How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2

8. Deflection calculations
R Webster CEng, FIStructE O Brooker BEng, CEng, MICE, MIStructE

Methods for checking deflection

Introduction This guide describes the use of Eurocode 21 to check deflection by calculation.
The introduction of European standards to UK
The alternative method for complying with the code requirements is to use
construction is a significant event. The ten design
the deemed-to-satisfy span-to-effective-depth ratios, which are appropriate
standards, known as the Eurocodes, will affect
and economic for the vast majority of designs. Further guidance on the span-
all design and construction activities as current
to-effective-depth method is given in other guides in this series on beams2,
British standards for design are due to be
slabs3 and flat slabs4. However, there are situations where direct calculation of
withdrawn in 2010.
deflection is necessary, as listed below:
■ When an estimate of the deflection is required.
This publication is part of the series of guides
■ When deflection limits of span/250 for quasi-permanent actions (see
entitled How to design concrete structures using
reference 5 for Eurocode terminology) or span/500 for partition and/or
Eurocode 2. Their aim is to make the transition to
cladding loads are not appropriate.
Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures as easy
■ When the design requires a particularly shallow member, direct calculation
as possible by drawing together in one place key
of deflection may provide a more economic solution.
information and commentary required for the
■ To determine the effect on deflection of early striking of formwork or of
design of typical concrete elements.
temporary loading during construction.

The cement and concrete industry recognised that

a substantial effort was required to ensure that
the UK design profession would be able to use
Overview
Eurocode 2 quickly, effectively, efficiently and In the past structures tended to be stiff with relatively short spans. As
with confidence. With support from government, technology and practice have advanced, more flexible structures have resulted.
consultants and relevant industry bodies, the There are a number of reasons for this, including:
Concrete Industry Eurocode 2 Group (CIEG) was ■ The increase in reinforcement strength leading to less reinforcement being
formed in 1999 and this Group has provided the required for the ultimate limit state (ULS) and resulting in higher service
guidance for a co-ordinated and collaborative stresses in the reinforcement.
approach to the introduction of Eurocode 2. As ■ Increases in concrete strength resulting from the need to improve both
a result, a range of resources is to be made durability and construction time, and leading to concrete that is more stiff
available through The Concrete Centre to help and with higher service stresses.
designers during the transition period (see back
cover for details).
What affects deflection?
This guide is taken
There are numerous factors Other factors include:
from The Concrete
Centre’s publication, that affect deflection. These • Degree of restraint
How to design factors are also often time- • Magnitude of loading
concrete structures related and interdependent, • Time of loading
using Eurocode 2
(Ref. CCIP–006) which makes the prediction • Duration of loading
of deflection difficult. • Cracking of the concrete
• Shrinkage
The main factors are:
• Ambient conditions
• Concrete tensile strength
• Secondary load-paths
• Creep
• Stiffening by other elements
• Elastic modulus
How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2
■ A greater understanding of structural behaviour and the ability to
analyse that behaviour quickly by computer.
■ The requirement to produce economic designs for slabs whose
thicknesses are typically determined by the serviceability limit state
(SLS) and which constitute 80% to 90% of the superstructure costs.
■ Client requirements for longer spans and greater operational
flexibility from their structures.
Factors affecting deflection
An accurate assessment of deflection can only be achieved if
consideration is given to the factors that affect it. The more important
factors are discussed in detail below.
Tensile strength
The tensile strength of concrete is an important property because
the slab will crack when the tensile stress in the extreme fibre is
exceeded. In Eurocode 2 the concrete tensile strength, fctm, is a mean
value (which is appropriate for deflection calculations) and increases
as the compressive strength increases. This is an advancement when
compared with BS 8110 where the tensile strength is fixed for all
concrete strengths.
The degree of restraint to shrinkage movements will influence the
effective tensile strength of the concrete. A layout of walls with high
restraint will decrease the effective tensile strength. Typical examples
of wall layouts are given in Figure 1. For a low restraint layout the
following expression may be used for the concrete tensile strength:
fctm,fl = (1.6 – h/1000)fctm > fctm
where
fctm,fl = Mean flexural tensile strength of reinforced concrete
fctm = Mean tensile strength of concrete
Figure 1
Typical floor layouts
a) Favourable layout of
restraining walls
(low restraint)
b) Unfavourable layout of
restraining walls
(high restraint)

