Title:
Practical Deflection Prediction of Concrete Slabs
Author(s):
Jonathan Hirsch, Flora Calabrese, Eamonn Connolly, and Allan Bommer
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
284
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
1-24
Keywords:
cracking, creep, deflection, shrinkage
DOI:
10.14359/51683813
Date:
3/1/2012
Abstract:
Today’s slab designers face a quandary – economic efficiency demands the use of very thin slabs; however the deflection performance of these slabs is difficult to predict. Exacerbating the situation is that the construction methods and sequences to be utilized are unknown at the time of design. This paper looks at the predictions of several deflection calculation methods and then compares them to actual measured deflections in both the laboratory and field. The variability of deflections and the reasonable range of predictions are also discussed concluding with recommendations for design practice utilizing off-the-shelf software.