Designing of Reinforced Concrete Slabs for Floor - Project Overview

This project involved designing reinforced concrete slabs for floor using sieve testing analysis and Excel for analysis of coefficients. The objectives included proposing a design, making it effective for issues like fire and rain, determining designing forces, analyzing soil, utilizing relevant software, and comparing results. The project was completed by a team of five members including a civil engineering student. The project supervisor identified the student's strengths and selected them as the key project developer and team member.

CE 3.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Designing of Reinforced Concrete Slabs for Floor
Location of the project: M.H. Saboo Siddik College of Engineering, Mumbai
University, India
Project Duration: July of 2012 to May of 2013
Organization: Please fill
Role and Designation during the time: Student (Graduation in Civil Engineering)
CE 3.2 Project Background
CE 3.2.1 Characteristics of the project
The concrete slab is the most common structural component for modern buildings.
The horizontal slabs of the steel reinforced concrete is usually between 4 and 20 inches thick.
The concrete slabs are majorly used to construct the ceilings as well as floors, whereas the
thinner slabs are being used for the purpose of exterior paving. Such thin slabs that range for
2 inches to 6 inches and are eventually referred to mud slabs, when utilized under the major
floor slabs. Since this is a college project and it was completed for partial fulfilment of B.E
civil and I got the opportunity to be a part of this project, I designed the reinforced concrete
slabs for floor. I have used sieve testing analysis for analysing the soil and obtaining
subsequent data from the survey report. I analysed the two way slab systems directly over the
columns. I have also used Excel for analysis of coefficients. Therefore, in this project, I was
successful in designing the reinforced concrete slabs for floor.

CE 3.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
This particular project for Designing of Reinforced Concrete Slabs for Floor was
made with the purpose to provide an appropriate design to the slab eventually. With my
proper knowledge regarding slabs and beams, it was required to identify the project
objectives before starting the project work. Therefore, for obtaining accurate results from the
project, I eventually developed few objectives, which are given below:
 To propose a design of a reinforced concrete slab for floor.
 To make the concrete slab design much effective for kind of issues or difficulties like
fire and rain.
 To determine the respective designing forces for concrete beams as well as one way
slab.
 To analyze the soil with the help of sieve test analysis.
 To utilize relevant software for checking efficiency and output of the reinforced
concrete slabs.
 To compare the results obtained from experiment with the expected project results.
CE 3.2.3 My area of work
I was a civil engineering student in this specific project of Designing of Reinforced
Concrete Slabs for Floor by my project supervisor. Since I had major interest in any type of
concrete slabs, I did not face any issue while completing the project with my team members.
We were total of five members in the team including my project supervisor and head of the
department. My project supervisor identified my strengths in the course and selected me as
the key project developer and team member.

Project Supervisor
Head of the
Department
Team Member Team MemberCivil Engineering
Student (Me)
CE 3.2.4 Project Group
Figure 1: People involved in the project
CE 3.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
For completing the tasks, I was subsequently assigned for the work to propose an
accurate and compact design for the reinforced concrete slab. I had to study and understand
the significant scope of project work from architectural and structural drawings provided. I
even analysed the bill of quantities or BOQ as well as specifications for perfect preparation of
specified program of schedule or work. I even kept a subsequent track of project progress and
then identified the challenges or issues during implementation. My other significant
responsibilities eventually included preparation of project plan for overviewing the project
execution team. Being an efficient sieve analyser and programmer, I was given the duty to
execute these two tests for successfully analysing the soil survey report and prepared
drawings of single span slab.

Figure 2: One Span and Continuous in Both Directions for Reinforced Concrete Slabs
CE 3.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 3.3.1 Comprehending the Theory of Project
In this project, I had used my theoretical knowledge of structural analysis, beams and
slabs. These slabs that are used in floors are mainly integrated with various supporting beams
and they carry out the distributed loads by the method of bending. The reinforced concrete
slab is eventually considered as the flange of T and L beams for the monolithic construction.
I have considered few cases of concrete slabs like inclined and horizontal bridge for carrying
out heavier concentrated loads, flat slabs with no beams and supported by only columns, grid
floor as well as ribbed slabs and even inverted slabs within footings.

