Budapest University of Technology and Economics

Department of Mechanics, Materials and Structures

English courses
Reinforced Concrete Structures
Code: BMEEPSTK601
Lecture no. 9:

TWO-WAY SLABS

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Content:
1. Definition, internal force components
2. Methods of analysis of two-way slabs
3. The method of Marcus
4. The effect of fixing the corners of the slab against lifting
5. The yield line theory
6. Design conditions set up for the parameter to determine the
yield line pattern
7. Application of the yield line theory for more complex situations
8. Application of the yield line theory for different support condtions
and ground plan forms
9. Numerical example

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1. Definition, internal force components

specific force components

in unit-length sections of twoway slabs
If l sh 0,5l l , the interaction of perpendicular strips of the slab through
torsion (tx and ty (kNm/m)) is taken into account by determining the
internal force distribution: the slab is regarded two-way slab
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2. Methods of analysis of two-way slabs

The partial differential equation of slabs:
p
4w
4w
4w
w: deflection p=p(x,y) load
+
+
=

4
2 2
2 2
EI
x
x y
x y
Analythical solutions
-exact: were only elaborated for very simple cases
(for example: uniformly distributed load, rectangular slab, simply
supported along the perimeter, EI= constant)
-approximate analythical solutions by use of Fourier functions for
limited no. of cases
Numerical solutions can be computerized:
-method of finite differences, finite element method (FEM)
Results of both analythical and numerical solutions are available in
tabulated form.
Two manual approximate methods will be shown below.
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3. The method of Marcus

For rectangular slab, simply supported along the perimeter, loaded with
uniformly distributed load.
The load is distributed between series of two perpendicular strips by
considering the condition, that at the intersection of two perpendicular
strips the deflection is the same (effect of torsion is neglected):

5 p l l 4l
5 psh l 4sh
wl =
= w sh =
384 EI
384 EI

By introducing the parameters sh =

Reinforced Concrete 2012

l
p
l = sh
psh l l
p= psh+p

(1)
(2)

psh
p
and l = l
p
p
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 sh =

l = 1 sh

l
1 + sh
ll
The load intensities can then be determined:
psh= shp and p= p
For the two extreme cases, this yields in:

sh = l = 0,5
sh 0,9 0,1

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4. The effect of fixing the corners of the slab against lifting

the corners of the slab lift, if they are
not loaded by vertical forces of constructions above, resulting in torsional
moments
Moment distribution
along a diagonal strip
Moments equilibrium at corners

p
(1,1l) 2
pl 2
2
m=
= 0,3
28
8
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Top reinforcement designed for negative moments

bottom bars
in practice:
top mesh reinforcement parallel to supports is used with the same intensity
as that, designed for positive moments
top bars

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5. The yield line theory

Yield lines: straight lines along primary cracks
Along yield lines: m=mmax, v=0
y = l l where can be freely
,
ml
adopted between 0,1 and 0,5 .
For example:
yield line

lsh

1l
opt = sh
(results min.
2 ll
quantity of reinforcement)

msh

More exact model at corners:

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Equilibrium of triangular and trapezoidal panels of the slab

Consider one of the triangular panels and the equilibrium of moments
with respect to axis y :

pl sh y y
= m l l sh
2 3
2
2
py 2
4 2 pl 2l
2 l l p 8 2 pl l
ml =
=
=
=
= l m o, l
6
6
6
8
3
8

My=0:

pl 2l
4 2
where l = and m o, l =
3
8

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Consider now one of the trapezoidal panels and the equilibrium of

moments with respect to axis x :
Mx=0:
l l
l
l
l
2 l sh p sh + (l l 2l l ) sh p sh = m sh l l
2
23
2 22
Expressing msh, we get:
4 pl 2sh
msh= (1 )
= sh m o,sh
3
8
pl 2sh
4
where: sh = 1 and mo,sh=
3
8
The load p =pEd will be substituted in direction of the shorter and longer
span respectively with modified values corresponding to the directions:
4
4
(p sh + p l p)
p l = 2 p
p sh = 1 p
3
3

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6. Design conditions set up for the parameter to determine

the yield line pattern
2

1l
Beside = opt = sh some further conditions that can be set up to
2 ll
determine the value of the parameter :
-let the steel necessary in direction of the longer span be equal to
the area of the distribution steel of that necessary in direction of the
shorter span: as,=0,2as,sh (or approximately: m=0,2msh)
-let the reinforcement be same in the two perpendicular directions:
as,=as,sh (or approximately: m=msh)
-let the triangle of the yield line pattern be rectangular:
y = l l = 0,5l sh that is: = 0,5l sh / l l
Limits of y determine limites of , which should be checked:
ll
l
y l that is: 0,1 0,5
10
2
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7. Application of the yield-line theory for more komplex situations:

-a system of continuous two-way slabs

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-irregular ground plan forms can be completed to rectangle and handled

like that

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8. Application of the yield line theory for different support

condtions of rectangualr slabs and different ground plan forms

-rectangular slab panel simply supported along three sides

and free along the forth side:
the maximum
moment:
m = p Ed l 2x / 8 ,

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-rectangular slab with two free neighbouring edges and two

restrained edges:
the maximum
moment:
m = p Ed l 2x / 8

-rectangular slab with two free neighbouring edges and two

restrained edges
Maximum
moment:
m = p Ed l 2y / 2
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Circular and other ground plan forms that can be characterized

with inscribed circle, simply supported along the perimeter
p Ed D 2
m=
8

a
1
1

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9. Numerical example
Rectangular slab simply supported along the perimeter with
optimal sidelength rate
Problemt
By what sidelength rate will the relationship msh = 5 m be true just at
= opt ? Lifting of the corners is impeded.
Solution

l sh
=
ll
1
opt = 2
2

Let be:

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(1)

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pl 2sh
4
4 2 pl 2l
(1- opt )
= 5. opt
3
8
3
8
From (2) with the substitution

(2)

l sh
ll

= we get:

4
20 2
(1- opt ) 2 =
opt
3
3
By expressing 2 and substituting it in (1):

4
1 20 2
opt (1- opt ) = opt
3
2 3
We get the solution
1 l
1
opt = 0,214 = ( r ) 2 = 2
2 lh
2
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 = 2 0,214 = 0,654
That means: in case of sh = 0,654 , or = 1,528sh that is at about
by the sidelength rate 1:1,5 will the rate of moments in the two
directions be equal to 1:5 just by = opt .
In the shorter direction will then be
4
4
sh = 1 = 1 0,214 = 0,715
3
3
2
pl
msh = 0,715 sh
8
that is by 28,5 % smaller, then in case of not taken into account the
effect of two-way ection. It is reasonable not to forget this rate, and try
to apply in the practice when possible!
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