Figure 1
Typical floor layouts
It is often recommended that the design value of the concrete
tensile strength for a low restraint layout is taken as the average
of fctm,fl and fctm, to allow for unintentional restraint. For high restraint
fctm should be used.
Creep
Creep is the time-dependant increase in compressive strain in a
concrete element under constant compressive stress. Creep is usually
considered in the design by modifying the elastic modulus using a
creep coefficient, h, which depends on the age at loading, size of
the member and ambient conditions, in particular relative humidity.
Eurocode 2 gives advice on the calculation of creep coefficients in
detail in Annex B. It also advises on the appropriate relative humidity
to use in Figure 3.1.
The cement strength class is required in the assessment of creep,
however, at the design stage it is often not clear which class should
be used. Generally, Class R should be assumed. Where the ground
granulated blastfurnace slag (ggbs) content exceeds 35% of the
cement combination or where fly ash (pfa) exceeds 20% of the
cement combination, Class N may be assumed. Where ggbs exceeds
65% or where pfa exceeds 35% Class S may be assumed.
Elastic modulus
The elastic modulus of concrete is influenced by aggregate type,
workmanship and curing conditions. The effective elastic modulus
under sustained loading will be reduced over time due to the effect
of creep. These factors mean that some judgement is required
to determine an appropriate elastic modulus. Eurocode 2 gives
recommended values for the 28-day secant modulus, Ecm, (in Table
3.1) and makes recommendations for adjustments to these values to
account for different types of aggregate. The long-term elastic modulus
should be taken as:

Ec,LT = Ec28/(1 + h)
where
Ec28 = 28-day tangent modulus = 1.05 Ecm
h = Creep factor. (Note that with Eurocode 2, h relates to a 28-day
short-term elastic modulus, whereas a ‘true’ creep factor would
be associated with the modulus at the age of loading.)
The assessment of the long-term E-value can be carried out more
accurately after the contractor has been appointed because they should be
able to identify the concrete supplier (and hence the type of aggregates)
and also the construction sequence (and hence the age at first loading).
Loading sequence
The loading sequence and timing may be critical in determining
the deflection of a suspended slab because it will influence the point
at which the slab will crack (if at all) and is used to calculate the creep
factors for the slab. A loading sequence is shown in Figure 2, which
shows that in the early stages relatively high loads are imposed while
casting the slab above. The loading sequence may vary, depending on
the construction method.
Smaller loads are imposed when further slabs are cast above. The
loads are then increased permanently by the application of the floor
finishes and erection of the partitions. Finally, the variable actions are
applied to the structure and, for the purpose of deflection calculation,
the quasi-permanent combination should be used. (See How to design
concrete structures using Eurocode 2: Introduction to Eurocodes5 for
further information on combinations of actions.) However, it is likely
that the quasi-permanent combination will be exceeded during the
lifetime of the building and, for the purpose of determining whether
the slab might have cracked, the frequent combination may be critical.
Figure 2
Loading history for a slab – an example
14
12
b g
10 f
c
e
8 d
a
Load (kN/m)
6 Loading sequence
a Slab struck
4 b
c 2nd slab above cast
2 d
0
0 50 100
8. Deflection calculations
Commercial pressures often lead to a requirement to strike the formwork
as soon as possible and move on to subsequent floors, with the minimum
of propping. Tests on flat slabs have demonstrated that as much as 70%
of the loads from a newly cast floor (formwork, wet concrete, construction
loads) may be carried by the suspended floor below7. It can generally
be assumed that early striking of formwork will not greatly affect the
deflection after installing the cladding and/or partitions. This is because the
deflection affecting partitions will be smaller if the slab becomes ‘cracked’
before, rather than after, the installation of the cladding and/or partitions.
Cracking
Deflection of concrete sections is closely linked to the extent of
cracking and the degree to which cracking capacity is exceeded. The
point at which cracking occurs is determined by the moments induced
in the slab and the tensile strength of the concrete, which increases
with age. Often the critical situation is when the slab is struck, or when
the load of the slab above is applied. Once the slab has cracked its
stiffness is permanently reduced.
It is therefore necessary to find the critical loading stage at which
cracking first occurs. This critical loading stage corresponds with the
minimum value of K, where:
K = fctm ^W 0.5h
where
W = The serviceability loading applied up to that stage
fctm = The concrete tensile strength at that stage
Where the frequent combination is the critical load stage, then
the degree of cracking (z) calculated for the frequent combination
should also be used for the quasi-permanent combination, but not for
h
e Floor finishes applied
1st slab above cast f Partitions erected
g Quasi-permanent variable actions
3rd slab above cast h Frequent variable actions
150 200 250 300
Duration (days)

