ECSLAB - Reinforced Concrete Slab Design

This part of user manual describes how to use ECSLAB for the design of Reinforced Concrete Slab. ECPlus applications are designed as wizard type which is a step by step guided input procedure. If you are new to ECPlus applications, click here for general guidance.

Prerequisites: The user is expected to have a basic understanding of foundation design concepts.
The minimum input data required to use this application is as follows:

• ❶ Dimension and Material Properties
• ❷ Concrete and Reinforcement Grades
• ❸ Allowable safety factors
• ❹ Crack width and its limit

Following sections are presented with various input pages of ECSLAB application with descriptions:

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Dimensions

This page allows to select the dimension of the slab.

Length of Slab - L_L

Enter the length of the slab.
↔ Range: 1000 to 20000 mm

Width of Slab - L_W

Enter the width of the slab.
↔ Range: 1000 to 20000 mm

Slab Thickness - h

Enter the thickness of the slab.
↔ Range: 120 to 500 mm

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End Condition

This page allows to select the end condition for the slab.

☉All Simple: Select this option to set all four edges discontinuous.
☉All Continuous: Select this option to set as interior panel.
☐  No Torsional Provision: Check this option to disable torsional provision.

Drop down is provided for all four sides to choose required end conditions.

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Reinforcement

This page allows to select the reinforcement details for the slab.

Size

Enter the size of reinforcement for sagging and hogging of length and width direction reinforcements.
↔ Range: 4 to 50 mm

Spacing

Enter the spacing of reinforcement for sagging and hogging of length and width direction reinforcement.
↔ Range: 20 to 450 mm

Area

Displays the area of reinforcement provided based on size and spacing of bars provided.

%

Displays the percentage of reinforcement provided based on size and spacing of bars provided.

Clear Cover - C_c

Enter the clear cover for the slab reinforcement.
↔ Range: 15 to 80 mm

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Loads

This page allows to select the load details.

Characteristic Imposed Load - Q_k

Enter the characteristic imposed load.
↔ Range: 0.0001 to 15 kN/m²

Characteristic Loads due to Finishes - G_k

Enter the characteristic loads due to finishes.
↔ Range: 0 to 5 kN/m²

Imposed Load Factor - γ_fq

Enter the factor for imposed load.
↔ Range: 0.5 to 3

Dead Load Factor - γ_fg

Enter the factor for dead load.
↔ Range: 0.5 to 3

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Loads - European

This page allows to select the load details.

Imposed Variable Actions - Q_k

Enter the imposed variable action load.
↔ Range: 1 to 15 kN/m²

Permanent Actions for Finishing - G_k

Enter the permanent load for finishing.
↔ Range: 0 to 5 kN/m2

Partial Factor for Variable Action - γ_Q

Enter the partial factor for variable action.
↔ Range: 0.5 to 3

Partial Factor for Permanent Action - γ_G

Enter the partial factor for permanent action.
↔ Range: 0.5 to 3

Quasi Permanent Value - ψ₂

Enter the quasi permanent value.
↔ Range: 0 to 1

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Design Setting

Setting for various Design Data such as Material, Deflection and Safety Factors are presented in this section. This setting pop-up can be accessed by clicking the bottom panel below the left navigation.

Materials - British

Concrete Grade - f_cu

↔ Range: 15 to 100 N/mm²

Main Reinforcement Grade - f_y

↔ Range: 200 to 600 N/mm²

Density of Concrete - γ_conc

↔ Range: 16 to 30 kN/m³

Materials - European

Compressive Cylindrical Strength - f_ck

↔ Range: 12 to 100 N/mm²

Main Reinforcement Grade - f_yk

↔ Range: 200 to 600 N/mm²

Density of Concrete - γ_conc

↔ Range: 16 to 30 kN/m³

Aggregate Size - h_agg

↔ Range: 10 to 40 mm

Deflection

Support Condition - SC

▽ Program: On selecting this option, the program will detect the span to depth ratio of either simply supported or continuous based on end support condition provided.
▽ Simple: On selecting this option, span to depth ratio of simply supported condition will be considered.
▽ Continuous: On selecting this option, span to depth ratio of continuous condition will be considered.
▽ User: On selecting this option, user needs to enter the span to depth ratio manually.

Allowable Span to Depth Ratio - (L/d)_A

↔ Range: 5 to 100

Material Safety Factors - British

Concrete in Compression / Reinforcement / Concrete in Shear
γ_mc, γ_ms, γ_mcs

↔ Range: 1 to 2

Material Safety Factors - European

Concrete / Reinforcement
γ_c, γ_s

↔ Range: 1 to 2

Crack Width - British

This popup allows to select options to check crack width.

☐   Check for crack width
Enable this option to include crack width check in calculation.

Maximum Allowable Crack Width - W_k

Select the maximum allowable value for crack width.

Crack Width - European

This popup allows to select options for crack width check to find the maximum reinforcement spacing.

☐   Check for crack width
Enable this option to include crack width check in calculation.

Maximum Crack Width - W_k

Select the maximum allowable value for crack width.

Nation Annex - European

This popup allows to select options for national annex in case of European Standard.

Nation

Select the nation based on which the coefficient value to be considered. The available standards are Recommended, UK, Finland, Ireland, Malaysia, Norway, Singapore, Sweden and User Defined.

User Defined

Select this option to enter the coefficient values.

k1

↔ Range: 0.3 to 0.5

k2

↔ Range: 1 to 1.5

k3

↔ Range: 0.3 to 0.6

k4

↔ Range: 1 to 1.5

α_cc

↔ Range: 0.7 to 1.2

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Error Handling

Errors and Warnings are generated to prevent any inadvertent error in the input data. This section describes how to handle the errors and warnings. These errors are displayed at the bottom of the input page when the data in one or more input fields invalidate each other.