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‘A. Comprehensive Approach to Aanalysis of Voided Slab Structures
by
T Viswanathan* and A K Mathur**
Introduction
Voided slab construction is coming into use increasingly as it has many advantages over
the solid slab construction. It has a low weight of a beam and the massive slab capacity to
spread the load. While solid slabs are generally limited to a maximum span of 10m or so,
voided slabs can have much larger spans and have proven to be economical witb
reinforcement for spans between 15m and 25m and with prestressing reinforcement for
spans greater than 25m and less than 35m, ‘The design aspects of such slabs need careful
consideration. ‘Though several authors Bakht and Jaeger, Clark, Elliott, Beckett and
Raina have outlined. the procedure to be followed for designing, no comprehensive
approach has been provided by anyone of them.
This article will outline a comprehensive approach by taking into consideration all
recommendations, and will be explained with the help of an example for the analysis of
live loads. Analysis for the dead load does not pose any problem.
‘Longitudinal Flexural Analysis
Slab Dimensions
To arrive at the dimension details, the recommendations given by Dr Bakht et al(1) can be
easily followed.
1 ‘The thickness of slab shall be 1/20th to 1/25th of effective span.
2. The diameter of the void shall not be greater than 80% of the depth of slab to
avoid cell distortion.
3. ‘The spacing of the void shall not be more ‘than the thickness of the slab.
4, . The thickness of solid portion between voids shall not be less than 20% of the
thickness of slab.
5. The thickness of top and bottom concrete slab above and below the void shall be
kept a minimum of 150mm from durability consideration.
Evaluation of properties
The analysis is proposed to be carried out by using “Morice and Little” method applicable
for orthotropic plates.
The plate rigidities of voided slab bridge having centrally placed circular voids can be
obtained with the help of the following simplified expressions.
* Principal Engineer, Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick (India) Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi
RE4
** Joint General Manager, RITES, New Delhi
23
Btw),
N12” 64p,7*
- FE [1-09 ey]
Dy =Dyg= Se [1-8 eo]
yr
D,=D2="D,,
Where t is thickness of slab, t,, is the diameter of voids and p, is the spacing of void.
b(&)* Dy +D,y,+D,+D, uh :
o=—-( =); La 2 ent ite bx halts :
LAD, 20D, Dy)™ : wot fe
L = Stor~
Where b and L are half the width and span respectively of orthotropric plates. nao
Analysis for sectional forces.
Beckett et al(2) suggest that a check has to be performed to ascertain the deformability of
the deck in the transverse direction (distortion of cell) by shearing and if so “@” and 2
values need to be adjusted. This check can be performed as follows.
‘The voided slab shall be idealised as a vierendel type cross section as shown.
1, I, Is are moments of inertia of top, bottom and web members of idalised truss
members, a and b are the spacing and depth of web members. The parameter S a measure
of the shearing deformation (If $ = 0 no shear deformation and if $ has a high value the
bridge will deform considerably in the transverse direction by shearing and thus the cells
will be subjected to distortion),
ab a (3b, + 3b + ah
~ T2EI, 12E \12bI, I, + al, + al,3.0
31
3.2
3=1b (SEDx)
-
Values of 4; and __1 need to calculated for @/6 (for = 1) from the graph.
a
The modified value@;=@ 1 or =i
aaa) “a. ay"
using the new value of @; and 4; coefficients of K4; shall be calculated as follows:
K4,=Ko +Ky- KV
From the graph it would be clear that for a ratio of O/8 greater 9.32 the shearing
deformation will not be significant and can be neglected for a void depth to overall depth,
ratio not greater than 0.75. Using the above values the global Bending Moments in
longitudinal and transverse directions and shear forces can be evaluated. The torsorial
‘moments at sections can also be evaluated by the normal procedures. The procedures
outlined complete the analysis of the slab in the longitudinal direction.
