ACI JOURNAL

TECHNICAL PAPER

Title No. 83-28

Estimation of Slab Deflections in Flat Plate Buildings

by B. Vijaya Rangan
A simple expression for the calculation of final deflections of reinforced concrete flat slab and flat plate floors is proposed. The deflections calculated by the proposed expression agree closely with
those measured in real buildings.

Keywords: deflection; flat concrete plates; flat concrete slabs; measurement;

multistory buildings; reinforced concrete.

Reinforced concrete flat slabs and flat plates are

commonly used as floor systems in buildings. Although
the building codes pay considerable attention to the design for -flexural strength of such floors, a more important design criterion is the adequate control of deflections and cracking at service loads. As far as crack
control is concerned, excessive cracking of slabs can be
avoided by limiting the spacing of bars and by insuring
that the area of reinforcement is not less than a minimum. In this context, Campbell-Allen and Hughes
have reported that the minimum quantities of steel required by the present practice for controlling cracking due to shrinkage and thermal effects are far from
adequate. This inadequacy is fully recognized by the
new Australian Concrete Structures Code, which recommends that the ratio of steel area to gross area of
concrete must be in the range between 0.0035 and
0.0063 when adequate crack control for shrinkage and
temperature effect is required. The use of these larger
quantities of steel, together with careful attention to
detailing of members prone to restraint, will eliminate
the excessive cracking of floors experienced in the past.
For deflection control, it is prudent to select a suitable thickness for the slab in the preliminary design
stage and then check whether the calculated deflections
are within allowable limits during the final design. In
an earlier work, 2 a comprehensive study was made to
investigate the effect of various parameters on slab deflections. Based on the results of this study, the following expression for span-thickness ratio is proposed

(1)

ACI JOURNAL I March-April 1986

In Eq. (1), w is the total service load per unit area

expressed in terms of kN/m 2 (if w is expresssed in psf
the coefficient 50 becomes 138). Other symbols are explained under Notation. The designer can select an initial thickness for the slab using Eq. (I).
Deflection calculations of flat plates and flat slabs
are generally unpopular with designers because of the
complexities involved in performing such calculations
with most of the methods available in the literature. 3
When one considers the extent of variability in measured deflections, 4 what is warranted is a simple calculation method which will give an estimate of the expected final deflection. This paper proposes such a
method.
DEVELOPMENT OF A SIMPLE EXPRESSION
FOR FINAL DEFLECTION
The model used for calculating the final deflections
at the center of a slab panel is shown in Fig. I (Reference 5). Accordingly, the final deflection D. at point C
is

(2)
where fl.""' is the central deflection of column-b~am strip
and fl.m,d is the central deflection of the middle-beam
strip.
The deflections flcol and fl.mid can be expressed in following form

(3)

.6,/d

(4)

Received June 14, 1985, and reviewed under Institute publication policies.
Copyright 1986, American Concrete Institute. All rights reserved, including
the making of copies unless permission is obtained from the copyright proprietors. Pertinent discussion will be published in the January-February 1987 ACI
JOURNAL if received by Oct. I, 1986.

269

ACI member B. Vijaya Rangan is an associate professor of civil engineering,

University of New South Wales, Kensington, N.S. W., Australia. He is coauthor of Reinforced Concrete, a textbook that received a Merit Award from the
Concrete Institute of Australia in 1977. In 1967, Dr. Rangan was cowinner of
the Nicolaides Prize presented by the Institution of Engineers (India) and in
1975 was co-recipient of ACI's Raymond C. Reese Structural Research Award.
He is a corresponding member of joint ACI-ASCE Commitlee 445, Shear and
Torsion, and ACI Commiltee 435, Deflection of Concrete Building Structures.