How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2
any of the earlier load stages. If, however, an earlier stage
proves critical, the z value at that stage should be carried
forward to all subsequent stages.
Further information can be found in the best practice
guide Early striking and improved backpropping6.
Shrinkage curvature
Shrinkage depends on the water/cement ratio, relative
humidity and the size and shape of the member. The effect
of shrinkage in an asymmetrically reinforced section is to
induce a curvature that can lead to significant deflection in
shallow members. This effect should be considered in the
deflection calculations.
Methods for
calculating deflections
Two methods for calculating deflection are presented
below, and these are based on the advice in TR58
Deflections in concrete slabs and beams8.
Rigorous method
The rigorous method for calculating deflections is the
most appropriate method for determining a realistic
estimate of deflection. However, it is only suitable for
use with computer software. The Concrete Centre has
produced a number of spreadsheets that use this method
to carry out deflection calculations for a variety of slabs
and beams9. These offer a cost-effective way to carry
out detailed deflection calculations, and they include the
ability to consider the effect of early age loading of the
concrete. Figure 3 illustrates the principles of the method
and shows how the factors affecting deflection are
considered in the rigorous deflection calculations.
Finite element analysis may also be used to obtain
estimates of deflection. In this case the principles
in Figure 3 should be applied if credible results are to
be obtained.
Panel 1
Determining long term elastic modulus of elasticity
Calculate long-term elastic modulus, ELT from:
W1 W2 W3 W4 W5
E LT = RW c + + + + m
Eeff,1 Eeff, 2 Eeff, 3 Eeff, 4 Eeff, 5
where
Eeff = Ec28/(1+h)
Wn = Serviceability load at stage n
h = Creep coefficient at relevant loading time
and duration

