Btech 5

8/23/25
Alternative bldg construction system
Cast in place and pre-cast concrete
– liquid state
– Transported in an unhardened state primarily as ready mix and placed in forms
– Ready mixed concrete is proportioned and mixed off the project site
– Class A
– Batching plant (mix proportion & aggregate to cast in site) also known as concrete plant or
concrete batching plant is a facility that combines various segments like water, cement,
aggregates
– Key components:
a. bins and hoppers
b. Weighing and metering system
c. Mixer
d. Control system
e. Silos
– Cement silo-mixer-discharge outlet
– Ready mixed concrete

Cast-in-place Concrete
– mas economical mas mababa yung price
Advantages of Cast-in-Place Concrete
• Design Flexibility
Allows construction of complex shapes, customized structural elements, and monolithic forms that
may be difficult to achieve with precast elements.
• Structural Integrity
Produces continuous connections between structural members (e g., slabs, beams, and columns),
reducing weak points and increasing stability.
•Adaptability On-Site
Modifications can be made during construction to adjust for site conditions or design changes.
• Economical for Large Projects
Particularly cost-effective when producing massive structures like foundations, retaining walls,
bridges, and high-rise buildings.
• Fire Resistance and Durability
Concrete Inherently resists fire, weathering, and corrosion when designed and cured properly.

Disadvantages and Challenges

• Construction Time
Slower than precast since time is needed for setting, curling, and stripping formwork.
• Dependence on Weather
Adverse conditions (rain, extreme heat, freezing temperatures) can affect workability and curing
quality.
• Labor Intensive
Requires skilled labor for formwork, placement, and finishing
• Quality Control Issues
Variations in mixing, compaction, or curing on site can lead to inconsistent strength or surface
defects
• Formwork Costs
Temporary molds and scaffolding can be expensive, especially for one time use.

Additives (Admixtures) for Ready-Mix Concrete

1. Water-Reducing Admixtures
Purpose: Reduce water requirement while maintaining workability,
Effect: Increases strength and durability, reduces permeability
Examples: Lignosulfonates, hydroxycarboxylic acids, polycarboxylates (for high-range water
reducers)
Permeable (gas and water can penetrate)

2. Superplasticizers (High-Range Water Reducers)

Purpose: Produce highly flowable concrete without increasing water:
Effect: Enables pumping of concrete over long distanoes, useful in high-rise construction, precast,
and seif-consolidating concrete.
Examples: Polycarboxylate ethers (PCE), sulfonated melamine-formaldehyde (SMF), sulfonated
naphthalene formaldehyde (SNF).

3. Retarding Admixtures
Purpose. Slow down the setting time of concrete.
Effect: Useful in hot weather concreting, large pours, or when long transport time is needed
Examples: Sugars, lignosulfonates, hydroxylated carboxylic acids.

4. Accelerating Admitures
Purpose: Speed up hydration and setting
Effect: Allows earlier finishing, faster formwork removal, and cold-weather concreting.
Examples: Calcium chloride (common, but may cause corrosion of steel), non chloride accelerators
(calcium nitrate, calcium formate)
5. Alr-Entraining Admixtures
Purpose: Introduce tiny air bubbles into the concrete.
Effect: Improves resistance to freeze thaw cycles, reduces scaling, increases workability.
Examples: Vinsol resin, synthetic detergents, fatty acids, resins.

6. Pozzolanic Additives (Mineral Admixtures)

Purpose: Improve strength, reduce heat of hydration, and enhance durability.
Effect: Improves resistance to chemical attack, reduces permeability, lowers cost (since cement
content can be reduced).
Examples: Fly ash, silica fume, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGEFS), metakaolin.

7. Fibers (as Additives)

Purpose: Improve toughness, control shrinkage cracking
Elfect: Increases tensile strength and durability.
Examples: Steel fibers, polypropylene fibers, glass fibers, basalt fibers.
Fiber optics hinahalo sa mixture to add strengtg

8. Shrinkage-Reducing Admixtures
Purpose: Reduce drying shrinkage cracks.
Effect: Enhances long-term durability, useful for slabs and pavements.