In Eq. (3) and (4), Ic and Im are, respectively, the average moments of inertia per unit width of columnbeam strip and middle-beam strip (Fig. 1); kcs is the
long-term deflection multiplier; Ec is the modulus of
elasticity of concrete; W 5 is the sustained part of total
service load on the panel per unit area; L 1 , L 1", L 2 , and
L 2" are the span lengths as defined in Fig. 1; and f3c and
{3m are, respectively, the elastic deflection coefficients
for column-beam and middle-beam strips.
Substituting Eq. (3) and (4) in Eq. (2) gives

Field investigations carried out by Taylor 6 and

Sbarounis4 7 have indicated that deflections of flat plates
and slabs are significantly affected by very large loads
(i.e., more than twice the average dead weight of the

slab) applied during construction stages. Heavy construction loads coupled with shrinkage deformations
can cause cracking of flat slab floors at an early age,
especially along column center lines. Because the
cracked moment of inertia is only about one-quarter of
the gross moment of inertia in the case of typical slab
panels, early cracking leads to greater final deflections.
To account for this observed behavior, the columnbeam strip in Fig. I is assumed to be fully cracked and
the middle-beam strip to be partially cracked. That is,
Ic in Eq. (3) is taken equal to the average cracked moment of inertia per unit width of the column-beam
strip, and Im in Eq. (4) is taken as the simple average of
gross moment of inertia and cracked moment of inertia
of the middle-beam strip.
For normal ranges of values of tensile steel ratio p
and modular ration, the cracked moment of inertia per
unit width of slab strip is approximately equal to 5 peP.
Therefore, Ic in E. (3) can be taken as Ic = 5 pd 3,
where Pc is the average tensile steel ratio in the columnbeam strip.
For the middle-beam strip, because the cracked moment of inertia is usually small compared to gross moment of inertia, Im [which is taken as (lg + lc,)/2) can
be approximated by 0.6 lg. Thus Im = 0.6 D//12, and
taking Ds = 1.2 d, lm = 0.0864 cP.
Substitution of these values for Ic and Im in Eq. (5)
gives

Tl

IIH
___jof_
Column-beam- strip

_l

~--Lm

I
Drop

(a.) Flat plate

I
..........._

Ac?

Eq. (6) can be simplified by using the results obtained from a parametric study carried out in Reference 2. This study showed that Eq. (6) is relatively insensitive to some of the parameters. A reevaluation of
the comprehensive results given in Reference 2 showed
that Eq. (6) can be simplified to

f
Column or capital

(7)

where
1.0 for interior panels
1.3 for exterior panels with
stiff edge beams
1.6 for exterior panels without
edge beams

(8)

and

Fig. 1-Model for calculating deflections of flat slabs

and flat plate~

270

K2 = (L2n/ LIn)
~

0.5

(9)

ACI JOURNAL I March-April 1986

For this calculation, an edge beam may be considered stiff if it has a projection below the slab and a
width of at least 1.5 times the slab thickness.
Eq. (7) can be simplified further. Normally, Pc does
not vary widely and if it is taken as 0.006, Eq. (7) reduces to

K K, (w + kc,wJ L
I
7,
I

(L

3
1, )

(1 0)

In Eq. (10), the long-term deflection multiplier kc, is

given by the ACI code (ACI 318-83)B as

kc, = 2.0/(1 +SOp')

(11)

where p' is the compressive steel ratio and is taken as

the simple average of the ratios at the midspans of the
column-beam strip and the middle-beam strip (Fig. 1).
In Eq. (11 ), the factor 2.0 represents a nominal timedependent factor for five years (or more) duration of
loading. For loading periods Jess than five years, the
data given in the ACI 318-83 may be used to estimate
values of this factor.
In Eq. (10), d is the average of the effective depths
of column-beam and middle-beam strips (Fig. 1). In the
case of flat slab floors, the effective depth of the column-beam strip is larger in the vicinity of the column
than at other locations. The effective depth of the column-beam strip in such cases can be taken approximately as [(length of drop/longer panel dimension) x
thickness of drop + effective depth of slab away from
the drop.]
Furthermore, in the absence of test data, the modulus of elasticity of concrete E, in Eq. (10) may be obtained from the following expression recommended by
the ACI code
(12)
where p is the density of concrete expressed in terms of
kg/m 3
Eq. (10) can be used to estimate the total deflection
.1,,)/ as well as the incremental deflection .1
The total
deflection comprises the immediate deflection due to
the short-term load plus the long-term deflection due to
the sustained load. The incremental deflection is that
11,.,_