Transverse Analysis
Behaviour of slab in transverse direction
Elliot et al(3) state that vast majority of bridge decks do not span transversely between
relatively stiff main girders and are therefore not well represented by a simply supported
beam. Their transverse behaviour is much more closely represented by a beam on elastic
foundation. Thus the slab shall be treated as supported on clastic foundation. Axial
stiffiess of web members for a unit length shall be treated as stiffness for the web
members.
Tdealisation of Structure and Loads
The load position choosen to generate absolute longitudinal moment shall be retained and
the wheel loads shall be converted into UDL using fourier series expression and the peak
intensity would be expressed by
P(X) = pO) + PG) + P(%s) +
= 2P,[sinax singxl + sin 2x sin 2mm + sin 31x soz |
TLL OL L L L iE
= 2p, [singe -sin m2 + sin2mx sin2mxy + sin 3nx sini | .
L L L L L L L3.3
34
Where P1, P2 are wheel loads.
xis the distance of the section ‘rom the support
x1, x2 are the distances of loads from support.
The transverse shear forces and bending moments shall be obtained by treating the voided
slab as a beam on elastic foundation by considering a unit strip.
y
labs. en
Clark et al(4) suggest that the peak stress due to vierendel action occurs a/A/4 from the
void centre line. Ifthe total shear force at a section is Q the bottom flange arries 50% of
this shear force. The Maximum Bending Moment at d/4 section is Q d/8. It is obvious
that the loading position should be such as to create Maximum Transverse Shear at the
crown in order to arrive at the Maximum Transverse Moment. In addition to this
transverse moment the kottom flange is also subjected to a tensile force of magnitude
My/z where My is the maximum global transverse moment and “z” is the distance
between centre of compression and tension flanges. Hence the section will be designed
for bending combined with tension.
Calculation of transverse moment and shear forces in bottom and
For the design of top flange the total shear is assumed to be carried by the top flange
alone as the bottom flange is expected to crack under tension generated by global
transverse moment thus loosing its ability to carry the shear.
The Transverse Bending Mqvément generated by the shear is Qd/4. This is to be
combined with the axialal compressive force My/Z generated by the global transverse
‘moment and the reinforcement arrived accordingly.
Design of Web reinforcement o beer
‘The work carried out by Aster et al(5) indicates that tarzan shear Qa/b is
generated due to vierendel truss action at the point of contrat/of lexure in the web and at
(4)
the critical section the moment generated is Gad . This reinforcement shall be
provided in the form of vertical links. However one leg of such link may be considered to
contribute to the required area of such reinforcement. This area of reinforcement shall be
added to that required to resist the longitudinal shear force.
This detailing can be adopted provided that the maximum tensile stress generated at d/4
away from the centre line of the void is less than allowable. The maximum tensile stress
generated can be calculated using the expression KQ/b where K can be obtained from the
following table.35
My a
& 650 oS 7 72S 730 7B 800,
0 25, 28. 32 36. 2 50 oO
1 2 26 30 34 40. a7 56,
2 2 25 30 34 40 5 55,
3 24 25 30 34 40 45 35
4 25 28 32 35 a1 46 35
s 27 30 33 36 2 a7 | 56
In case if the tensile stress is greater than the allowable stress cracking is expected to
occur on the inside of the void and it is recommended to reduce the size of void or alter
the position of voids in order to reduce the tensile stresses. If these measures can not be
taken, it is necessary that the reinforcement crosses the crack. This can be done by
providing inclined reinforcement in the webs.
