2-Structural-Design 2012 Strip Method

Chapter 2 Strip Method
for Slabs
Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes
Dr.-Ing. Adil Zekaria
Chapter 2- Strip Method for Slabs
2.1 Introduction
Different methods of analysis are
allowed by EBCS-2
One of these is plastic methods
Strip method is a plastic method of
analysis
Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 2

The upper bound theorem of the theory of

plasticity is presented in chapter 1. The YL
method of slab analysis is an upper bound
approach to determining the capacity of the
slab
Disadvantages:
An upper bound analysis if in error will be on
the unsafe side. The actual carrying capacity
will be less than, or at best equal to the
capacity predicted, which is a cause for
concern.
When applying this method it is

necessary to assume that the
distribution of reinforcement is
known over the whole slab.
a tool for review.
Can be used for design only in an
iterative sense, i.e., trail design until
a satisfactory amount is found

These circumstances motivated

Hillerborg (1956) to develop what is
known as strip method for slab
design
In contrast to yield line analysis, the
strip method is a lower bound
approach, based on the satisfaction
of equilibrium requirements every
where in the slab
By the strip method, a moment field

is first determined that fulfills
equilibrium requirements, after which
the reinforcements of the slab at
each point is designed for this
moment field

Lower Bound Theorem: If a

distribution of moments can be found
that satisfies both equilibrium and
boundary conditions for a given
external loading, and if the yield
moment capacity of the slab is
nowhere exceeded, then the given
external loading will represent a
lower bound of the true carrying
capacity Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 7
Advantages:
The strip method gives results on the
safe side, which is certainly
preferable in practice
The strip method is a design method,
by which the needed reinforcement
can be calculated

4.2 Basic Principles

The governing equilibrium equation
for a small slab element having sides
dx and dy is:

Figure 1
mx m y mxy
2 2 2
2 w
x 2
y 2
xy

Where w = the external load per unit

area
mx, my = Bending Moments per unit
width in the x and y directions and
mxy = the twisting moment

So according to the lower bound

theorem, any combination of mx, my,
and mxy that satisfies the equilibrium
at all points in the slab and that
meets boundary conditions is a valid
solution, provided that the
reinforcement is placed to carry
these moments

The basis for the simple strip method

is that the torsional moment is
chosen equal to zero; no load is
assumed to be resisted by the
twisting strength of the slab
mxy = 0
The equilibrium equation
mx m y
2 2 then
reduces to: 2 w
x 2
y
This equation can be split

conveniently into 2 parts,
representing twist less beam strip
action. 2 mx
kw
x 2
my
2
(1 k ) w
y 2

Where the proportion of load taken by the

strips is k in the x-direction and (1-k) in the
y-direction (concept of load dispersion)
In many regions in slabs, the value k will
be either 0 or 1, i.e., load is dispersed by
strips in x or in y direction
In other regions, it may be reasonable to
assume that the load is divided equally in
the two directions, i.e. k=0.5

2.3 Choice of load distribution

Theoretically, the load w can be
divided arbitrarily b/n x and y
directions.
Different divisions will, of course,
lead to different patterns of
reinforcement, and all will not be
equally appropriate.

The desired goal is to arrive at an

arrangement of steel that is safe and
economical and will avoid problems
at service load level associated with
excessive cracking or deflections.
In general, the designer may be
guided by his knowledge of the
general distribution of elastic
moments.
To see an example of the strip method

and to illustrate the choices open to the
designer, consider the square, simply
supported slab shown below, with side
length a and a uniformly distributed
factored load w per unit area.
The simplest load distribution is
obtained by setting k=0.5 over the
entire slab, as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2
The load on all strips in each

direction is thus w/2 ( with k=0.5), as
illustrated by the load dispersion
arrows
This gives maximum design
moments mx = my = wa2/16, implying a
constant curvature for all strips in
the x-direction at mid-span
corresponding to a constant moment
wa2/16 across the width of the slab
The same applies for y-direction strips

