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Slab three edges continuous, one short edge discontinuous (5x4 m, 250 beam)

Short answer

Adopt total depth 170 mm and effective depth 145 mm; factored load is 14.63 kN/m2 giving maximum moment 12.37 kNm/m. Provide bottom 8 mm bars at 245 c/c both ways, top 8 mm at 205 c/c over continuous long edges, 245 c/c over continuous short edge, and 300 c/c at the discontinuous edge. Shear 0.209 MPa is below 0.38 MPa and deflection is within the permissible limit.

A rectangular slab panel 5 m x 4 m (clear span) is continuous over three edges and discontinuous over one short edge. The slab is to rest on 250 mm wide beam. The slab is subjected to live load of 4 kN/m2^2 and floor finish of 1.5 kN/m2^2. Design the slab and check whether the provided section satisfies the deflection criteria. Also, sketch the arrangement of reinforcement bars at the support and at the midspan with torsional bars.

Data and assumptions

  • Clear spans: lx=4l_x = 4 m (short), ly=5l_y = 5 m (long); support width 250 mm; fck=20f_{ck} = 20 MPa, fy=415f_y = 415 MPa.
  • Grades are not stated in the question; M20 concrete and Fe415 steel are assumed.
  • Live load = 4 kN/m², floor finish = 1.5 kN/m². Unit weight of concrete 25 kN/m³. Clear cover 20 mm (mild exposure, IS 456 Table 16); 10 mm bars assumed for working out dd.
  • Panel type: one short edge discontinuous; moment coefficients from IS 456 Annex D, Table 26 (case: one short edge discontinuous).

Depth and effective span

Basic span/depth ratio = 26 (IS 456 cl. 23.2.1). Trial overall depth D=170D = 170 mm, so d=170−20−5=145d = 170 - 20 - 5 = 145 mm for the short-span bars and dy=145−10=135d_y = 145 - 10 = 135 mm for the long-span bars.

lx=min⁡(lclear+d, c/c)=4000+145=4145 mm,ly=5000+145=5145 mml_x = \min(l_{clear} + d,\ c/c) = 4000 + 145 = 4145\ \text{mm},\quad l_y = 5000 + 145 = 5145\ \text{mm} lylx=51454145=1.241<2⇒two-way slab\frac{l_y}{l_x} = \frac{5145}{4145} = 1.241 < 2 \Rightarrow \text{two-way slab}

Loads (per m²)

  • Self-weight = 25 × 0.170 = 4.250 kN/m²
  • Total working load ww = 4.250 + 1.5 + 4 = 9.750 kN/m²
  • Factored load wu=1.5×9.750=14.625w_u = 1.5 \times 9.750 = 14.625 kN/m²

Bending moments

MomentCoefficientValue (kN·m/m)
MxM_x negative (continuous long edge)0.049212.37
MxM_x positive (mid-span, short)0.03729.36
MyM_y negative (continuous short edge)0.03709.30
MyM_y positive (mid-span, long)0.02807.04

M=α wu lx2M = \alpha\, w_u\, l_x^2 with wulx2=14.625×4.1452=251.27w_u l_x^2 = 14.625 \times 4.145^2 = 251.27 kN·m/m. Coefficients are interpolated for ly/lx=1.24l_y/l_x = 1.24.

Check of depth

Mu,lim=0.138 fckbd2=0.138×20×1000×1452×10−6=58.03M_{u,lim} = 0.138\, f_{ck} b d^2 = 0.138 \times 20 \times 1000 \times 145^2 \times 10^{-6} = 58.03 kN·m/m >> Mmax=12.37M_{max} = 12.37 kN·m/m. The section is under-reinforced; dd is adequate for flexure.

Reinforcement

Ast=0.5fckfy[1−1−4.6Mufckbd2]bdA_{st} = \frac{0.5 f_{ck}}{f_y}\left[1 - \sqrt{1 - \frac{4.6 M_u}{f_{ck} b d^2}}\right] b d

Minimum steel = 0.12% of bDbD = 204 mm²/m. Maximum spacing = min(3d3d, 300 mm) = 300 mm in both directions.

LocationMuM_u (kN·m/m)AstA_{st} req (mm²/m)ProvideAstA_{st} prov
Short span, bottom (mid-span)9.36184 → 204 (min)8 mm @ 245 c/c205
Long span, bottom (mid-span)7.04148 → 204 (min)8 mm @ 245 c/c205
Short span, top over continuous long edges12.372458 mm @ 205 c/c245
Long span, top over continuous short edge9.30197 → 204 (min)8 mm @ 245 c/c205

Top steel at the discontinuous edge (for the negative moment due to partial fixity, IS 456 Annex D) extends 0.1l0.1 l into the span. Along the discontinuous short edge (long-span direction): 50% of mid-span steel = 103 mm²/m; provide 8 mm @ 300 c/c.

Check for shear

Vu=wulx/2=14.625×4.145/2=30.31V_u = w_u l_x/2 = 14.625 \times 4.145/2 = 30.31 kN/m

τv=Vubd=303101000×145=0.209\tau_v = \dfrac{V_u}{bd} = \dfrac{30310}{1000 \times 145} = 0.209 MPa

Steel at the support: Ast=245A_{st} = 245 mm²/m, pt=0.169%p_t = 0.169\%, so τc=0.30\tau_c = 0.30 MPa (IS 456 Table 19, M20). For D=170D = 170 mm, k=1.26k = 1.26 (cl. 40.2.1.1), so kτc=0.38k\tau_c = 0.38 MPa.

