ACI STRUCTURAL JOURNAL TECHNICAL PAPER

Title no. 102-S88

Effective Slab Width Model for Seismic Analysis of

An effective slab width model is developed to describe the lateral slab-column behavior as a two dimensional frame. Two
behavior of a reinforced concrete flat slab frame within a two- approaches have been used: torsional member methods and
dimensional nonlinear frame analysis. The parameters of the effective slab width methods.
model are based on experimental data from a two-story, two-bay
flat slab frame tested under cyclic lateral loads. The model is useful for The most common torsional member method is the
estimating the strength and stiffness of a flat slab frame either for the Equivalent Column Method, developed originally for
design of new structures or for economic seismic retrofit of older flat gravity loads1 and adapted for lateral loads.2 It defines a
slab structures. The simplicity and usefulness of the model is transverse torsional spring to model the torsional stiffness of
demonstrated by a pushover analysis, which post-predicted the slab adjacent to the slab-column connection. This
observed earthquake damage to a slab-column frame. For a four stiffness is combined with column stiffness to give properties
story building with a stiff perimeter beam-column frame, the of an equivalent column. This model is inconvenient to
pushover analysis indicated that the interior slab-column frame implement in typical two-dimensional elastic frame
carried a significant amount of the total base shear. programs, and is generally only applied to single story, two-
dimensional slab strips. This method has been adopted into
Keywords: effective width; flat slab; frame. the ACI Building Code (ACI 318-02).3
The effective slab width method models the slab as a
INTRODUCTION beam, so it is easily used with frame analysis software. The
Flat slab structures are used extensively due to the equivalent width of the slab-beam element is adjusted to
economy of the structural system and the architectural simulate the actual behavior of the three-dimensional
versatility. The behavior and design of flat slab structures for system, while the depth remains the actual depth of the slab.
gravity loads are well established. Their behavior under The effective width accounts for the behavior of the slab that
lateral displacements, however, is not well understood and is not fully effective across its transverse width.
lateral design methods are not well established. Transfer of Effective slab widths were initially defined analytically by
lateral displacement-induced moments at slab-column matching the model response to elastic plate theory and finite
connections is a complex three-dimensional behavior, element analysis of a slab-column connection. More recent
consisting of flexure, torsion, and shear stresses in the slab proposals for effective slab widths are calibrated to match
around the periphery of column faces. Slab shear stresses
experimental behavior of laterally-loaded slab-column
caused by moment transfer are added to the gravity shear
systems. Many of the experimental results have been from
stresses at the connection. When the combined shear stresses
isolated connections, which do not have the redundancy and
become too large, a brittle punching failure will occur. If the
moment redistribution capabilities of a full frame. The
connections are not properly detailed, punching failure may
proposed models have obtained good correlations, but they are
lead to progressive collapse.
cumbersome and not readily adopted for use in a design office.
Currently, codes allow the use of flat slab structural
Research has identified parameters that affect the effective
systems to resist wind and seismic forces in low and
slab width in determining strength and stiffness of the
moderate seismic zones. Due to its flexibility, the flat slab
model: the aspect ratio of the columns and panels,4 the type
must be combined with a stiffer lateral force resisting system
of connection (that is, interior, exterior, corner, edge)5-7, the
in high seismic regions. The flat slab system must be able to
level of gravity load,6,7 differing negative moment and positive
drift with the lateral moment resisting system, however, and
moment response,8 the amount of initial cracking,5 and the
thus still requires special attention for lateral loadings. For
presence of a drop panel.9 For all of these proposed models,
typical frame structures, the flat slab frame has significant
it is difficult to account for the degradation of member and
lateral stiffness, and thus attracts some load due to lateral
connection stiffness due to increased lateral drift while using
displacements. If the connections do not have enough
strength to transfer these lateral loads, local failures could an elastic analysis. Grossman5 and Robertson8 targeted their
result. Thus, estimating the lateral stiffness and strength of effective slab width models to match the experimental data
the flat slab frame is important for the design of new structures at several discrete drifts. Whereas, Luo and Durrani6,7
and for economic seismic retrofit of older flat slab structures. proposed using an equivalent moment of inertia Ie based on
Finite element analysis could be used for this estimation, but Ma/Mcr at each loading level.
requires excessive computational time and computer
resources even for relatively small problems. Also, the ACI Structural Journal, V. 102, No. 6, November-December 2005.
output from finite element analysis is not as compatible with MS No. 04-321 received October 6, 2004, and reviewed under Institute publication
policies. Copyright © 2005, American Concrete Institute. All rights reserved, including the
reinforced concrete design as the output from frame analysis. making of copies unless permission is obtained from the copyright proprietors. Pertinent
discussion including author’s closure, if any, will be published in the September-
Thus, attempts have been made to model the properties of October 2006 ACI Structural Journal if the discussion is received by May 1, 2006.

868 ACI Structural Journal/November-December 2005