Two way slab design

[petrosoft]

Does anyone have a good reference or software package for designing a two way or one way slab. It's for a residential slab in the US on a pier and grade beam foundation in weak soil conditions.

Thanks--Peter

 

[sdz]

Do you really need a software package for that? Sounds like hand calcs would be adequate.

 

[petrosoft]

Hi sdz,

I looked at ACI and PCA references. The Simplified Design for Concrete Buildings book from PCA has a 40 page section on two way slabs. It looks like it is mostly geared towards flat slabs on columns, not slabs on beams. So, it's a confusing design project for me and I wish there was a conservative prescriptive guide to avoid an analytical solution. I have about 6 irregular slab spans and don't want to do that much work for a single family residence. (Just complaining!!)

By the way would I call the grade beam supports "spandrel beams"?

I found a slab designer on the Internet. It seems simple and I wonder if it gives accurage results:

http://www.oytec.net/edu_ref/slab_designer.htm

 

[rapt]

petrosoft

The ACI code method is a prescriptive method. Just use it. It gives top and bottom moment factors.

Otherwise do some "engineering" to sort it out.

 

[oneintheeye]

not tryng to be rude here (especially as some of my posts might be fundemantal to some), but why is someone who cant even design a simple one or two way slab designing one. This is pretty basic stuff really?

 

[rapt]

herewegothen,

You forgot to add that, if you do not know how to do it, then you should not even consider using software to do it. Software is a design aid, not an engineer. No engineer should use a software package unless he is competent in the areas of design it is covering.