It is recognized however that the curvatures
in the strips (say x-direction strips) near the
supports, for such a slab, are less than near
mid-span.
If the slab were reinforced according to this
solution, extensive redistribution of moments
would be required, certainly accompanied by
much cracking in the highly stressed regions
near the middle of the slab

So what we need is a type of load

distribution (dispersion) which can
give a moment distribution that gives
rise to greater curvatures in strips
near the middle of the slab and less
near the ends
Try the alternative, more reasonable
distribution shown in Figure 3 next
slide.
Figure 3
Here the regions of different load

dispersion separated by the dash-
doted discontinuity lines follow the
diagonals, and all of the load on any
region is carried in the direction
giving the shortest distance to the
nearest support.
k=0 or 1 in the different regions

The lateral distribution of moments

shown in Fig (3) would theoretically
require a continuously variable bar
spacing impractical
A practical solution would be to
reinforce for the average moment
over a certain width, approximating
the actual lateral variation in Fig. (4)
in a stepwise manner.
Hillerborg notes that this is not

strictly in accordance with the
equilibrium theory and that the
design is no longer certainly on the
safe side, but other conservative
assumptions, e.g., neglect of
membrane strength in the slab or
strain hardening of the
reinforcement, would compensate for
the slight reduction in safety margin
A third alternative is with discontinuity

lines parallel to the edges.
Here again the division is made so that the
load is carried to the nearest support, as
before, but load near the diagonals is
divided with one-half taken in each
direction.
Thus k is given the values 0 or 1 along the
middle edges and 0.5 in the corners and
center of the slab
Figure 4
Two different strip loadings are now

identified, strip along A-A and along
B-B.
This design leads to practical
arrangement, one with constant
spacing through the center strip of
width a/2 and a wider spacing
through the outer strips, where the
elastic curvatures and moments are
known to be less.
The averaging of moments

necessitated in the second solution is
avoided here, and the 3rd (Fig. 4)
solution is fully consistent with the
equilibrium theory.
The three examples also illustrate
the simple way in which moments in
the slab can be found by strip
method, based on familiar beam
analysis. Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 31
It is important to note too that the

load on the supporting beams is
easily found because it can be
computed from the end reactions of
the slab-beam strips in all cases.

2.4 Rectangular slabs with simple support
Discontinuity lines parallel to the edges
as shown in the figure
In the x-direction:
Side strips: mx = w/2b/4b/8 = wb2/64
Middle strips: mx = wb/4b/8 = wb2/32
In the y-direction
Side strips: my = wb2/64
Middle strips: my = wb2/8
Figure 5 Rectangular slab with

discontinuity lines originating at
the corners.
Figure 6 Rectangular slab with

discontinuity lines parallel to the
edges
Design the rectangular slab using the

strip method for slabs
Use a=6.0 m, b= 4.5 m, t = 150 mm, C-
25 concrete and S-300 reinforcing steel.
Compare the results with the solution
using the coefficients in EBCS-2
Take variable load q = 3.0 kN/m2
Floor finish-30 mm screed and 20mm
thick marble
2.5 Fixed Edges and Continuity

Up to now we have dealt with positive
moments in strips, where a large amount
of flexibility in assigning loads to the
various regions of the slab was provided
This same flexibility extends to the
assignment of moments b/n negative and
positive bending sections of slabs that are
fixed or continuous over their supported
edges
Some attention should be paid to elastic

moment ratios to avoid problems with
cracking and deflection at service loads
Figure 7 (next slide) shows a uniformly
loaded rectangular slab having two
adjacent edges fixed and the other two
edges simply supported
Let us consider slab strips with one end
fixed and one end simply supported as
shown in Fig. 7
B
A A
Figure
7
In designing by strip method, slab