Figure 3
Outline of rigorous method for calculating deflection
Collate input data
■ Element dimensions and reinforcement details and arrangements from the
ultimate limit state design
■ Loading sequence e.g.
• Striking the formwork
• Casting the floor above
• Erection of the partitions and/or cladding
• Application of finishes
The sequence will vary from project to project
■ Concrete properties (see Table 1)
• Mean compressive strength (fcm)
• Mean tensile strength (fctm or fctm,fl)
• Elastic modulus (Ec28) = 1.05 Ecm
■ Critical arrangement of actions
(or repeat the calculations for each arrangement to determine the critical case)
Assess whether the element has flexural cracking
■ Determine the critical load stage at which cracking first occurs.
(See ‘Cracking’ on page 3)
■ Calculate the following properties:
• Creep coefficients, h (Annex B of Eurocode 2 or Figure 4)
• Long term elastic modulus, ELT (see Panel 1)
• Effective modulus ratio, ae from: ae = Es /ELT
• Neutral axis depth for uncracked condition, xu (see Panel 2)
• Second moment of area for uncracked condition, Iu (see Panel 2)
• Calculate cracking moment, Mcr from:
Mcr = fctm Iu/(h – xu), using appropriate value for fctm.
■ Does the moment at the critical load stage exceed the cracking moment?
• If yes, the element is cracked at all subsequent stages.
z = 1 – 0.5(Mcr/M)2 [z = 0 for uncracked situation]
Repeat at 1/20 points for all three loading stages
Use these critical values of fctm and z for subsequent stages.
• If no, the element will not crack at any stage.
Determine the curvature of the slab
■ When the slab is cracked calculate the following properties at the load stage
being considered, using appropriate values for fctm, z and ELT:
• Neutral axis depth for cracked section, xc (see Panel 2)
• Second moment of area for cracked condition, Ic (see Panel 2)
■ Calculate the flexural curvature:
1 MQP MQP
rfl = g E e Ic + ]1 – g g E e Iu
■ Calculate the curvature due to shrinkage strain 1/rcs (see Panel 2)
■ Calculate the total curvature, 1/rt = 1/rfl + 1/rcs
Repeat the calculations at frequent intervals (say at 1/20 points) and integrate
twice to obtain the overall deflection.
If deflection affecting cladding and/or partitions is required, repeat calculations
for frequent combination and for loading at time of installation of partitions
and/or cladding.
Estimate deflections:
■ Overall deflection (quasi-permanent combination)
■ Deflection affecting partitions/cladding (Frequent combination deflection
less deflection at time of installation)
 8. Deflection calculations

Table 1
Concrete properties

fck MPa 320 325 328 330 332 335 340 350
fcm = (fck + 8) MPa 328 333 336 338 340 343 348 358
fctm = (0.3 fck(2/3) ≤ C50/60 or 2.12 ln(1 + (fcm/10)) > C50/60) MPa 332.21 332.56 332.77 332.90 333.02 333.21 333.51 334.07
fctm* = (0.3 fcm(2/3) ≤ C50/60 or 1.08 ln(fcm) + 0.1 > C50/60)a MPa 332.77 333.09 333.27 333.39 333.51 333.68 333.96 334.50
Ecm = (22 [(fcm)/10]0.3 GPa 330.0 331.5 332.3 332.8 333.3 334.1 335.2 337.3
Ec28 = (1.05 Ecm) GPa 331.5 333.0 333.9 334.5 335.0 335.8 337.0 339.1
ecd,0 CEM class R, RH = 50% microstrain 746 706 683 668 653 632 598 536
ecd,0 CEM class R, RH = 80% microstrain 416 394 381 372 364 353 334 299
ecd,0 CEM class N, RH = 50% microstrain 544 512 494 482 471 454 428 379
ecd,0 CEM class N, RH = 80% microstrain 303 286 275 269 263 253 239 212
ecd,0 CEM class S, RH = 50% microstrain 441 413 397 387 377 363 340 298
ecd,0 CEM class S, RH = 80% microstrain 246 230 221 216 210 202 189 166
eca(∞) microstrain 325 338 345 350 355 363 375 100
Key
2
bh be used when striking at less than 7 days or where construction overload is taken into account.
a fctm* may
2 + ] ae - 1 g ] Asd + As2 d2 g
xu =
bhbh2 + ] ae - 1 g ] As + As2 g
2 2 + ] ae - 1 g ] Asd + As2 d2 g
xu =
Panel 2 bh
Useful
] - a1 grectangular
2bh + aefor ] Assd++AAs2s2gdsection
2g
x u =Expressions 2
bh 3
bhbh + ]] aaeea-h 11 gg ]] A 2 +
+A
g 2g
Akssd+ ]As2as2ed- 1 g 6 As ]d - xu g + As2 ] x u - d 2 g @
2 2
2 + + bh -
I u = 12
xu = 2 2 - xu
bhbh + ] a - 1 g ] As2 + As2 g where
bh23 + ] aeea- h 1 g ] Aksd + As2 d2 g
= 12 3 + bh 2 - xu 2 + ] ae - 1 g 6 As ]d - xu g + As2 ] x u - d 2 g @
2 2
Ixuu = As = a
 rea of tension reinforcement
bhbh + ae - ] g ]
h 1 As + As2 g
I u = 12 + bh a 2 - xuk + ] ae - 1 g 6 As ]d - xu g + As2 ] x u - d 2 g @
2 2
As2 = area of compression reinforcement
0.5
xc = #bh7 ^ As ae + Ahs2 ] ae - 1 g h + 2 b ^ As d ae + A s2d22 ] ae - 1 g h A - 2^ As ae + As2 ] ae - 1 g h -
3 2 2
b b = breadth of section
I u = 12 + bh a 2 - xuk + ] ae - 1 g 6 As ]d - xu g + As2 ] x u - d 2 g @
d = e ffective depth to tension
Ixuc =
#bh7 ^3 s aebh+aAhs2 -
= 12 A+ ] aexu-
2 2
k 1+g h] + ae - 2 b 1^ Ags 6dAase]d+-Axs2udg22 ]+
0.5
1 g h A - 2^ A a + As2 ] ae - 1 g h -
s2 ] x u - d 2 g @ s e
ae A- b reinforcement
2 0.5 d2 = d
 epth to compression reinforcement
xc = #bx7 c^3 As ae + A s2 ] ae -2 1 g h + 2 b ^ As d ae + A s2d22] ae - 1 g h A - ^ As ae + As2 ] ae - 1 g h -
2
b
I c = 3 + ae As ^ d - x c g + ^ ae - 1 g As2 ^ d2 - x c g h = overall depth of section
0.5
xc = #bx7 ^3 As ae + A s2 ] ae - 1 g h + 2 b ^ As d ae + A s2d2 ] ae - 1 g h A - ^ As ae + As2 ] ae - 1 g h -
2
b ae = modular ratio
c
^ g
I c = 3 + ae As d - x c + a2 e - 1 As2 d2 - x c
2
^ g ^ g 2