9. Corrosion Inhibitors
Purpose: Protect reinforcement steel from corrosion.
Effect: Increases durability in marine or chloride exposed environments.
Examples: Calcium nitrite, organic inhibitors.

10. Coloring Admixtures

Purpose: Provide architectural finishes
Effect: Adds aesthetic value to exposed concrete.
Examples: Iron oxides (red, yellow, black), chromium oxide (green), cobalt axide (blue).

Cast in place- Lesser in connection

Pre-cast concrete - is made by pouring concrete into a mould in a factory or plant, instead of
directly pouring it at the construction site. The cured concrete product is then transported to the
construction site and installed as a finished material.
– Dadalhin ready made na
– Mas maraming connection details
Slabs:
Double T, Single T

Advantages of Precast Concrete

• Quality Control
Produced under factory conditions, ensuring consistency, strength, and durability.
• Speed of Construction
Elements can be mass produced and quickly assembled on-site, reducing project timelines.
Durability & Strength
High-performance concrete and controlled curing enhance load-bearing capacity and resistance to
weathering
• Aesthetic Versatility
Wide range of finishes, textures, and colors avallable.
• Reduced Site Disruption
Less formwork, scaffolding, and labor required on-site.
* Reusability of Molds
Economical for mass production of similar elements.

28 days longest curing period

Disadvantages of Precast Concrete

• Transportation Costs
Heavy elements require specialized equipment for delivery and handling
Design Limitations
Large or irregular shapes may be difficult to transport
* Jointing and Connections
Requires careful detailing to ensure structural integrity and prevent leakage at joints.
• Initlal Investment
Requires costly molds and factory setup, economical only for repeated production.

Precast concrete is a construction product produced by casting concrete in a reusable mold or

"form" which is then cured in a controlled environment, transported to the construction site and
lifted into place.

Floor System & Roof Slab System

– can stand alone with the help of columns

Flat Slab - The principal features of a flat slab floor are a flat soffit, simple formwork and easy
construction.
– is a reinforced concrete slab supported directly by concrete columns without the use of
beams.

Flat slab w/ drop panel

Flat. Slab w/ column head

Flat Slab - A flat slab is a one-way or two- way system with thickenings in the slab at the columns
and load bearing walls called 'drop panels.
One way iisang direction walang stiffeners

Two way flat slabs

A flat-slab is a flat plate Thickened at its column supports to increase its shear strength and
moment-resisting capacity.
The slab is commonly reinforced with bars running in two directions. This area of increased
thickness is called a drop panel or drop. The columns are generally square in cross section, but
rectangular or circular cross sections are also used.
Mostly square in shape- equally distributed

Advantages:
● Architectural Flexibility
● Reduce floor to floor height
● Simple formwork
● Efficient use of Space
● Aesthetic appeal

Disadvantages:
● Higher reinforcement requirements
● Punching Shear Risk
● Deflection issues
● Column spacing limitations
● Thickness of slab
● Cost implications

Flat slabs offer significant architectural and construction advantages, particularly in terms of
flexibility and simplicity. However, they require careful structural design to address potential issues
like punching shear and deflection. The choice to use a flat slab system should be based on a
balance between the architectural goals, structural requirements, and cost considerations of the
project.
A flat plate system is a type of concrete slab construction similar to the flat slab system, but with a
key difference: it does not include drop panels or column capitals. The slab in a flat plate system is
directly supported by columns without any additional thickening around the columns or beams.
Walang column head & drop panels
Flat slab vs flat plate - mawawala mga drop panels

