Bending reinforcement design near columns in flat slabs

Abstract

The behaviour of reinforced concrete flat slabs designed using torsionless moment fields near columns is investigated experimentally.  Five one-third scale slab specimens designed using discontinuity line analysis, advanced strip method and BS 8110 methods are tested.  The results show that slabs designed by discontinuity line analysis compare well with the other design methods.  The conclusion is that reinforced concrete flat slabs could be designed using torsionless moment fields using the discontinuity line analysis.  However these moment fields are inconvenient to use because one cannot use fixed spacings.