strips carrying loads only near
supports and unloaded in the central
region are encountered
It is convenient if the unloaded
region is subject to a constant
moment (and zero shear) because
this simplifies the selection of
positive reinforcement
The discontinuity lines are shifted to

account for the greater stiffness of
the strips with fixed ends (i.e. bigger
reaction at the fixed support)
Their location is defined by a
coefficient , with a value less than
0.5, so that the edge strips have
widths greater and less than b/4 at the
fixed and simple end respectively
For a BMD for x-direction middle

strips (section A-A) with constant
moment over the unloaded part, the
following maximum moments are
achieved b
2
b b 2 wb 2
mxf w w
2 2 4 8
b b wb 2
wb 2

and
mxs w(1 ) (1 )
2
(1 2 )
2 4 8 2
The first term is the cantilever

moment at the left end
So the negative moment at a support
plus the span moment = the
cantilever moment
Now the ratio of negative to positive
moments in the x-direction middle
strip is:

mxs/mxf = 1-2/2
Hillerborg notes that as a general
rule for fixed edges, the support
moment should be about 1.5 to 2.5
times the span moment in the same
strip.
For mxs/mxf =2.0 = 0.366
Determine moment in the x-direction
edge strips They are half middle
strip values
Determine moments in the y-

direction middle strip
It is reasonable to choose the same
ratio b/n support and span moments
in the y-direction as in the x-
direction.
To achieve this, choose the distance
from the right support to maximum
moment section as b
myf = wb(b)- wb(b/2)= 2(wb2/2)

The cantilever span = (1-)b
mys =w(1-)b.(1-)b/2 = (1-2)(wb2/2)
So the ratio of negative to positive
moment is as before mys/myf = 1-2/2
Determine moment in the y-direction
edge strips
myf = w(b)2/16
Cantilever moment=(w/2)(1-)(b/2).(1-
)(b/4)
mys=(1-)(wb2/16) 1/8 of y-direction
middle strip
With the above expressions, all the
design moments for the slab can be
found once a suitable value for is
chosen

0.350.39 give corresponding ratios

of Negative to positive moments from
2.45 to 1.45
2.6 Unsupported Edges
The real power of the strip method
becomes evident when dealing with
nonstandard problems, such as with
unsupported edge, slabs with holes, or
slabs with reentrant corners (L-shaped)
For a slab with one edge

unsupported, a reasonable basis for
analysis by the simple strip method
is that a strip along the unsupported
edge takes a greater load per unit
area than the actual load acting, i.e.,
that the strip along the unsupported
edge acts as a support for the strips
at right angles.
Such strips have been referred to as

strong bands.
A strong band is, in effect, an integral
beam, usually having the same total depth
as the remainder of the slab but containing
a concentration of reinforcement.
The strip may be made deeper than the
rest of the slab to increase its carrying
capacity, but this will not usually be necessary

Consider the rectangular slab

carrying a uniformly distributed
ultimate load w with fixed edges
along three side and no support
along one short side, shown in Figure
8.

Figur
e8
The following are observed:

Discontinuity lines are chosen as
shown
The load on a unit middle strip in the
xdirection, includes the downward
load in the region adjacent to the
fixed left edge and an upward
reaction kw in the region adjacent to
the free edge
M about the left end (with moments

+ve clockwise and with the unknown
support moment mxs acting clockwise)

mxs+wb2/32-(kwb/4)(a-b/8)=0
k=(1+32mxs /wb2)/(8(a/b)-1)
k will be known once mxs is selected
Selection of mxs will depend on the
shape of the slab.
If a is large relative to b, the strong

band in the y-direction at the edge
will be relatively stiff, and the
moment at the left support of the x-
direction strips will approach the
elastic value for a propped cantilever

