Two-Way Flat Plate Concrete Floor System Analysis and Design (ACI 318-14)
The concrete floor slab system shown below is for an intermediate floor to be designed considering partition weight = 20 psf, and unfactored live load = 40 psf. Flat plate concrete floor system does not use beams between columns or drop panels and it is usually suited for lightly loaded floors with short spans typically for residential and hotel buildings. The lateral loads are independently resisted by shear walls. The two design procedures shown in ACI 318-14: Direct Design Method (DDM) and the Equivalent Frame Method (EFM) are illustrated in detail in this example. The hand solution from EFM is also used for a detailed comparison with the analysis and design results of the engineering software program spSlab.
Figure 1 - Two-Way Flat Concrete Floor System