Process for designing monolithic slab/foundation

[cuels]

I am preparing to design a monolithic slab with turned down edges for equipment on a skid. The frost depth in the area is 48". The contractor wants to pour the foundation and slab in one pour. What is the accepted practice process or workflow to design the slab and foundation for this situation? What needs to be considered in loading and how should the parts of the slab and foundation be modeled? What assumptions should be considered to model the elements? I don't have access to any FEM software, so hand methods would be appreciated. Also, if anyone has any good resources for designing a slab on grade by hand, they would be greatly appreciated.

We have done these in the past, with a kind of brute force method (the more rebar, the more concrete, the better!). The client isn't interested in saving a few pennies, they just want something quickly and easy to construct quickly.

 

[ishvaaag]

Presently these things would better be done with FEM packages. Most older practice is almost forgotten just out of lack of use. No one would be thinking in analyzing by hand difference finite way and most charts wouldn't include allowances for the rigidizing effects of ribs, or stiffer response found at deeper levels. Hence my recommendation is try to reach someone that can do it in simple and customary way.

If you are ready to forfeit any rigidizing effects of ribs or soil response then you are in the condition of using the charts for elastic halfspaces, and find the elastic settlement this way, and distribution of pressures, for the conditions of the charts, that if for distributed loads, use to assume are flexibly applied and remaining constant upon soil response.

There are then the problems of the specific soil. Since I do not practice in congealed soils I leave this for better advice from someone.