xc = bx # 7c3^ As ae + A s2 ] ae -2 1 g h + 2 b ^ As d ae + A s2d22] ae - 1 g h A 0.5- ^ As ae + As2 ] ae - 1 g h - b Su = As(d – xu) – As2 (xu – d2)

I1c = 3 + aSe As ^ d - x c g + ^ aeS- 1 g As2 ^ d2 - x c g Sc = As(d – xc) – As2 (xc – d2)
u c
rcs = gbxfccs a e I u +^1 - g h 2fcs ae I c
3
I c = 3 + ae As d - x c + ae - 1 g As2 ^ d2 - x c g
^ g ^ 2

1 S u S c
= gbxfc3cs a e +^1 - g h 2fcs ae
Ir1ccs = 3 + aSeI uuAs ^ d - x c g + ^ aeSI- c 1 g A s2 ^ d 2 - x c g
2
Figure =4g f cs a e +^1- g h fcs ae c
rcs for determining
Method Iu creep coefficient Ic h(∞,t0)
1 Su Sc
^
rcs = g f cs a e I u + 1 - g fcs ae I c h
1 1 S 1
NSu R Sc N R
rcs =2g f cs a e I u +^1 - g h fcs ae I c
S
2
3 3
5 5

t 0 10 t 0 10

20 20
30 30
50 50

100 100
7.0 6.0 5.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 0 100 300 500 700 900 1100 1300 7.0 6.0 5.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 0 100 300 500 700 900 1100 1300
h (?, t 0 ) h 0 (mm) h (?, t 0) h o (mm)
a) Inside conditions - RH = 50% b) Outside conditions - RH = 80%
How to use Nonogram
Ke y Notes
C20/25 C40/50 1 t0 = age of concrete at time of loading
A D
C25/30 C45/55 2 h0 = 2A c /u
C30/37 C50/60 3 Intersection point between lines D & E can also be above point A E C
B
C35/45 4 For t0 > 100 it is sufficiently accurate to assume t = 100

