Flat slab

What is mean by Flat Slab? • A reinforced concrete slab supported directly by concrete columns
without the use of beams. • Flat slabs are highly versatile elements widely used in construction,
providing minimum depth, fast construction and allowing flexible column grids.

FLAT SLAB Flat slab are also known as beamless slab, is a type of slab in which the flooring slab is
directly supported on columns without the agency of beam or girders. For span from 5 to 9m thin flat
slabs are the preferred solution for the construction of in- situ concrete frame building, where a
square or near square grid is used. They are provided in theatres, factories, and mills, shopping
complex and other buildings.

PUNCHING SHEAR • always a critical consideration in flat plate design around the columns •
instead of using thicker section, shear reinforcement in the form of shear heads, shear studs or
stirrup cages may be embedded in the slab to enhance shear capacity at the edges of walls and
columns Shear Studs

This form of construction has become less popular in recent years because of the limit on
economical spans of about 9.5 m for reinforced slabs and about 12 m for prestressed
slabs. Reinforced flat slabs may need to be sensibly pre-cambered (not overdone) to control
deflection.
The plan dimensions of the drop panels are a minimum of 1/3 of the span in the direction
under consideration, usually rounded to the nearest 100 mm. The overall depth of the drop panel is
typically taken as 1.75 to 2 times the depth of the slab, again rounded to suit timber sizes or the
nearest 25 mm.

The principal features of a flat slab floor are a flat soffit, simple formwork and easy construction. The
economical span ‘L’ of a reinforced concrete flat slab is approximately D x 28 for simply supported, D
x 32 for an end span and D x 36 for an interior span. Prestressing the slab increases the economical
span to D x 35, D x 40 and D x 45 respectively, where D is the depth of the slab excluding the drop
panel.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF FLAT SLABS AND STANDARDCOLUMN BEAM
SLABS

Flat slab

Advantages

1. Formwork is simple
2. Shear reinforcement is not required at the columns
3. Beams are not used (Therefore under floor services outside the drops are simple)
4. Room layout becomes flexible
a. Partition wall can be set anywhere wanted
b. Windows can be extended up to the underside of the slab
c. No beams are present to disturb the circulation of air and light
5. Building height can be reduced as beams are not used
Reduce the foundation load
6. Construction period is less
Formwork being simple
Reinforcement being easy to placed
7. Auto sprinkler is easy

Disadvantages

1. Has a medium span length

2. Not suitable for brittle masonry partition supporting
3. Use of drop panels may interfere with larger mechanical ductiing
4. Thickness of the slab is high
5. Middle strip deflection is important
6. Vertical penetrations need to avoid area around columns

Standard column beam slab

Advantages

1. High span time due to relatively deep beams

2. Resisting lateral load due to the beams
3. Slab is light due the relatively less thickness
 4. Punching shear failure is not crucial

Disadvantages

1. Floor to floor height is high which increases the building height

2. Beams disturb the air circulation and light in the building
3. Formwork is complex
4. Reinforcement is complex
5. Construction time is high

It is recognized that Flat Slabs without drop panels can be built at a very fast
pace as the framework of structure is simplified and diminished. Also, speedy
turn-around can be achieved using an arrangement using early striking and
flying systems.
Flat slab construction can deeply reduce floor-to –floor height especially in the
absence of false ceiling as flat slab construction does act as limiting factor on
the placement of horizontal services and partitions. This can prove gainful in
case of lower building height, decreased cladding expense and pre-fabricated
services.
In case the client plans changes in the interior and wants to use the
accommodation to suit the need, flat slab construction is the perfect choice
as it offers that flexibility to the owner. This flexibility is possible due to the
use of square lattice and absence of beam that makes channeling of services
and allocation of partitions difficult.
 POST – TENSIONED SLABS – Advantages &
Disadvantages which we will discuss in this post.

Advantages of Post Tension Slab

1. Reduced cost: Post tension slabs are excellent ways to construct stronger structures at an affordable price.
There are many structures like parking garages as well as stadiums, since they are required to hold much
more weight than average buildings, this slab becomes a viable option.
2. Flexibility in design: The designs made with this slab are sleek, require lesser space and give way
to dynamic contours. All this makes them ideal for the expression of creativity in the building design.
3. Lesser usage of materials: Since the post tension slab is thin, the materials used with it are also lesser. Be it
the thin beams, walls or supporting pillars of buildings, this compact concrete slab does not need bulky
materials.
4. Durability: Being a very strong substitute of the normal concrete, it lasts longer.
5. Stronger/more efficient: Less concrete and steel are needed for the same structural capacity and the slab
stiffness is increased so that the slab is better able to resist bending caused by differential soil movements.
6. Minimizes and Controls Cracking: Post-tensioning will reduce cracking and keep any cracks that might
form tight, preventing entry of insects and reducing possible water penetration, which can damage flooring
and cause mold problems.
7. Faster Installation: With fewer pieces to handle and less concrete to place, a post-tensioned slab can often
be installed more quickly than a comparable rebar- or wire mesh-reinforced slab
8. More Reliable: An engineered solution, post-tensioning is designed to exacting standards and code
requirements, has an excellent performance record and offers increased reliability.
9. It reduces or eliminates shrinkage cracking-therefore no joints, or fewer joints, are needed
10. It allows slabs and other structural members to be thinner
11. It allows us to build slabs on expansive or soft soils
12. It lets us design longer spans in elevated members, like floors or beams

Disadvantages of the post tension slab

Here are a few disadvantages of post tension slabs:

1. Since there are a number of tendons and wires spread inside the post tension slab, it can result in corrosion.
But largely, this tendency to corrode depends on the quality of the material used.
2. Complexity of work: The post tension slab can be made only by skillful professionals. The local workers
may not have the necessary skills required to prepare this complex slab.
3. Poor workmanship can lead to accidents: The main problem with using post tension slabis that if care is
not taken while making it, it can lead to future mishaps. Many a times, ignorant workers do not fill the gaps
of the tendons and wiring completely. These gaps cause corrosion of the wires which may break untimely,
leading to some untoward events