If the slab is nearly square, the

deflection of the strong band would
tend to increase the support
moment; a value about half the free
cantilever moment might be selected
With mxs selected and k calculated
from the above equation, the max
span moment is determined

mxf = (kwb2/32)((8a/b)-3+k)
Determine moments in the x direction
edge strips They are one-half those
in middle strip
In the y direction middle strip, the
cantilever moment is wb2/8
Adopting a ratio of support to span
moment of 2 results in support and
span moments, respectively, of
myf + mys = myf + 2myf = wb2/8

myf = wb2/24 and mys = wb2/12
Determine moments in y-direction strip
adjacent to the fixed edge
It is one-eighth the middle strip values
(check)
In the y-dir strip along the free edge,
moments can, with slight conservatism, be
made equal to (1+k) times y-dir middle strip
values
2.7 Slabs with Holes

Slabs with small openings can usually be
designed as if there were no openings,
replacing the interrupted steel with bands
of rebar of equivalent area on either side
of the opening in each direction.
Smaller dimensions are those needed to
accommodate heating, plumbing and
ventilating risers, etc.

Larger size holes are required by stairways

and elevator shafts
Slabs with larger openings must be treated
more rigorously
The strip method offers a rational and safe
basis for design in such cases. Integral
load-carrying beams (strong bands) are
provided along the edges of the opening,
usually having the same depth as the
remainder of the slab but with extra
reinforcement, t pick up the load from the
affected regions and transmit it to the
In general, these integral beams

should be chosen so as to carry the
loads most directly to the supported
edges of the slab.
The width of the strong bands should
be selected so that the steel ratios
are at or below the maximum for
beams

Example: Rectangular slab with

central opening
Figure shows a 5m8m slab with
fixed supports along 4 sides. A
central opening 1.2m2.4m must be
accommodated. Estimated slab
thickness is 200 mm. The slab is to
carry a uniformly distributed factored
load of 15kN.m2 including self
weight. Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 62
Devise an appropriate system of

strong bands to reinforce the opening,
and determine moments to be resisted
at all critical sections of the slab
Discontinuity lines for the basic slab
(w/o hole) are first chosen and the
moments determined which are used
as a guide in selecting moments for
the actual slab with hole
Edge strips are defined having width

equal to 5/4 = 1.25m
In the central region, 100% of the load
is assigned to the y direction
Moments of the basic case w/o hole will
be calculated and later used as a guide
in selecting moments for the actual slab
with hole. A ratio of support to span
moments of 2.0 will be used generally

Moments for the slab w/o is:

x direction middle strips:
Cantilever mx = wb2/32 =
552/32=11.72 kNm/m
Negative mxs = 11.722/3 = 7.81
kNm/m
positive mxf = 11.721/3 = 3.91
kNm/m
X direction edge strips are middle
Y direction middle strips

Cantilever my = wb2/8=
1552/8=46.88 kNm/m
negative mys = 46.882/3=31.25
kNm/m
positive myf = 46.881/3=15.63
kNm/m
Y direction edge strips are 1/8 middle
strip values
Because of the hole, certain strips

lack support at one end. To support
them, 0.3m wide strong bands will be
provided in the x direction at the
long edges of the hole and 0.6 m
wide strong bands in the y direction
on each side of the hole.
The y dir bands will provide for the
reactions of the x dir bands.
With the distribution of loads shown

in figure, strip reactions and
moments are found as follows:
Strip A-A: Assuming propped
cantilever action with the restraint
moment along the slab edge taken
as 31.25
31.25+w1(0.3)(1.75)-15(1.6)2/2 = 0
w1=-7.95 kN/m
The negative value indicates that the

cantilever strips are serving as supports
for strip DD, and in turn for the strong
bands in the y-direction, which is hardly
a reasonable assumption.
Hillerborg notes that the restraint
moment should stay as close to the
basic value w/o w1 being negative
w1=0 (cantilever alone)