Table 1 - Comparison of measured deflections

with predictions of Eq. (10)
---

Calculated
__
St_ru_c_tu_r__
e -+---va_lue
Building I""
20.9
Bmldrng 2'"
27 7
Burldrng V"
8.7
I
23.5
Buildmg 4""
Buildmg 5
38 6
~--~--~_ Buildmg 6~___
Note: I mm = 0.0194 in.

j_

Deflec!ion, mm
Average
measured
value
24.4
23.4
7.9
21.6
34.3

-~~~--

ACI JOURNAL I March-April 1986

Calculated
Measured

----

0.86
1.18
1.10
1.09
1.13
1.05

part of the total deflection that occurs after the attachment of nonstructural units. When .1,01 is to be calculated by Eq. (10), substitute the short-term load for w
and the sustained (or long-term) load for w,. The incremental deflection ll;"" can be taken approximately as
.1'"'' = .1,,, - lldead where lldead is the immediate deflection due to dead load wd and is given by lldead = [wdl(w
+ k" w,)]ll,",. Table 9.5(b) of ACI 318-83 contains data
on allowable values for deflections. The calculated deflections should be compared with these values to ascertain the structural adequacy of a given flat slab or
flat plate floor.

COMPARISON WITH FIELD DATA

Eq. (10) has been developed to estimate the final deflections of flat plate and flat slab floors in real buildings. Deflection data obtained from laboratory tests on
flat plates and slabs do not include the significant effect of construction loads, and therefore Eq. (10) is not
readily applicable to predict such data.
Field data on long-term deflections of flat slabs and
flat plates are scarce. However, several investigators49'2 have reported measured deflections on six different buildings. Table 1 compares the predictions of
Eq. (I 0) with these measured deflections and Table 2
gives a summary of data used in the calculations. In the
case of flat plate floors, the average effective depth d was
taken as d = [thickness of slab - cover to reinforcement of 19 mm (% in.) - average diameter of reinforcing bar]. In the case of flat slab floors (Buildings 2
and 6), the effect of drop panel on the value of d was
taken into account as mentioned before.
The values of E, given in Table 2 for Buildings 1, 2,
and 4 are those reported by the investigators. For
Buildings 3, 5, and 6, Ec was computed using Eq. (12),
because no test value could be found.
The values of k,, given in Table 2 were calculated by
Eq. (11) using the data reported by the investigators.
In the case of Buildings 2, 3, and 4, the deflections

Table 2-Summary of data for deflection

calculations
- - - -

Structure

L, L,,
m___ m

Building I - 6.35
flat plate""
Building 2 - 8.61
flat slab'"
Building 3 - 6.48
flat plate'"
Building 4 - 7.54
flat plate'"
Building 5 - 6 71
flat plate'
Building 6 -- 9.00
flat slab*____t_

L,n,
m

L,,
m

5 08 5.99 4.72

W=W,,
d,
mm kN!m'
168

5.27

E..
MPa

k,.,

24,480 1.60

7.92 8.10 5.49 228

5.70

21,380 1.79

5.74 5.92 5.18 206

5.71

26,940 1.13

7.24 7.32 6.48 206

5.51

28,550 1.85

6.71 6.04 6.04

152

4.17

17,920 1.40

9.00 7.48 5.40

194

5.35

29,875 1.40

Note: I m = 3.28 ft; I mm = 0.0394 m.; I kN/m-

20.88 psf; 1 MPa =

145 psi.

