Voided PT Slab
Voided Slab
Voided Slab is a
Reinforced Concrete
slab having inside
voids for reduction of
concrete use as well
as weight of the
structure.
An early example is
Roman Pantheon,
though not reinforced
used coffer to reduce
weight.
Theory
As per all international testing
procedures void slab acts as
solid slab;
Stress diagram tells that only
top & bottom concretes are
necessary for bending, while
concrete is required to take the
shear,
These solid concrete bands at
column strips/along support
lines require extra compression,
hence post-tension application,
The application of PT would
enhance cohesiveness of the
entire slab system.
Only Disadvantage:Fire Hazard
Main limitation of void slab is its
capacity to restrict fire,
Tests run at CSI laboratory have
demostrated that with a
concrete cover of 3 cm is Class
REI 180,
Fire resistance is dependant on
temperature of rebars and as
these are placed within solid
concrete, design could be done
accordingly,
Void formers could be made of
special non-toxic plastic as well
as polystyrene to avoid smoke
formation.
Structural advantages
Low weight/stiffness ratioinfluence of impact is
proportional to weight,
Simplicity, symmetry and uniform
extent-uniform & continuous
distribution/flow of forces,
Monolithic, continuous and
ductile structure,
Reduction in overall load on
foundations.
Planning advantages
Increased number of floors
within same height limit,
Large span & great architectural
freedom,
Reduced slab thickness,
Reduction in number of
columns/walls,
Optimisation in section of vertical
members,
Increased accoustic behaviour.
Sustainablity
30% less concrete and 20% less
rebar for slab and another 15% of
each for overall concrete,
1 kg of recycled plastic or
polystyrene replace 100 kg of
concrete,
8% of global CO2 comes from
cement production,
1 tonne of cement releases 1
tonne of CO2; consumes 5 million
BthU of energy and uses 2 tonnes
of virgin raw materials.
U value comparison
200 thk. Solid RCC Slab:
a) Thermal conductivity()of
high-density RCC=2.5
W/m.K;
200 thk. Voided RCC Slab
having ellipsoid void
170XH110 of extended
polystyrene:
a) Thermal conductivity () of
b) U-value_concrete = 12.50
extended polystyrene =
2
W/m .K
0.16 W/m.K;
b) Effective thickness of
polystyrene plate with 20
ellipsoids in 1.0mX1.0m =
26.63 mm
c) U-value_voided concrete
= 4.244 W/m2.K
Comparative Concrete Volume
for a 5.0mX5.0m span
Conventional Beam-Slab
combination:
a) Beam Dimension: 200X450;
Concrete volume=
4X5.0X0.2X0.45 =1.80 Cum.
Voided PT Slab:
a) Solid slab concrete=
5.0X5.0X0.20= 5.00 Cum.
b) Volumes of voids = 20 X9X
0.013316 = 2.405 Cum.
b) Slab depth; 200mm; Concrete
Volume = 5.0X5.0X0.20= 5.00 c) Total Concrete= 2.595
Cum.
Cum.
c) Total Concrete = 6.80 Cum
Cost savings in Voided-PT Slab
5.0mX5.0m
Savings in concrete = 4.205Cum@ 5000/- = Rs.21,025.00
Savings in rebar = 4 kg/Sqmt @ 60/- =4X25X60/- =
Rs.6000.00
Savings in shuttering work=19 Sqmt @ 210/- = 3990.00
Extra cost per Sqmt for PT+Void former @550/=(-)13,750.00
Effective total savings = Rs.17,265.00 i.e. Rs.690.00/Sqmt.
and this is excluding the savings in concrete+rebar at
columns and foundations concrete.
Thank you.
