SLABS
What is a Slab?
Slabs are constructed to provide flat surfaces, usually horizontal, in
building floors, roofs, bridges, and other types of structures.
The Slab may be supported by walls, by reinforced concrete beams
usually cast monolithically with the slab, by structural steel beams, by
columns, or by the ground.
Different Types of concrete slabs in
construction
Flat Slab
• The flat slab is a reinforced concrete slab
supported directly by concrete columns.
• Flat slab doesn’t have beams so it is also called
as beamless slab. They are supported on
columns itself. Loads are directly transferred to
columns.
• In this type of construction, a plain ceiling is
obtained thus giving attractive appearance from
an architectural point of view. The plain ceiling
diffuses the light better and is considered less
vulnerable in the case of fire than the usual
beam slab construction. The flat slab is easier to
construct and requires less formwork.
Flat Slab
Flat Slabs are used at:
• To provide plain ceiling surface giving better diffusion of light
• Easy constructability with the economy in the formwork
• Larger headroom or shorter storey height & pleasing appearance.
• This kind of slabs are provided in parking
• Flat slabs are generally used in parking decks, commercial buildings, hotels or places where beam
projections are not desired.
Advantages of Flat Slab:
• It minimizes floor-to-floor heights when there is no requirement for a deep false ceiling. Building height
can be reduced
• Auto sprinkler is easier.
• Less construction time.
• It increases the shear strength of the slab.
• Reduce the moment in the slab by reducing the clear or effective span.
Disadvantages of Flat slab:
• In flat plate system, it is not possible to have large span.
• Not suitable for supporting brittle (masonry) partitions.
• Higher slab thickness.
There are four different types of concrete slabs (FLAT SLABS)
1. Slab without drop and
column without
column head(capital)
2. Slab with drop and
column without
column head.
3. Slab without drop and
column with column
head.
4. Slab with drop and
column with column
head.
Conventional Slab
• The slab which is supported with Beams and columns is called conventional
slab. In this kind of slab the thickness of slab is small whereas depth of beam
is large and load is transferred to beams and from beams to columns. It
requires more formwork when compared with the flat slab.
• The thickness of conventional slab is 4″ or 10cm. 5″ to 6″ inches is
recommended if the concrete will receive occasional heavy loads.Normally it
is square in shape and has a length of 4m.
• Reinforcement is provided in conventional slab and the bars which are set in
horizontal are called Main Reinforcement Bars and bars which are set in
vertical are called Distribution bars. These types of slabs are used in
constructing floors of the multi-storeyed building.
• Based on length and breadth of Conventional Slab is classified into two types:
1. One-Way Slab
2. Two-Way Slab
One Way Slab
• One way slab is a slab which is supported by
beams on the two opposite sides to carry the
load along one direction.
• The ratio of longer span (l) to shorter span (b) is
equal or greater than 2, considered as One-way
slab because this slab will bend in one direction
i.e in the direction along its shorter span.
• However minimum reinforcement known as
distribution steel is provided along the longer
span above the main reinforcement to
distribute the load uniformly and to resist
temperature and shrinkage stresses.
• Generally all the Cantilever slabs are one Way
slab. Chajjas and verandahs are a practical
example of one way slab.
Two Way Slab
• Two way slab is a slab supported by beams on all
the four sides and the loads are carried by the
supports along both directions, it is known as two
way slab.
• In two way slab, the ratio of longer span (l) to
shorter span (b) is less than 2.The slabs are likely
to bend along the two spans in this load is
transferred in both the directions to the four
supporting edges and hence distribution
reinforcement is provided in both the directions.
• In this kind of slab, the length and breadth of the
slab are more than 4m. So distribution bars are
provided at both the ends in two way slab. To
resist the formation of stresses.
• These types of slabs are used in constructing floors
of multi-storeyed building.
Hollow core ribbed Slab or Hollow core
slab
• Hollowcore ribbed slabs derive their name
from the voids or cores which run through the
units.
• The cores can function as service ducts and
significantly reduce the self-weight of the slabs,
maximizing structural efficiency. The cores also
have a benefit in sustainability terms in
reducing the volume of concrete used.
• These kind of slabs are Precast slabs which are
readymade.
• The hollow core ribbed slabs have between
four and six longitudinal cores running through
them, the primary purpose of the cores being
to decrease the weight, and material within the
floor, yet maintain maximal strength.
• To further increase the strength, the slabs are
reinforced with 12mm diameter steel strand,
running longitudinally. This is one of the types
of concrete slabs.
Hollow core slab Advantages :
• Using hollow core ribbed slab not only reduces building costs it also reduce the overall weight
of the structure.
• Excellent fire resistance and sound insulation are another attributes of hollow core slab due to
its thickness.
• It eliminates the need to drill in slabs for electrical and plumbing units.
• Easy to install and requires less labour.
• Fast in construction
• No additional formwork or any special construction machinery is required for reinforcing the
hollow block masonry.
Hollowcore slab Disadvantages:
• If not properly handled, the hollow core ribbed slab units may be damaged during transport.
• It becomes difficult to produce satisfactory connections between the precast members.
• It is necessary to arrange for special equipment for lifting and moving of the precast units.
• Not economic for small spans.
• Difficult to repair and strengthen
Waffle Slab:-
• Waffle slab is a reinforced concrete roof or floor
containing square grids with deep sides and it is also
called as grid slabs.
• This kind of slab is majorly used at the entrance of
hotels, Malls, Restaurants for good pictorial view and to
install artificial lighting. This a type of slab where we
find a hollow hole in the slab when the formwork is
removed.
• Firstly PVC trays (pods) are placed on shuttering then
reinforcement is provided between the pods and steel
mesh is provided at top of the pods and then concrete
is filled. After concrete sets, the formwork is removed
and PVC pods are not removed. This forms a hollow
hole in it in which hole is closed at one end.
• The concrete waffle slab is often used for industrial and
commercial buildings while wood and metal waffle
slabs are used in many other construction sites. This is
a one of the types of concrete slabs.
Where to use Waffle Slab & Waffle slab
details:
• A waffle slab is a type of slab with holes underneath, giving an
appearance of waffles. It is usually used where large spans are required
(e.g auditorium, cinema halls) to avoid many columns interfering with
space. Hence thick slabs spanning between wide beams (to avoid the
beams protruding below for aesthetic reasons) are required. The main
purpose of employing this technology is for its strong foundation
characteristics of crack and sagging resistance. Waffle slab also holds a
greater amount of load compared with conventional concrete slabs.
• Types of Waffle slabs:
• Based on the shape of Pods (PVC Trays) They are classified into different
types some of them are:
1. Triangular pod system
2. Square pod system
Advantages of Waffle slabs:
• Waffle slabs are able to carry heavier loads and span longer distances than
flat slabs as these systems are light in weight.
• Waffle slab can be used as both ceiling and floor slab.
• Suitable for spans of 7m – 16m ; longer spans may be possible with
posttensioning.
• These systems are light in weight and hence considerable saving is ensured in
the framework as the light framework is required
Disadvantages of Waffle slabs:
• Waffle slab is not used in typical construction projects.
• The casting forms or moulds required for pre- cast units are very costly and
hence only economical when large scale production of similar units are
desired.
• Construction requires strict supervision and skilled labour.