Figure 3: Sharing of Loads in One way concrete slab
Figure 4: Sharing of Loads in Two Way Concrete Slabs
For the designing of shear strength of reinforced concrete slabs, I did experiment and
the test results confirmed the shear strength of solid slabs up to the depth of 300 mm. The
values of overall depth of slab (k) were being multiplied for finding out the different overall
slab depths.
Table 1: Values of the multiplying factor k in reinforced concrete slabs

I examined and deduced that the thinner slabs have lower shear strength in
comparison to the thicker slabs. I even selected the slabs’ depth for the purpose of resisting
the shear without any type of stirrups to the uniform distribution of loads.
CE 3.3.2 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
I had correctly applied my understanding of structural analysis and structural
designing. Since, I had to propose a design for the reinforced concrete slabs, I subsequently
analysed the slab for finding out of bending moment for both negative and positive on the
basis of supports. For the purpose of checking and computing shear forces, I have used my
knowledge of elastic methodology of analysis. The other knowledge included sieve testing or
cube testing for soil analysis and successful designing of the slab.
CE 3.3.3 Accomplishment and Task Performed
For the accomplishment of this project, I had to detail the reinforcement.

Figure 5: Reinforcement of one way concrete slab

The one way continuous slab showed different reinforcing bars within the continuous
and discontinuous ends called CEP and DEP of the end panel as well as the continuous end of
adjacent panel of CAP. There were three distinctive bottom bars of B1, B2 and B3 and the
four top bars were T1, T2, T3 and T4. The three bottom bars of B4, B5 and B6 were being
shown within the adjacent panel.
Figure 6: Steel bars for reinforced one way concrete slab
CE 3.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
3.3.4.1 Issues
One of the problems, which I have confronted within the project was that there were
numerous cracks in my respective designed concrete slab. Such cracks were solely
responsible for reduction of tenure of the slabs and hence it became quite risk for being used
by the users. The second significant issue that I have confronted in this particular project of

Designing of Reinforced Concrete Slabs was due to loose railing. When the concrete cracks
subsequently form, the adjacent railings with the various steps or the perimeters effectively
became loose. The loose railing was quite a big problem for the reinforced concrete slab for
floor, since the slabs might not be long lasting. The above mentioned two issues hence were
responsible to bring significant delay in the project work and hence I checked for solutions so
that my project is not delayed any further.
3.3.4.2 Solutions
To resolve the issue of cracks in concrete slabs, I had provided the solution that the
respective cracks within the slab and driveway, which are ½" in breadth to ¼" in depth could
be easily fixed with the specific polymer associated repair materials. I quickly instructed my
team members to bring this repair material and it was extremely helpful to us for successful
detection of cracks within the reinforced concrete slabs. Regarding the next issue of loose
railing, I gave the solution of utilizing an all-purpose grouting material for re anchoring the
railings and bolts within the concrete slabs for maintenance of a secured and everlasting
placement.
CE 3.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative works
My principal plan was to create the most effective reinforced concrete slab with the
original efforts by efficiently working with the supervisor of project. I have even sub divided
my project methodology mechanisms flawlessly and then considerably made sure that I had
accomplished each and every individual parts with the high efficiency and efficacy.
CE 3.3.6 Collaborative Work
I along with my project supervisor had to complete this project work with my team
members. I conducted formal meetings with my team members and supervisor for gaining
weekly progress report. Moreover, for collaboration, I even transcended insularity and

focused on team performance to obtain proper results from the project. For keeping the team
morale high, I ensured that each of the team members are getting chance to share his or her
ideas with the rest of the time and hence feel equally important in the team.
CE 3.4 Project Review
CE 3.4.1 Project Overview
I have documented as well as noted each and every result during the integration of my
project. I also have used my core understanding of concrete slabs and structural designing to
complete the project perfectly and appropriately. I have also used sieve analysis test and
elastic methodology knowledge for the completion of designing. I have used excel for
documenting the calculations of my project.
CE 3.4.2 My Contribution to work
I have effectively proposed a compact design for the reinforced concrete slab, since I
was a responsible team member. My other contribution to this project was to provide various
solutions to the issues faced in this project effectively and properly with my knowledge and
intellect.