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Procedia Engineering 190 (2017) 676 – 683

Structural and Physical Aspects of Construction Engineering

Experimental Research of Destruction of the Edge Field

of the Slab–Column Structure Caused by Overload
Miroslaw Wieczoreka,*
a
Department of Building Structures, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 5 st., 44-100 Gliwice, Poland

Abstract

Slab–column structures used in design and construction work are one of the typical kinds of structures used in building industry.
The emergence of factors unexpected at the designing stage can lead to collapse of the structures. The paper presents
experimental investigations of the edge field of the continuous floor. The research was conducted on a nine–field slab with
the dimensions of 9300×9300×100 mm. The aim of the research was to observe the behavior of the experimental model
in the time when excessive load is exerted. The model was prepared using high ductility steel (εuk>7.5%) in order to determine
the possibility to induce tensile membrane action. The paper presents basic geometrical and material data, the research
methodology, the description of the system of loading, the description of the measurement system, and the obtained measurement
results. The last part summarizes the conducted investigations.
© 2017
© 2017Published
The Authors. Published
by Elsevier by Elsevier
Ltd. This Ltd.
is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Peer-review under responsibility of the issue editors.
Peer-review under responsibility of the organizing committee of SPACE 2016
Keywords: reinforced concrete structure, slab structures, steel with high ductility, progressive collapse, failure stage.

1. Introduction

The research of the edge field of a typical slab–column structure presented in the paper is the follow–up
of the research conducted by the Author [1] on the behavior of this type of structures in the state of overload.
The research on the change of action of a reinforced concrete element from flexural into tensile membrane were
initiated in 1964 by Park [2,3] and continued by Mitchell and Cook [4]. In the case of experimental research
of the internal field [1] and the research described below the action of such an element can be divided into five
stages:

*Corresponding author. Tel.: 48 323371127

E–mail address: miroslav.wieczorek@polsl.pl

1877-7058 © 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Peer-review under responsibility of the organizing committee of SPACE 2016
doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2017.05.396
 Miroslaw Wieczorek / Procedia Engineering 190 (2017) 676 – 683 677

x With non–significant overloads the load–bearing capacity of the structure should be ensured in the scope
of elastic action resulting from the used safety coefficients both in materials and loads (point A in Fig. 1a).
x With medium overloads, as a result of the cracks, the redistribution of internal forces in the structure occurs. This
behavior is continued up to the initial point of failure (point B in Fig. 1a). In this situation the load–bearing
capacity of such a structure is defined in the scope of flexural action with the use of classic calculation methods
based on yield lines [5,6,7,8].
x The point of destruction (point B in Fig. 1a) can be reached in slab–column structures through flexural
destruction of the section in any location or through punching. Up to this moment compressive membrane action
of the structure elements develops, fostered by the limitation in lateral displacements. As a result,
the load–bearing capacity of the floor increases [1,2,3,9,10]. Following the failure, the initial load decreases
along with the rise in the deflection, until the minimal value is achieved (point C according to Fig. 1a).
x After reaching (point C according to Fig. 1a), the behavior of the slab will depend solely on the redistribution
of loads, continuity, integrity and the ability of the slab to deform. At this stage of the action, membrane forces
in the central area of the slab plane change from compressive to tensile (the compressive membrane action is
transformed into tensile membrane action). Moreover, due to the high shearing stress on the surface of the slab,
the emerging cracks tend to penetrate the slab in its entire thickness. In such a case, when the concrete is fully
cracked, the entire load is transferred by the reinforcement functioning as a shell subject to tension [1] – tensile
membrane action. The tensile membrane action increases the ability of the slab to deform, it also increases its
load–bearing capacity after a failure [2]. Thus, the tensile membrane action can also be a useful mechanism
in preventing a progressive collapse when the structure is subject to a local overload. According to [4] in such
a case the structure is able to hang the damaged elements on the columns (Fig. 1b). The complete destruction
occurs when the stresses in reinforcing bars reach the value of steel strength against rupture, fyk [11] (point D
in Fig. 1a). In contrast to the previous research [1], with the edge field the tensile membrane action appears
in one direction only (Fig. 1b).

a b

Fig. 1. (a) Structural response of a restrained reinforced concrete slab [2];

(b) Development of “Hanging nets” in panels of two–way slab–column structures [4].