Figure 4


File How to Deflections Figure 4

29.03.06
How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2

Simplified method Figure 5

Simplified method for calculating deflection
A simplified method for calculating deflection is presented in Figure 5.
It is feasible to carry out these calculations by hand, and they could be
START
used to roughly verify deflection results from computer software, or
used where a computer is not available. Calculate the moment, MQP, due to quasi-permanent actions at
the critical section (i.e. mid-span or at support for cantilever)
The major simplification is that the effects of early age loading are not Obtain concrete properties, fctm, and Ec28 from Table 1
considered explicitly; rather an allowance is made for their effect when
calculating the cracking moment. Simplified creep factors are used and Calculate creep coefficient, h(∞,t0), using either Figure 4
or Annex B (in which case look-up fcm in Table 1)
deflection from the curvature of the slab is approximated using a factor.
1 Calculate long term elastic modulus, Eeff from: Eeff = Ec28/[1+h (∞,t0)]
Figure 6 2 Calculate effective modulus ratio, ae from ae = Es/Eeff, where Es is
elastic modulus for reinforcement (200 MPa)
Values for K for various bending moment diagrams
3 Calculate depth to neutral axis for uncracked condition, xu
4 Calculate second moment of area for uncracked condition, Iu
Loading Bending moment diagram K
0.9 fctm I u
0.125 Calculate cracking moment, Mcr from: Mcr =
M h – xu
M M (Note the factor 0.9 has been introduced into this method
because the loading sequence is not considered)
1 MQP MQP
rn
= g E I + ^1 – gh E
eff c eff Iu
al W 3 4a 2 Yes No
48 (1-a)
Is Mcr > MQP? 1 1 1
l M = Wa (1-a ) l If a = 1 , K = 1 rt,QP = rn + rcs
2 12
Section is uncracked Section is cracked
0.0625 z=0 z = 1 – 0.5(M1cr/MQP)2
dQP = KL 2 rt,QP

M Calculate depth 0.9to neutral

fctm I u axis for cracked
cr =calculate second moment of area
condition, xcMand
h – xu
for cracked condition, Ic
W/2 W/2
0.125 a2
al al
6
Wal 1 MQP MQP
M=
2
Calculate flexural curvature
rn
= g
Eeff Ic
+ ^1 – g h E
eff Iu

q 0.104 Calculate total shrinkage strain e1cs from e1cs = e1cd + eca where: 1
ecd = kh ecd,0 = Drying shrinkage = r + 0.9
strain
rt,QP
0.9 f I
fctm I u ctm u from r
n Mrcr cs = t,QP
ql 2 kh = Coefficient based on notional size, Mcr see= Table 2 h – xu
h – xu
8 ecd,0 = Nominal unrestrained drying shrinkage, see Table 1
1
eca = bas(t) eca(∞) = eca(∞) fordlong-term
= KL 2 deflection, see Table 1
QP rt,QP
1M MQP MQP
q 0.102 1
= gr n
=
QPg
+ + ^1M–QPg h E I
Eeff^1Ic – g h
r n strain 1/r
Eeff eff u
Calculate curvature due to shrinkage cs I(see
c Panel 2) Eeff Iu
ql 2

15.6 1 1 1
1 1 = 1 +
r +
=rt,QP
Calculate total curvature r r rcs from
t,QP n rcsn
b
q MA MC MB K = 0.104 (1 )
10 1
MA + MB Calculate quasi-permanent deflection from dQP2 = 1KL 2 rt,QP
b= dQP = KL rt,QP
MC where K can be obtained from Figure 6 and L is the span.