Jokinen. E. P .. and Scanlon, A., "Field Measured Two-Way Slab Deflections,'' paper presented ar rhe CSCE Annual Conference, Saskatoon, May
1985, 16 pp.

271

were measured at the center of interior panels and

therefore K 1 = 1.0 [Eq. (8) and (1 0)] in these cases. In
the case of Building 1, the deflections were measured at
the center of a panel which had only half-panels on
either side of it in the long-span direction. For this reason, the behavior of this panel is considered to be
somewhere between that of an interior panel and an
exterior panel; hence K 1 = (1.0 + 1.3)12 = 1.15. The
measured deflection reported by Sbarounis4 is an average value over numerous panels in a multistory flat
plate structure with stiff edge beams. Therefore, K =
(1.0 + 1.3)/2 = 1.15; for Building 6, K 1 = 1.6.
The measured deflections given in Table 1 were
caused mainly by the dead loads. Therefore, the calculated deflections were obtained by substituting w = w,
= dead load in Eq. (10). The correlation between calculated and measured deflection is thus shown to be
good. The mean value of calculated/measured deflections is 1.07 with a coefficient of variation of 10 percent.
1

EXAMPLE
The deflection at the center of an exterior panel of a
flat slab floor with stiff edge beams is calculated for the
following data: L = 7.5 m (24.6 ft); L 2 = 6.0 m (19.7
ft); slab thickness = 280 mm (11.0 in.); columns are
500 x 400 mm (19.7 x 15.7 in.) with the longer dimension in the same direction as L 1; drop panels 2.5 x
2.0 m (8.2 x 6.6 ft) and 85 mm (3.3 in.) thick; service
live load = 4.0 kN/m 2 (83.5 psf); Ec = 25,000 MPa
(3,625,000 psi); kcs = 2.0. Assume 20 percent of the live
load is permanent; clear cover to reinforcement = 30
mm (1.18 in.); and average diameter of reinforcing bar
= 16 mm (0.63 in.).
1

Eq. (8):

Eq. (9):
K2

4000/7000 = 0.57

Eq. (10):
dror

ddeod
dina

= 1.3

0.57

(10.6 + 2.0 X 7.4)J 5

7 X 25,000
7.

18 mm (0.71 in.)
66
= (
) X 18
"
10.6 + 2.0 X 7.4
= 18 - 5 = 13mm (0.51 in.)

If the design criterion is to limit

dine'

(7000)
248

5 mm (0.20 in.)

to 16 mm (0.63 in.)

( = L/480), the thickness of the slab is adequate.

CONCLUDING REMARKS
A simple expression [Eq. (1 0)] for the calculation of
final deflections of reinforced concrete flat plate and
flat slab floors has been proposed. This expression is
based on the model illustrated in Fig. 1 and takes into
account the early cracking caused by heavy construction loads, shrinkage deformations, etc. Comparison
with the field data available indicates that the proposed
expresison gives a good prediction of the final deflections that will occur. Finally, an example has been presented to illustrate the use of Eq. (I 0).

NOTATION

1.Loads
Self-weight of slab
(137.8 psf). If there is
short-term load = 6.6
long term load = 6.6

= 0.280

x 23.5 = 6.6 kN/m 2

no other dead load,

+ 4.0 = I 0.6 kN/m 2 (221.3 psf)
+ 0.2 x 4.0 = 7.4 kN/m 2 (154.5
psf)

2. Deflections
Deflections are calculated by Eq. ( 10). Refer to Fig.
1 for definitions of symbols

L1
L 1
L 2

7500 mm (295 in.)

7500 - 500 = 7000 mm (276 in.)
6000 - 2000 = 4000 (157 in.)

