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First Semester AY 2022- 2023
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Slabs is a common structural element within a building that is made of concrete and
typically used for floorings, ceiling, and roof decks. It is flat and few inches thick supported
with beams, columns, walls and/or the ground.
There several types that could be used in construction and these are as follows:
Flate Plate and Flat Slab are types of slabs that are conventionally used in buildings
and are made of reinforced concrete. These are the main difference between the two:
Flat Slab
Flat Plate
• Flat Slab is a two-way slab system with
• Flate Plate is a two-way slab system
either drop panel or column capital that
directly connected with columns;
helps to reduce shear stress on the
• Most suitable for serving the purpose of column junction;
a horizontal floor over a suspended
• Suitable for most of the construction,
ceiling.
asymmetrical column layouts, large
industrial structures and high rise-
buildings;
Flat Slab – Use of Column Capitals
• Shear strength of flat slab is increased;
• Reduces the clear or effective span, and therefore, reduce the moment in the
flat slab floor.
Flat Slab – Use of Column Capitals
• Increases the shear strength of flat slab floor.
• Increases flat slab's negative moment capacity.
• Reduces the deflection by stiffening the flat slabs.
Flat Plate Flate Slab
Advantages Advantages
• Use of beam is not needed; • Reduces the overall height of the
• Have more underfloor spaces structure;
because of zero-beams use; • Capable to carry concentrated
• Only requires simple work form; loads.
• Suitable for a direct fix or sprayed • Beams are also absent having
ceiling. more room for underfloor spaces
• Minimum structural depth and and utility services.
reduced floor-to floor height. • Provides for the easy integration
of prefabricated sections and
standardized structural members
into the design.
• Better fire-resistant
Flat Plate Flate Slab
Disadvantages Disadvantages
• Construction of large span is not • Use of drop panels may interfere
possible, the spans employed are with larger mechanical ducting;
medium length; • Also has span limitations, not
• Limited lateral load capacity as suitable for large spans;
part of a moment frame • Not suitable as well for supporting
• Not suitable for supporting “brittle” brittle masonry units;
masonry units; • Have middle strip deflection that
• Not suitable for carrying heavy may be critical
loads. • Thicker than reinforced concrete
• Special reinforcement for shear columns.
must be provided at the columns
or larger columns must be
constructed.
Ribbed and Waffle Slab System are also called as spanning system, consists of
equally spaced ribs laid perpendicularly. It is not common to use because of its formwork
and known to be low-fire resistant.
Ribbed Slabs Waffle Slabs
• One-way ribbed system, composed of • Two-way ribbed system, designed to
a series of reinforced concrete T- reduce the weight of conventional full-
beams (or joists) that may be joined by concrete slabs;
girders supported by the building • Suitable for commercial buildings,
column. garages, decorative halls etc.
• Suitable for medium to heavy loads; • Designed for good vibration control
• Can span reasonable distances; because of two directional
• Suitable for soffit is exposed; reinforcements.
• The use of ribs to the soffit of the slab • The dead load is decreased by the
reduces the quantity of concrete, voids between each dome since they
reinforcement and also the weight of are narrower than a flat slab in a
the floor. certain area.
‘
Ribbed & Waffle Slabs Ribbed & Waffle Slabs
Advantages Disadvantages
• Tension stress is lessened, and • Not suitable against high winds or
load-carrying capability is higher; cyclonic areas because of their
• Has plenty of room or usage for light weight;
utility services such as lightings, • Not suitable for sloped areas;
and electrical appliances; • Requires special or proprietary
• Has good-vibration control; formwork
• Provides an aesthetic look; • It is harder to manage large
• Provides a good structural stability; vertical penetrations.
• Floor height needed to be
increased
Concrete Floor Systems. (n.d.). Retrieved from Dimensions.com:
https://www.dimensions.com/element/two-way-concrete-waffle-slab-floor-system
Flat Slab Floor System : Definition & Description. (n.d.). Retrieved from Civil Today:
https://civiltoday.com/structural-engineering/32-flat-
slab#:~:text=What%20is%20Flat%20Slab%3F,to%20the%20supporting%20concrete
%20columns.
Paul, A. (2014, August 9). Ribbed or Waffle Slab System – Advantages & Disadvantages.
Retrieved from Civil Digital: https://civildigital.com/ribbed-waffle-slab-system-
advantages-disadvantages/
Waffle Slab or Ribbed Slab Construction Procedure and Advantages . (n.d.). Retrieved from
The Constructor: https://theconstructor.org/structural-engg/waffle-slab-ribbed-slab-
construction/20546/