al W End deflection
Wal
a (3 a ) Do you need No
= to calculate deflection
6 Finish
load at end K = 0.333 due to cladding and
partitions?
Yes
2 2
al qa l a (4 a )
q 2 12 Calculate the deflection that will occur at the time of application of
the load due to partitions and/or cladding.
if a = l , K = 0.25
1 Calculate the creep coefficient h(t,t0), where t is the age when
partition/cladding loads are applied and t0 is the age of striking.
b h(t,t0) ≈ h(∞,t0) bc(t,t0). For bc(t,t0) refer to Figure 7, alternatively
MA MB K = 0.083 (1 ) refer to Annex B of Eurocode 2.
4
MA + MB 2 Calculate the moment due to self-weight, partitions/cladding and any
MC b= other loads which have been applied prior to the installation of the
MC
cladding/partition, Mpar and use in place of MQP
al al 3 Recalculate the section properties, curvature and hence deflection,
1 (5 4a 2 )
2 dpar, using h(t,t0) or equivalent instead of h(∞,t0)
2
Wl (3 4a 2) 80 3 4a 4 The approximate deflection affecting cladding and partitions is
24 d = dQP – dpar


 8. Deflection calculations

Table 2
Values for Kh
Precamber
h0 kh A slab or beam can be precambered to reduce the effect of deflection
>100 1.0 below the horizontal (see Figure 8). However, in practice too much
precamber is generally used and the slab remains permanently
>200 0.85
cambered. This is because of the difficulty in accurately calculating
>300 0.75
deflection. A precamber of up to half the quasi-permanent
>500 0.70
combination deflection could be used, but a lower figure is
Notes
recommended. Precamber does not reduce the deflections affecting
h0 is the notional size (mm) of the cross-section = 2Ac/u
where partitions or cladding.
Ac = Concrete cross-sectional area

Flat slabs
u = Perimeter of that part of the cross section which is exposed to drying

Figure 7
Coefficient for development of creep with time after loading Flat slabs are very popular and efficient floor systems. However,
because they span in two directions, it can be difficult to calculate their
deflection. TR58 8 gives several suitable methods for assessing flat slab
0.60
deflection. Of these, a popular method is to take the average deflection
of two parallel column strips and to add the deflection of the middle
0.55 strip spanning orthogonally to get an approximation of the maximum
deflection in the centre of the slab.
0.50
The recommended acceptance criteria for a flat slab are shown in Figure 9.
Coefficient, bc (t, t0)

0.45
Accuracy
0.40 The calculation of deflection in Eurocode 2 using the rigorous method
presented here is more advanced than that in BS 811010. It can be
0.35 used to take account of early-age construction loading by considering
reduced early concrete tensile strengths.

0.30 However, the following influences on deflections cannot be accurately

assessed:
0.25 ■ Tensile strength, which determines the cracking moment.
100 300 500 700 900
h 0 (mm) ■ Construction loading.
■ Elastic modulus.
t = 90, t0 = 3 t = 90, t0 = 7
t = 60, t0 = 3 t = 60, t0 = 7 Therefore any calculation of deflection is only an estimate, and even the
t = 28, t0 = 3 t = 28, t0 = 7 most sophisticated analysis can still result in +15% to -30% error. It is
Notes advisable to give a suitable caveat with any estimate of deflection that
t = Age of concrete when partitions/cladding applied others are relying on.
t0 = Age of concrete when struck
Notes
1fck t= 30 (fcm =
= age of38), however the
concrete coefficient
when is not particularly sensitive
partitions/cladding to concrete class
applied
2 t 0 = age of concrete when struck
3 f = 30 (f cm = 38), however the coefficient os not particularly
Figureck8 Figure 9
sensitive to concrete class
Precambering
4 Relative of slabs is 50%(i.e. indoor conditions)
humidity Recommended acceptance criteria for flat slabs

Just before installation

Precamber of partitions Notes
If Ifmaximum
maximumpermitted
permitted d? == L/n
L /nand
andX isXthe
is the of position
position of maximumof d
Figure 7 maximum ?
where
Coefficient for development of creep a where
L L = Span
= span
with time after loading X n n = Limiting span-to-depth
= span-to-effective depthratio,
limit
then the e.g.deflection
250 at X should not
bethengreater than 2 aat/nX. should not be
the deflection
Deflection due to (maximum
greater thandeflection
2a/n. on gridlines
Deflection
File How to dueFigure
Deflections to 7 frequent combination may be more critical)
(Maximum deflection on gridlines
27.03.06 quasi-permanent may be more critical.)
Job No. combination Deflection affecting partitions

Figure 8
Figure 9
Deflection limits for

File How to Deflections Figure 8
29.03.06
Job No. File How to Deflections Figure 9
 8. Deflection calculations

Cladding tolerances
Deflection may affect cladding or glazing in the following ways:
■ When a slab deflects, the load on the central fixings will be relieved
and shed to outer fixings.
■ Manufacturers may say that their glazed systems can only
accommodate deflection as low as 5 mm.
There should be open discussions between the designers for the various
elements to determine the most cost-effective way of dealing with the
interaction of the structure and cladding.