Key Characteristics of a Flat Plate System

– Uniform Thickness:
The slab has a uniform thickness throughout, with no thickened areas (such as drop panels) around
the columns.
– Direct Support by Columns:
The slab is supported directly by the columns, which transfer loads directly from the slab to the
foundation.
– Simplified Formwork:
The formwork is even simpler than that of a flat slab system because it consists of only a flat,
uniform surface.
-aesthetically appealing
– uniform

Advantages:
● Architectural Flexibility
● Reduce floor to floor height
● Ease of Construction
● Aesthetic appeal

Disadvantages:
● Higher reinforcement requirements
height
● Punching Shear Risk
● Deflection issues
● Column spacing limitations
● Thickness of slab

The flat plate system is an efficient and straightforward method of construction that offers
significant architectural flexibility and ease of construction. However, it requires careful structural
design to address potential issues like punching shear and deflection. It is most suitable for
buildings with moderate loads and where the benefits of a flat ceiling and open spaces are
prioritized

Key Differences
Reinforcement: Flat slabs have additional reinforcement (drop panels or column capitals) compared
to flat plates.
Load Capacity: Flat slabs can carry heavier loads due to their additional reinforcement, while flat
plates are more suited for lighter loads.
Thickness: Flat slabs are typically thicker than flat plates.
Applications: Flat plates are used in lighter load scenarios, while flat slabs are used in heavier load
conditions.

In summary, flat slabs provide greater strength and load-bearing capacity due to their
reinforcement, making them suitable for more demanding structural requirements compared to flat
plates.

Flat slab- heavier load

Flat plate- lighter load, reduce cost

Ribbed Floor Plan

– Introducing voids to the soffit of a slab reduces dead weight and increases the efficiency of
the concrete section. A slightly deeper section is required but these stiffer floors facilitate
longer spans and provision of holes.
– Span ranging from 8 to 12m.
– Horizontal reinforcements
– Act as beams

Ribbed slabs are made up of wide band beams running between columns with equal depth narrow
ribs spanning the orthogonal direction. A thick top slab completes the system.

Key Characteristics of Ribbed Floor Slab

1. Ribs or Beams:
• The slab is supported by a grid of ribs or beams, typically running in one or two directions. The
space between the ribs is filled with lightweight material or left hollow.
– rectangle
– Waffle slab: square
2. Thin Top Slab:
• Above the ribs, there is a thin, flat slab that forms the floor surface. This top slab is typically
thinner than a conventional flat slab.
3. Hollow or Filled Spaces:
• The spaces between the ribs can be left hollow or filled with lightweight materials (such as blocks
or void formers) to further reduce the weight of the slab.
[Link] Load Distribution:
The ribs help distribute the loads more efficiently across the slab allowing for larger spans between
supports (column or walls)

Advantages:
● Material Efficiency
● Larger Spans
● Lightweight Structure
● Improved Sound and Thermal
Insulation
● Aesthetic Ceiling design

Disadvantages:
● Complex formworks
● Higher Initial cost
● Heightened Design and Analysis
Requirements
● Limited Floor to Floor Height reduction

Ribbed floor slabs offer an efficient and lightweight solution for buildings requiring large spans and
reduced material usage. While the construction process is more complex and costly, the benefits in
terms of material efficiency, structural performance, and aesthetic potential often justify the
investment in suitable

Applications
Ribbed floor slabs are commonly used in:
● Commercial Buildings: Where large, open spaces are needed, such as shopping malls or
exhibition halls.
● Industrial Buildings: Where heavy loads and large spans are required.
● Parking Garages: Where the ability to span large areas with itinimal columns is
advantageous.
● Theatres and Auditoriums: Where long spans and good acoustic properties are needed.