2. Description of the experimental models and test stand

The test model was a flat reinforced concrete slab with the dimensions of 9300×9300×100 mm (Fig. 2),
supported in 16 points. A detailed description of the test stand and similar models can be found in [1,12].
The statistical and strength calculations were performed on the basis of [13,14]. The arrangement of the bottom
and upper reinforcement is presented in Fig. 3. Due to the possibility of a progressive collapse the column axes
utilize integrity reinforcement required by e.g. [15,16,17,18,19]. The reinforcement is significant also when we wish
to obtain the tensile membrane action. In calculating and constructing this reinforcement and developing
the structural details the works of [20,21,22,23] were also referred, too.
678 Miroslaw Wieczorek / Procedia Engineering 190 (2017) 676 – 683

3. Materials

For the reinforcement of the models various types of steel were used, both with respect to the diameter and
the class. The steel was tested on sample of rough bars, and for each kind of bars diagrams of the relation σ-ε were
obtained. Investigations concerning the materials proved that all the bars satisfied the requirements of the class C
according to EC2 [13] (1.15 < ftk/fyk < 1.35). The results of these tests have been presented in Table 1. The models
were constructed of normal concrete based on slag cement and aggregate with the maximum diameter of grains
amounting to 8 mm. The material was always tested on the day on which the model was to be investigated,
as recommended in PN-EN 12390-3:2011 [25] and PN-EN 12390-6:2011 [26]. Table 2 contains the mean values
of the mechanical parameters which were always determined on six samples.

Table 1. Mechanical parameters of ribbed bars tested Table 2. Mechanical parameters of concrete investigated
in compliance with [24]. in compliance with [25,26].
Diameter Modulus Yield Tensile Total elongation Modulus Compressive Compressive Tensile
of the bar of elasticity strength strength at maximum force of elasticity strength strength strength
ø [mm] E [GPa] fyk [MPa] ftk [MPa] εuk [%] Ecm [GPa] fc,cyl [MPa] fc,cube [MPa] fcm [MPa]
8 191.852 526.8 604.4 14.91 34.9 48.2 75.7 3.92
10 199.138 561.1 625.8 13.8
12 199.242 601.2 714.2 11.8

a c

Fig. 2. Simplified view of the model and test stand according to [1]:
(a) horizontal projection; (b) sections; (c) view of the whole model; (d) view of the tested fragment.
 Miroslaw Wieczorek / Procedia Engineering 190 (2017) 676 – 683 679

Fig. 3. Arrangement of the reinforcing bars: (a) bottom reinforcement; (b) top reinforcement.
680 Miroslaw Wieczorek / Procedia Engineering 190 (2017) 676 – 683

4. Procedure of the investigations

Prior to the main part of the research, the model had been weighed. In order to do this, the model was lifted
in each support point, which was accompanied by resetting of the dynamometer. Next, after lowering the model,
support reactions were defined. Due to the research conducted previously, the corner members of the model
were not supported. In the following step of the research concrete gravitational weights were suspended in 54 points
(with the point spacing of 0.75 m) – Fig. 4. With the suspension of each weight, the readings of the values
of the support reactions were taken, accompanied by the measurement of the vertical displacements of the upper
surface of the investigated floor part. In the next stage each point of the analysed area was loaded with hydraulic
actuators with the load of 2 kN (21 hydraulic actuators were used altogether). In the last stage of the research
the value of load was increased by 1 kN every 10 minutes (or less often if the displacements were not stabilised).
The investigations were conducted until the maximum range of action of the hydraulic load system, namely
42.83 kN, was achieved.

a b

q – substitute uniform load corresponding to the value of the applied

point load
A – gravitional load; B – hydraulic load; C – no load

Fig. 4. (a) Locations of gravitational and hydraulic load; (b) photos of gravitational and hydraulic load.

5. Description of the process of the destruction

As shown in Fig. 5, the load–displacement relationship obtained during the research can be divided into three
segments:
x linear segment from 0 kN to 10 kN of the load value (at this time new cracks emerged),
x non–linear segment from 10 kN to 25 kN of the load value (at this time mainly opening of existing cracks
occurred),
x linear segment from 25 kN to 42.83 kN of the load value (at this time new cracks emerged).
In the initial stage of the conducted research of the internal field the first cracks were registered on the bottom
surface of the tested field in the middle of its span at the load value of 3.0 kN per single point. The first crack
 Miroslaw Wieczorek / Procedia Engineering 190 (2017) 676 – 683 681

on the top surface of the model emerged symmetrically in support zones at the load of 4.0 kN per cord. The increase
in load was accompanied by the growing number of cracks parallel to the reinforcing bars. Additionally, a centric
crack around the supports emerged. The number of cracks around the edge supports on the top surface increased,
accompanied by the emergence of the first diagonal cracks around the support zones of internal columns. With loads
from 10 kN to 25 kN, the existing crack on the bottom surface developed further. Similarly, on the top surface
of the model the cracks around the supports connected with the crack along the support axis. Further increase
of the load led to the emergence of a significant number of cracks both on the top and bottom surface of the model.
The failure of the model took place at the load of 42.83 kN per cord by punching in places where the load was
applied.