References
1 BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION. BS EN 1992–1–1, Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures. General rules and rules for building. BSI, 2004.
2 MOSS, R M & BROOKER, O. How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2: Beams. The Concrete Centre, 2006.
3 MOSS, R M & BROOKER, O. How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2: Slabs. The Concrete Centre, 2006.
4 MOSS, R M & BROOKER, O. How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2: Flat slabs. The Concrete Centre, 2006.
5 NARAYANAN, R S & BROOKER, O. How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2: Introduction to Eurocodes. The Concrete Centre, 2005
6 BRITISH CEMENT ASSOCIATION. Early striking and improved backpropping. BCA, 2001. (Available from www.concretecentre.com)
7 PALLETT, P. Guide to flat slab formwork and falsework. Construct, 2003
8 THE CONCRETE SOCIETY. Technical report No. 58 Deflections in concrete slabs and beams. The Concrete Society, 2005.
9 GOODCHILD, C H & WEBSTER, R M. Spreadsheets for concrete design to BS 8110 and EC2, version 3. The Concrete Centre, Due 2006.
10 BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION. BS 8110–1. Structural use of concrete – Code of practice for design and construction. BSI, 1997.

Acknowledgements
The content of this publication was produced as part of the project ‘Eurocode 2: transition from UK to European concrete design standards’. This
project was part funded by the DTI under the Partners in Innovation scheme. The lead partner was the British Cement Association. The work was
carried out under the guidance of the Concrete Industry Eurocode 2 Group, which consists of representatives from:
Alan Baxter and Associates • Arup • British Cement Association • British Precast • Building Research Establishment • Clark Smith Partnership •
Concrete Innovation and Design • Construct • Department for Trade and Industry • Office of the Deputy Prime Minister • The Concrete Centre •
The Concrete Society • Quarry Products Association.

Eurocodes – Do it first with concrete

The design code for concrete is now available for use. The Concrete Centre has compiled a range of resources to
help with the interpretation and use of the new code. These resources make The Concrete Centre the first port of
call for all design training and guidance for Eurocode 2.
■ This free guide is taken from The Concrete Centre publication How to design concrete structures using
Eurocode 2 (CCIP–006).
■ Find out more about the series of seminars and short courses being offered across the UK.
Visit www.concretecentre.com/ec2events
■ Also available in the coming months are Concise Eurocode 2, Worked examples for designing concrete to
Eurocode 2 and Spreadsheets for concrete design to BS 8110 and Eurocode 2.
■ For more information, advice and assistance on the introduction and implementation of Eurocode 2,
visit the dedicated website, www.eurocode2.info

The Concrete Centre – here with everything you need to know about Eurocode 2.

Published by The Concrete Centre

For more information on Eurocode 2 and
other questions relating to the design, use Riverside House, 4 Meadows Business Park,
and performance of concrete contact the Station Approach, Blackwater, Camberley,
free National Helpline on: Surrey GU17 9AB
0700 4 500 500 or 0700 4 CONCRETE Tel: +44 (0)1276 606800
Fax: +44 (0)1276 606801
helpline@concretecentre.com
www.concretecentre.com

Ref: TCC/03/23 All advice or information from The Concrete Centre is intended for those who will evaluate the significance and limitations of its contents
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Published May 2006
latest version. This publication has been produced following a contract placed by the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI); the
© The Concrete Centre™ views expressed are not necessarily those of the DTI.