Note: with w1 = 0 chosen -kw = 0

k=0 loading on the strong band =
(1+k)w = w = 15 KN/m2
Now mys = 15(1.6)2/2 = -19.2 kNm/m
Strip B-B:
mxs = 7.81 kNm/m (basic value)
7.81+w2(0.6)(2.5)-15(1.25)2/2 = 0
w2=2.61 kN/m
Because of the positive reaction by

the strong band the load dispersed in
the y direction must be greater than
15 kN/m2
Determine k
-kw = -15k = -2.61 kN/m2 k=0.174
load dispersed in strong band in y-
dir in the middle: (1+k)w =
(1.174)15=17.61 kN/m2
load dispersed in strong band in y-

dir near the edge: (1+k/2)w =
(1.087)15=16.31 kN/m2
Determine max span moment:
Shear is zero at: 15x = 0.6(2.61) x
= 0.1m
mxf = 0.6(2.61)(0.3+0.95+0.1)-
15(0.1)2/2 = 2.04 kNm/m

Strip C-C:
Negative and positive moments and the
reaction to be provided by strip C-C, are al
one-half the corresponding values for strip
B-B.
Strip D-D:
The 0.3m wide strip carries 15kN/m 2 in the
x-direction with reactions provided by the
strong bands E-E (loading 150.3 = 4.5
kN/m)
(we0.6)2 = 4.52.4 we= 9.0 kN/m

(over a 0.3 m wide strip)
mxf = 9(0.6)(1.2+0.3)-4.5(1.2)/2 = 8.1
3.24 = 4.86 kNm/(0.3m width)
Strip E-E:
Direct load dispersed (1+k)w and
(1+k/2)w are 17.61 and 16.31 kN/m2
respectively
Reactions from strong bands D-D is

9.0 kN/m over 0.3 m width or 9/0.3 =
30 kN/m2 300.6 = 18 kN/m over
0.6 m wide strip
17.610.6 = 10.566 kN/m over 0.6 m
wide strip
16.310.6 = 9.786 kN/m over 0.6 m
wide strip

Determine moments:
Cantilever 9.786(2.5)2/2+(10.566-
9.786)(1.25)(1.25+0.625)+18(0.3)
(1.6+0.15) = 41.86 kNm (per 0.6 m
width)
Negative: mys = 41.86(2/3) =
27.911 kNm (per 0.6 m width)
positive: myf = 41.86(1/3) = 13.95
kNm (per 0.6 m width)
Reference
Nilson and Winter, 14th edition or
newer

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Chapter 2 Strip Method

Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 2

The upper bound theorem of the theory of

When applying this method it is

Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 4

These circumstances motivated

By the strip method, a moment field

Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 6

Lower Bound Theorem: If a

Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 8

4.2 Basic Principles

Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 9

Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 11

Where w = the external load per unit

Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 12

So according to the lower bound

Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 13

The basis for the simple strip method

This equation can be split

Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 15

Where the proportion of load taken by the

Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 16

2.3 Choice of load distribution

Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 17

The desired goal is to arrive at an

To see an example of the strip method

Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 19

The load on all strips in each

The same applies for y-direction strips

Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 22

So what we need is a type of load

Here the regions of different load

Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 25

The lateral distribution of moments

Hillerborg notes that this is not

A third alternative is with discontinuity

Two different strip loadings are now

The averaging of moments

It is important to note too that the

Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 32

Figure 5 Rectangular slab with

Figure 6 Rectangular slab with

Design the rectangular slab using the

2.5 Fixed Edges and Continuity

Some attention should be paid to elastic

In designing by strip method, slab

The discontinuity lines are shifted to

For a BMD for x-direction middle

The first term is the cantilever

Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 43

Determine moments in the y-

myf = wb(b)- wb(b/2)= 2(wb2/2)

Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 47

0.350.39 give corresponding ratios

For a slab with one edge

Such strips have been referred to as

Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 50

Consider the rectangular slab

Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 51

The following are observed:

M about the left end (with moments

If a is large relative to b, the strong

Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes 55