‘The tensile force required to be resisted is T=Q _a_ CosZ
2b
where is the inclination of the reinforcement with the horizontal.
a and b are as explained in 2.3
Analysis for Torsion
The torsional reinforcement can be calculated by analysing the section as multi cellular
and the reinforcement requirement can be calculated
Detailing of reinforcement in top and bottom flanges
The flexural reinforcement worked out in top and bottom flanges have to be provided in
the inner surface above and below the crown of void and at the outer surface of the slab
structure as the moment will reverse its direction at the right and the left to the centre line
of the web. In order to obtain a controlled crack pattern certain amount of minimum steel
needs to be provided. Clark has suggested that these minimum reinforcements need to be
provided in two layers, one adjacent to outer layer and another adjacent to the crown of
the void. The thickness of each layer would be equal to twice the relevant cover plus the
bar diameter and shall be considered as flange area for arriving at the stee! reinforcement
required. A minimum steel of 1% of this area but not exceeding 1500 mn*/m in tension
flanges and 0.70% of this area but not exceeding 1000 mn’/m in compression flange need
to be provided for getting the controlled crack pattern
Difficulties during construction
‘Using the above principles a prestressed voided slab bridge of 30m span has already been
constructed on National Highway No. 22 over river Negoli on Shimla - Wangto Road.
The only difficulty experienced by the contractor was that the void formers were difficult
to obtain as the suppliers were unwilling to supply the void formers in small quantityHence the contractor manufactured the void formers with stiffners inside at the site and
also closed the ends. The bridge has been completed and opened to traffic.
6 Conclusion
In the design of voided slab the global behaviour as well as local behaviour need to be
combined. It can also be seen that for longitudinal actions the slab has to be treated as a
whole and for transverse action, partly as a whole slab and partly as isolated slabs and
vierendel effect also has to be taken into account.
Acknowledgement
‘The authors wish to thank M/s RITES for allowing the paper to be published.
References
1. “Bridge Analysis Simplified” Dr Bakht and Jaeger
2. Amintroduction to Structural Design “Concrete Bridges” - D Beckett
3. Test ona quarter scale reinforced concrete voided slab bridge - G Elliot
4, Concrete Bridge Design to BS 5400 - L A Clark
5. The analysis of rectangular hollow reinforced concrete slabs supported on four sides
Aster. HTT PEELE EEE eS? TT Ltt eee ener eee errr e rere rere
USTRATIVE EXAMPLE
LONGITUDINAL DESIGN OF VOIDED SLAB
Calculation of parameter based on Bakth and Jaeger (Ref. 1)
‘Retr Fig.2 for Sectonal properties of Vaid Slab
Dy = E.P112(095(4A)) = Ee x 15712(1-095(.01 5) 0.2256 &e
Diyr GefH1-0840] = (EotN(ACIHNHYKC-84XOI9TE) = O.2M0Ee
Dye Dy 02039 E¢
= OAS'Dy = 0.15X0.2256 Ee onssEe
° = 7500) (028802256) ont
« = (Dy yADy40/2(0,°0,)°°
= (0.2020+0,2000+0.033+0.053)/(2x(0.248 x 0.2056)"4)
= 1.00
‘Analysing Flexbiity as suggested by Bakth { Ref. 1)
0251210 02x 10%
572X107 =00104Mt
Sin2xoo104 = 18.028
= 152 {(@X 15x 1.302 X10? + 3X1.5K1 SOAXIO"+4 SXO.O104)
{92X45 (1.902 10°F +1 5x 1.202% 10°X0.0104x2)]
= 183nZ0.02797.1198X 10°] « 71.967
8 = VepKsayi2|= VEI18.028+71.957] = sOSEE
8 PL {SEEDS x 3.2560x022316)
"0168
0 =0.1110163=0.560 > 0:32 Hence, No cell distortion
Incase of Cell Distorton, the corection factors given in Fig. 1 may be applied,
Jgnoring D1 and D226 per Ret.1 Le, Bdge Analysis simpliied By Bakht & Jaeger
0860, eran, ax m0
For = 0-444 and Ke
ef > | soa | a2 | te ° ose | om]
s
‘0 | “oseei| sea] 1 oo03| —Teabe| —T.o0rs| oes] — aoa] Osea] — OT
bz —|-os001| —o.1251| ~a2@0] o.625| toca] 1 37e3] 1.7502] 2.1248] — 2.