Waffle Slab
A waffle slab is a type of reinforced concrete slab system that resembles a waffle pattern on its
underside. It is a two-way ribbed slab with ribs running in both directions, creating a grid of squares
or rectangles. This grid of ribs provides additional support and stiffness, allowing the slab to span
large distances without the need for deep beams or thick

Key Characteristics of Waffle Slab

Two-Way Ribs:
The slab has ribs running in both directions (perpendicular to each other), forming a grid pattern.
Thin Top Slab:
Above the grid of ribs, there is a thin, flat slab that forms the floor surface.
This top slab is generally thinner compared to other slab types, as the ribs carry most of the load.
Hollow or Void Spaces:
The spaces between the ribs are often left hollow or filled with lightweight materials or void formers
to reduce the slab's overall weight and material usage.
Efficient Load Distribution:
The two-way grid of ribs allows for efficient distribution of loads across the slab, enabling larger
spans between supports (columns or walls) and reducing the need for intermediate columns

TWO WAY WAFFLE SLAB

A waffle slab is a two way concrete slab reinforced by ribs in two directions.
Waffle slabs can carry heavier loads and span longer distances than flat slabs.

Advantages:
● Larger Spans
● Material Efficiency
● Improved Sound and Thermal
Insulation
● Aesthetic Ceiling design
● Thermal and acoustic insulation

Disadvantages:
● Complex formworks
● Higher Initial cost
● Design Complexity
● Limited Floor to Floor Height reduction

Lift slab construction -

is a method of building multi-story structures where concrete slabs are cast on the ground, one on
top of the other, and then lifted into their final position using hydraulic jacks. This technique was
developed to streamline the construction process by reducing the need for scaffolding and
formwork at elevated heights.
– reduced scaffolding usage and formworks

Lift-slab systems
● - partially precast in plant (pillars) / partially precast onSite (slabs).
● - one or more storey high pillars (max 5).
● - up to 30 storey high constructions.
 ● - special designed joints and temporary joints.
● -slabs are casted on the ground (one on top of the other) - then lifted with crane or special
elevators.

Key Features of Lift Slab Construction

Lift Slab
[Link]-Level Casting:
• All the concrete slabs for the floors of the building are cast at ground level, one on top of the
other. This allows for better quality control and easier handling of materials.
. Hydraulic Jacking System:
After the slabs have cured, they are lifted sequentially using a series of hydraulic jacks. The
jacks are placed around the building's perimeter, typically on the columns or central core, and
they raise the slabs to their final position.
. Column and Core Construction:
The columns or central core, which will support the slabs, are usually built up to feir full
height before the slabs are lifted. The slabs are then raised along these columns and
attached at each floor level.
. Slab Positioning and Connection:
Once a slab reaches its designated floor level, it is permanently attached to the columns or
core using steel connectors or welds. This process is repeated for each slab, starting from
the topmost slab down to the lowest.

Lift Slab
Applications
Lift slab construction is most commonly used in:
Parking Garages: Where the uniform, repetitive floor plans make the technique highly efficient.
Office Buildings: Particularly for mid-rise buildings with straightforward floor layouts.
Residential Towers: Especially in situations where speed and uniformity are prioritized
Industrial Structures: Where large, open spaces are needed, and the construction of high-
strength, uniform slabs is advantageous.

Slip Form Method

of concrete construction is used for forming both horizontal and vertical concrete structures. It is
often used for forming highway pavements as continuous operation
– Slip form method is also been used for forming vertical concrete structures
– Slip form construction, or continuously formed construction, is a construction method in
which concrete is poured into a continuously moving form.

Slip Form Method Procedure:

● Assembly can only start once the foundations are in place and the wall starter is in correct
alignment.
 ● Slip form shuttering is aligned with the help of yokes
● Horizontal crossbeams connect these yokes.
● Hydraulic jacks

There are two types of slip forms; vertical and horizontal

– Slip-form construction consumes very less time but requires careful planning of construction
process to achleve high production rates
– Due to continuous concrete pouring in slip-form construction it produces better concrete
joint less and water tight structures.
– Slip form systems require a few but highly skilled workforce
– Slip for is also used in the construction of tapered structures involving changing thicknesses
in wall, diameters and / or shapes
– burj khalifa