

The results presented in this item are shown for half of the structure, using its symmetry. In
Fig. 5 are shown the bending moments in the four stages defined above. Looking at the
diagrams of bending moments in stages t1b and t2, it can noted that the structure presented a
good performance, since these diagrams are almost coincident and there were no changes of
signs. For a better understanding of changes for a long period of time, it can be seen the timedependent bending moment for each loading in Fig. 6.
-150

-100

-50
0

10

15

20

25

30

35

50

100
t0

t1A

t1B

t2

Fig. 5 Moment distribution during the stages of construction process and service life for the
permanent loads. Units are in KN-m.
-82.2

-61.4

-25.8

(a)
-23.5

-19.2

(b)
-16.7
79.8
118.2

(c)

(d)
-17.5

-13.3

(e)
Fig. 6 Time-dependent bending moment (a) for g1 (b) for g2 (c) for shrinkage (d) for
prestress (e) for the overlapping
The stress distribution in the upper fiber of concrete topping and upper and bottom fibers of
hollow core slab at all stages analyzed are shown in Figure 7. It can see that the highest
changes in stress occur on the topping, mainly caused by differential shrinkage. The highest
stresses occur close to internal supports, where cracks may occur. However, the low values of
stress indicate that crack opening can easily be controlled.

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Araujo, Loriggio, and Camara

3rd fib International Congress - 2010

3
2,5
2
1,5
1
0,5
0
-0,5 0

10

15

20

25

30

35

20

25

30

35

25

30

35

-1
-1,5
-2
t1B

t2

(a)
2
1
0
-1 0
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8
-9
-10

10

15

t0

t1A

t1B

t2

(b)
2
1
0
-1 0
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8
-9
-10

10

15

t0

20

t1A

t1B

t2

(c)
Fig. 7 Stress distribution for the quasi-permanent loads at the (a) upper fiber of the topping
concrete (b) upper fiber of the precast slab (c) bottom fiber of the precast slab. Stresses are in
MPa and dimensions are in m.
The camber and deflections to the example generated can be seen in Figure 8. In this case, the
structure also showed a good performance, with small variations between the stages analyzed.
-3
-2,5
-2
-1,5
-1
-0,5

10

15

20

25

30

0
0,5
t0

t1A

t1B permanent

t1B quasi-permanent

t2 permanent

t2 quasi-permanent

Fig. 8 Camber and deflection are in cm and length in m.

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Araujo, Loriggio, and Camara

3rd fib International Congress - 2010

RESULTS OF ULS ANALYSIS

The moment capacity to this example was obtained with the construction of momentcurvature diagram, a procedure that brings the advantage of displaying more information
about the structure. In this article only the flexural ultimate limit state was checked.
The Fig. 9 shows the bending moments capacities and envelopment of design bending
moments. The same figure also shows the design bending moments for a slab with the same
characteristics, however in a scheme simply supported.
-300
-200
-100

10

15

20

25

30

35

0
100
200
300
400
500
Msd positive

Msd negative

Msd simply supported

Mrd

Fig. 9 Design bending moment distribution. Units are in KN-m.

COMPARISON BETWEEN DETERMINATE AND INDETERMINATE STRUCTURE
Usually in the hollow core project, the structure is designed simply supported and
constructive reinforcement layer are used under support to the crack control. For the same
characteristics of the previous example, the prestressing layer should be increased by 19.7%
for the external spans and 33.3% for internal spans, resulting 8.07 cm2 for all spans. Calling
the previous slab as A and the new simply supported slab as B, Tab. 6 and 7 summarize the
main results. In the case of slab B, is valid emphasize the positives time-dependent bending
moments under the internal supports and the higher deflections.
Table 6
Time-dependent bending moment

Unit

for dead load of slabs (g1)

for Weight of in situ casts (g2)
for shrinkage
for prestress
for the overlapping

(KN.m)
(KN.m)
(KN.m)
(KN.m)
(KN.m)

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Slab A
Support 2
-82.2
-25.8
-23.5
118.2
-13.3

Support 3
-61.4
-19.2
-16.7
79.8
-17.5

Slab B
Support 2
-81.4
-25.7
-24.9
141.4
9.4

Support 3
-60.7
-19.1
-18.2
105.6
7.6

Araujo, Loriggio, and Camara

3rd fib International Congress - 2010

Table 7
Slab A
Span 1

Span 2

(KN.m)
(KN.m)

402,5

(MPa)
(cm)
(cm)
(cm)
(cm)
(cm)
(cm)

Time-dependent bending moment

Unit

Msd simply supported

Design resistance moment bending
Maximum stress bottom fiber
(quasi-permanent load)
Camber (t0)
Deflection (t1A)
Deflection (t1B) permanent load
Deflection (t1B) quasi-permanent load
Deflection (t2) permanent load
Deflection (t2) quasi-permanent load

Span 2

Span 3

363,2

Slab B
Span 3 Span 1
446,21
363,2
476,7

476,7

476,7

-0,18

-0,28

-0,11

-1,15

-1,70

-1,57

-2,91
-2,09
-1,91
-1,80
-1,62
-1,52

-2,40
-1,41
-1,37
-1,34
-1,08
-1,05

-2,40
-1,41
-1,32
-1,27
-1,07
-1,02

-3,96
-3,46
-3,27
-3,16
-3,08
-2,96

-3,96
-3,46
-3,42
-3,39
-3,18
-3,15

-3,96
-3,46
-3,37
-3,31
-3,15
-3,09

CONCLUSIONS
The use of continuity in hollow core slabs shown to be an efficient system, however requires
additional steps of checks due to constructive process, similar to the viaduct project.
The distinction of internal and external spans is crucial for an appropriate continuity structure
project, this is done with the limitation of the external span length in the architectural project
or in the structural design. In the hollow core slabs the absence of this distinction, it may
cause some inconvenience in the service limite stats, such as the tension in bottom fibers
under the internal supports.
In the project context of hollow core slabs with composite section, the differential shrinkage
is a important parcel of time-dependent internal forces and it should not be neglected.
The consideration of time dependent effects, usually is not necessary in the ultimate limit
stats, because these forces represent the arbitrary fixing of a closing line of the diagram of
bending moments (redistribution). This statement is subject to ductility of the structure.
Especially for continuity structures, the use of software allow, with ease, the study of design
alternatives, improving the quality of the final solution adopted. Here, the program
PROTENLAJE1 appears as a suitable tool for analysis, design and verification of precast
members with pre-tensioning.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to express their sincere thanks to Coordenao de Aperfeioamento de
Pessoal de Nvel Superior (CAPES) for scholarship granted to the first author of this paper.

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3rd fib International Congress - 2010

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Estructural, 2008.
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London and New York, 1986
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