b | -1seri| 1.2487] sna] 0x6! —1-7482| 208] 32573]
‘sere 09757| 0.9897] —osei8] 1 coor] 1.0084] — 1.0165 —1.0aai] tata]
ss] — ose] oero| —osexe] —oxmed] 101] —tosral 168] —t
Ke = Ker (Kaya)
a value for 00111 anda #098
ese] > [a [we] | op] = la].
| aes —aaeal —rke| roe] ra] Ta To — oa aT
bz —| ose] — sea! oss] —aoesol — or] 1st] — too] — 10] — 18
3 a7eso] —a7ese| —nssta| — oes] —oseee| —osre| tres ta] — 19Li
70 R Placed Eccentrically
OP os025
—__<
Load at
(= O5P X ((018508125)-1) = 038615 P
bid = (0.1850.8125 XO5P = 0.11385 P
by2 = (0322508125) XOSP
2b4= (0.4810.8125) XOSP
o.19846 P|
201538 P
lect al various sections
(= (1.0011 X 0.38615P-+0.1138SP X 1.c008 +0, 18646 X 1.0002 +0.301538 x 0.082 P)
40003
B/2= (1.0001 X O.8615 + 0.11385 x 1.0851 + 0.188-6 X 1.06079 + 0.301838 X1.10406)P
ose
b= (0.95838 X 0.58615 + 0.11385 X 1.0679 +1.1380 X 019846 + 0.201598 X 1.2086)P
= 1.00745°
70 R Placed Symmetritrcally
ose ose
Ome
a
oss OBI oss, O81
be Ba ° ba we
Load at reference station
be &-br2= 008G8461 P
b/4 &-b/4 = 0.4061538 P
Factor at Oa various stations
= (1.0002 X 2x 0.0858461+1,0000 x 2x 0.4061538)P x1.10
4.0007P
{0.0808461 x (1.06575 +0.5904190.4061538 X (1.0851 40.9852) PX1.10
‘oco1sesP
{0.0008481 x (1.1380 +0.8613)+0,4061508 X (1,0670+0.9285)) PX1.10
OseeoP
‘No.of girders ( Each web i treated as girder )
“Tolal ve load B.M. fora 30m span inching Impact = 65131m
Using Morrice and Little theory the girder factor for outside gitder, penultimate girder
‘and central girder works out fo be 1.08,1.049 and 1.00 respectively,
Moment atthe outside girder location = 1.10% 1.050 661.95 = 158:570tm
Moment atthe penultimate girder lcaion = 1.10X 1.049 X 681235 = 152.240 tm
Moment al the central girder location = 1.10X1.000X 661.385 = 145.486 tm
“The ve load moment can be dvided bythe girder spacing inorder to get the intenlyof ve load
‘moment pot metre with,
“The above ive load moments can be combined with dead load,eupet imposed dead load and fotpath
live load moments
‘The properties of girders shallbe computed and the section shal be designed for the same. Incase of
Prestressed concrete, or the design purpose number of cables canbe kep! same in all the giders.
‘Simtary the shear force can be artived a for each gir lation using the load distribution factors.
Live ood shear al support section = 110.001
‘Shear a the outskle der ecalion = 140X1.00X1108 = 263781
‘Shear atthe penutimate girder location = 1.10% 1.040% 1105 = 253061
‘Shear a the central gider hcation = 1.10X1.00X 1105 = 22.000
‘The reinforcement shall be worked out based onthe above sheor forces,
page 10“Transverse Analysis of Voided Slab
“The tranevrese analysis consists of two parts
(2) Global Transverse moment
(oat raenvaroe moment
Calcio of toba Moments by Rowes Matnod 202 Spam.
a
Sea cate Moe Bones Hemet
sin( TR)
ei 2 wl wv war
rigid
x5]
Flot