The normal process of design and construction is to support the slabs with beams and support the beams with the column. It is known as beam-slab construction. The beams help in minimizing the existing net clear ceiling height. Often, in warehouses, parking garages, ramps, offices and public halls, the slabs are used as a substitute of beams and they are directly supported with columns. These types of slabs are known as flat slabs.

A flat slab stands for a one-way or two-way system with solidities in the slab at the columns and load-bearing walls are known as ‘drop panels’ Drop panels function as T-beams over the supports. They raise the shear strength and the rigidity of the floor system against vertical loads, thus the economical span range becomes greater.

Normally, the height of drop panels remains about two times the height of the slab. The plan dimensions of the drop panels are a minimum of 1/3 of the distance in the direction being considered, normally rounded to the nearest 100 mm. Flat Slabs are useful for most of the construction and for irregular column layouts like floors having curved shapes and ramps etc.

Types of Flat Slab Construction 

1- Simple flat slab
2- Flat slab with drop panels
3- Flat slab with column heads
4- Flat slab with both drop panels and column heads

Advantages
1- Formwork is simple.
2- Shear reinforcement is not required at the columns.
3- Beams are not used (Therefore underfloor services outside the drops are simple).
4- Room layout becomes flexible.
. Partition walls can be set anywhere wanted.
. Windows can be extended up to the underside of the slab.
. No beams are present to disturb the circulation of air and light.
5- Building height can be reduced as beams are not used.
. Reduce the foundation load.
6- Construction period is less.
. Formwork being simple.
.Reinforcement being easy to be placed.
7- The auto sprinkler is easy.
Disadvantages
1- Has a medium span time.
2- Not suitable for brittle masonry partition supporting.
3- The thickness of the slab is high.
4- Middle strip deflection is important.

Click Here To See What Is Post Tension Slab Construction?

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