6. Deformation of the model

The important part of the conducted research was measuring the displacements of the upper surface
of the investigated model. The arrangement of characteristic points in which the displacements were measured is
presented in Fig. 5. The view of model before and after research was show in Fig. 6.

7. Analysis of the results

The first scratches were observed on the lower surface of the test field in the middle of its span. Next scratches
appeared on the upper surface of the model. These scratches were parallel to the reinforcement bars. As the load
increases, there was an increase in the number of the cracks parallel to the reinforcement bars. In addition,
the centric scratches appeared around the supports on the upper surface of the model. Then, on the upper surface
of the model, the first diagonal scratches around the zones of support of internal columns appeared. Further
increasing the load on the model resulted in the development of existing scratches. Image of the shape and
distribution of the created scratches was consistent with expectations and significantly had an influence on the
deformation of the test model.
Static and strength calculations were performed with the assumption that additional load exceeding the dead load
of the slab would equal 6.0 kN/m2. Next, in accordance with the requirements [13], in some parts the demanded
amount of reinforcement was increased to minimal value. In another step of the analysis conducted
for the reinforcement arranged as in Fig. 3, the limit values of bending moments were determined, with
the assumption that calculated values of steel and concrete strength would be characteristic (the partial factors
for reinforcing, partial factors for concrete, partial factors for permanent actions G, partial factors for variable
actions Q were excluded from the calculations). On the basis of the conducted calculations the following limit load
values in respect of the flexural work of the slab were obtained):
x 13.2 kN/m2 – assuming that, fy = fyk and fc = fc,cube,
and
x 15.22 kN/m2 – assuming that, fy = ftk and fc = fc,cube .
Because the load was applied pointwise to the model, the value was converted to the value of the surface load.
For this purpose, the whole point load affecting the test field (21 actuators with average load 42.83 kN) was
summated and then divided by the surface field (3.0×3.0 m). Next, the value of constant load resulting from the dead
weight was added.

21 ˜ 42.83 kN kN kN
q 2 2
 24.22 3
˜ 0.101 m 99.94  2.45 102.39 2
(1)
3 m m m

The load obtained in the course of the research at the moment of destruction was evenly distributed and equalled
102.39 kN/m2, which was the characteristic load around 10 times higher than the value for which the reinforcement
was designed. Additionally, under the characteristic loads for which the model was designed (6 kN/m2) the extreme
deflection of the model reached the value of 7.1 mm which constitutes 1/422 of the inter–support span compared to
the standard deflection condition of 1/250. What is more, under the load of 102.39 kN/m 2 at which the research was
682 Miroslaw Wieczorek / Procedia Engineering 190 (2017) 676 – 683

interrupted, the extreme deflection equalled 318.6 mm, which constitutes ~1/9 of the inter–support span. Apart from
bending moments, such significant vertical displacements point at the emergence of longitudinal forces in the model
plane.

Fig. 5. Results of research – displacement of the upper surface at the load.

a b

Fig. 6. View of model: (a) before test; (b) after test.

 Miroslaw Wieczorek / Procedia Engineering 190 (2017) 676 – 683 683

8. Conclusion

The presented research was primarily aimed at the observation of the behavior of the models and the emerging
deformations. Despite their great willingness, the authors did not manage to experimentally determine
the load–bearing capacity of the tested models, including significant displacements, when the tensile membrane
action should be expected. The obtained results suggest the existence of very significant load capacity reserves.
The conducted research confirms that well–designed and erected structure can transfer loads which are even a few
times higher than intended in the design. It has been confirmed that it is safe to design according to the critical state
and with the assumed yield lines. For technical reasons, the research did not end with the destruction of the model
resulting from the tensile membrane actions. However, it can be assumed that the model retained significant reserves
of load–bearing capacity resulting from the expected tensile membrane action of the elements reinforced with high
ductility steel.

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