For column-beam strip, d = [(length of drop panel!L

x thickness of drop + d for slab]

= [(2.4/7.5) 85 + (280- 30 - 16/2)] = 270 mm (10.6

in.)
For middle-beam strip, d = (280 - 30 - 16 -16/2)
= 226 mm (8.9 in.). Therefore, average d = (270 +
226)/2 = 248 mm (9.8 in.)

272

area of compressive reinforcement

area of tensile reinforcement
average effective depth (see Example)
thickness of slab
elastic modulus of concrete
compressive strength of concrete
average moment of inertia per unit width of column-beam
strip (Fig. I)
crack moment of inertia per unit width of slab
gross moment of inertia per unit width of slab
average moment of inertia per unit width of middle-beam
strip (Fig. I)
K, K, = multiplying factors [Eq. (8) and (9)1
long term deflection multiplier [Eq. (11)1
k"
L,, L,. = longer span lengths as defined in Fig. I
L, L,. = shorter span lengths as defined in Fig. I
P,
average tensile steel ratio in the column-beam strip (Fig. I)
w
total service load per unit area
dead load per unit area
w,
sustained load per unit area
elastic deflection coefficients
final deflection at the center of a slab panel
deflection at the center of column-beam strip (Fig. I)
that part of the total deflection which occurs after the attachment of nonstructural units = A,., - Ad,d
deflection at the center of middle-beam strip (Fig. I)
..1171/d
total deflection
Ll,"'
p
density of concrete

ACI JOURNAL I March-April 1986

REFERENCES
I. Campbell-Allen, D., and Hughes, G. W., "Reinforcement to
Control Thermal and Shrinkage Cracking," Research Report No. R334, School of Civil Engineering, University of Sydney, Nov. 1978,
33 pp.
2. Rangan, B. V., and McMullen, A. E., "A Rational Approach
to Control of Slab Deflections," Research Report No. CE77-10, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, July 1972, 32
pp.
3. ACI Committee 435, "Deflection of Two-Way Reinforcement
Concrete Floor Systems, State-of-the-Art," (ACI 435.6R-74), American Concrete Institute, Detroit, 1974, 24 pp.
4. Sbarounis, John A., "Multistory Flat Plate Buildings-Measured and Computed One-Year Deflections," Concrete International: Design & Construction, V. 6, No.8, Aug. 1984, pp. 3!-35.
5. Rangan, B. Vijaya, "Prediction of Long-Term Deflections of
Flat Plates and Slabs," ACI JOURNAL, Proceedings V. 73, No. 4,
Apr. 1976, pp. 223-226.
6. Taylor, P. J., "Effects of Formwork Stripping Time on Deflections of Flat Slabs and Plates," Australian Civil Engineering and

ACI JOURNAL I March-April 1986

Construction (Melbourne), V. 8, No.2, Feb. 1967, pp. 31-35.

7. Sbarounis, John A., "Multistory Flat Plate Buildings-Construction Loads and Immediate Deflections," Concrete International: Design & Construction, V. 6, No.2, Feb. 1984, pp. 70-77.
8. ACI Committee 318, "Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete (ACI 318-83)," American Concrete Institute, Detroit, 1983, Ill pp.
9. Heiman, J. L., "A Comparison of Measured and Calculated
Deflections of Flexural Members in Four Reinforced Concrete Buildings," Deflections of Concrete Structures, SP-43, American Concrete Institute, Detroit, 1974, pp. 515-545.
10. Jenkins, B. R., "Tests on a Flat Plate Floor," Civil Engineering Transactions (Barton), V. CEI6, No.2, 1974, pp. 164-167.
II. Taylor, P. J., "The Initial and Long-Term Deflection of Reinforced Concrete Flat Slabs and Plates," ME thesis, School of Civil
Engineering, University of New South Wales, Kensington, 1971, 179
pp.
12. Taylor, P. J., and Heiman, J. L., "Long-Term Deflection of
Reinforced Concrete Flat Slabs and Plates," ACI JoURNAL, Proceedings V. 74, No. II, Nov. 1977, pp. 556-561.

273