τv=0.209<kτc=0.38\tau_v = 0.209 < k\tau_c = 0.38 MPa, hence the slab is safe in shear and no shear reinforcement is needed.

Check for deflection

For the short-span bars: pt=100×2051000×145=0.141%p_t = \dfrac{100 \times 205}{1000 \times 145} = 0.141\%, fs=0.58fyAst,reqAst,prov=0.58×415×184205=216f_s = 0.58 f_y \dfrac{A_{st,req}}{A_{st,prov}} = 0.58 \times 415 \times \dfrac{184}{205} = 216 N/mm².

Modification factor from IS 456 Fig. 4 (for pt=0.14%p_t = 0.14\% and fs=216f_s = 216 N/mm²): at such a low steel percentage the curve reaches its upper limit, so kt=2.0k_t = 2.0.

Permissible l/d=26×2.0=52.0l/d = 26 \times 2.0 = 52.0; actual lx/d=4145/145=28.6l_x/d = 4145/145 = 28.6. Since actual < permissible, the provided section satisfies the deflection criterion.

Check for development length

Ld=0.87fyϕ4τbdL_d = \dfrac{0.87 f_y \phi}{4\tau_{bd}} with τbd=1.92\tau_{bd} = 1.92 MPa (M20, deformed bars, ×1.6): Ld=0.87×415×84×1.92=376L_d = \dfrac{0.87 \times 415 \times 8}{4 \times 1.92} = 376 mm

The check Ld≤1.3M1V+L0L_d \le 1.3\dfrac{M_1}{V} + L_0 (IS 456 cl. 26.2.3.3(c)) is made at the discontinuous short edge, where the long-span bottom bars end. Alternate bars are bent up, so 103 mm²/m reach the support at dy=135d_y = 135 mm: M1=0.87fyAstd(1−Astfybdfck)=4.92M_1 = 0.87 f_y A_{st} d\left(1 - \dfrac{A_{st} f_y}{b d f_{ck}}\right) = 4.92 kN·m/m. Taking V=30.31V = 30.31 kN/m (conservative), 1.3M1V=1.3×4.92×10630310=2111.3\dfrac{M_1}{V} = 1.3 \times \dfrac{4.92 \times 10^6}{30310} = 211 mm.

L0L_0 = straight length beyond the centre of the support =250/2−25= 250/2 - 25 (end cover) =100= 100 mm, plus the anchorage value of any hook or bend:

  • straight bars: 211+100=311211 + 100 = 311 mm <376< 376 mm;
  • with a 90° bend (8ϕ=648\phi = 64 mm): 375375 mm, just below 376 mm;
  • with a standard U-hook (16ϕ=12816\phi = 128 mm): 211+100+128=439211 + 100 + 128 = 439 mm >376> 376 mm.

So the long-span bottom bars are given standard hooks at the discontinuous edge, and the development length is then satisfied.

Torsion reinforcement at corners

Corner size lx/5=4145/5=829l_x/5 = 4145/5 = 829 mm (say 830 mm) in both directions.

  • Corners with one edge discontinuous and the other continuous (2 corners, at the ends of the discontinuous short edge): 3/8 of the mid-span steel = 0.375 × 204 = 76 mm²/m in each layer. Provide 8 mm @ 300 c/c in each direction, top and bottom.
  • No torsion steel is needed at corners where both edges are continuous (IS 456 D-1.10).

Detailing

PLAN  (long span horizontal, short span vertical)
  +==============================+
  #                             t|
  # bot: 8mm@245 short span      |
  # bot: 8mm@245 long span       |
  #                             t|
  +==============================+
  = / # : continuous edge (top bars)
  - / | : discontinuous edge (0.5 x mid-span top bars)
  t : torsion mesh 8mm@300 top+bottom, 830 x 830 mm

SECTION ALONG SHORT SPAN (supports and mid-span)
  top bars over      top bars over
  continuous edge    continuous edge
  8mm@205            8mm@205
   ~~~~~~~            ~~~~~~~
  |------ slab D = 170 mm ------|
   bottom 8mm @ 245 c/c, alt. bars bent up
  [support]            [support]
  • Bottom bars: short-span bars in the lower layer, long-span bars above them; alternate bars may be bent up at 0.1l0.1 l from the support.
  • Top bars over continuous supports extend 0.3lx0.3 l_x from the face of the support; all bars have 20 mm cover.
  • Distribution/minimum steel ≥\ge 204 mm²/m is already satisfied by the bars provided.

Answer: D=170D = 170 mm; short-span bottom 8 mm @ 245 c/c; long-span bottom 8 mm @ 245 c/c; top steel over the continuous long edges 8 mm @ 205 c/c (short direction) and over the continuous short edge 8 mm @ 245 c/c (long direction); 8 mm @ 300 c/c top bars at the discontinuous edge; torsion mesh 8 mm @ 300 c/c at the two corners. Shear and deflection are satisfied; development length is satisfied with standard hooks at the discontinuous edge.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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