~ Guide to good practice

~. 1;~ !?'Ill
tj

Composite floor structures

MAY 1998

FIP Commission on Prefabrication

L. Marcaccioli. Italy

. Van Acker, Belgium, Chairman

R. Charlier, Belgium, Secretary

M. '\1enegotto, Italy

S. Alexander,

D. Rafael Pineiro, pain

F. Monnig, Germany
orway

J. Beluzsar, Hungary

G. Ri 'e, Sweden

K. G. Bernander, Sweden

Robhens, Belgium

J. Calavera, Spain

H. Romanes,

A. Cholewicki, Poland

A. Sarja, Finland

J. Dardare, France

L. Sa ek, Czech Republic

L. V. Sasonko, Russia
N. L. Scott, USA
A. Skjelle, Norway
A.. Suikka, Finland
J. . J. A. Vambersky, Netherlands
J. C. Walraven, Netherlands
C. W. Wilson, USA

B. Dena Bella, Italy

R. S. Elliot, UK
B. Engstrom, Sweden
R. G. Fajit\ Netherlands
C. Goodchild, UK

R. Gylltoft, Sweden
R. Kromer, Germany

. Zealand

Working Groups
General design aspects

Composite action between

preca t floors, toppings and beams

Composite beam-block floor system

Chairman
Prof. J. C. Walraven

Chairman
Prof. A. Sarja

Chairman
Prof. J. alavera

Member

Members

J. Shimoni

S. Alexander

\1embers
M. Catania

F. Monning

G. Chardin

G. Rise

B. Della Bella

L Scott

R. Fafie

1. Shimoni

J. Iglesias

A. Sui.kka

J. Leon
1. Ley
R. Pineiro
. Reeh
G. Trotter
G. Zenobi

First published by SETO, 1998

II Upper Belgrave Street, London W I X 8BH. Tel: +44-(0) 171-235 4535

ISBN I 874266 387

Federation lnternationale de 1a Precontrainte

All rights, including translation, reserved. Except for fair copying, no part of this pUblication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the FIP Managing Editor, Institution of Structural
Engineers.
Although the Federation Internationale de la Precontrainte does its best to ensure that any information it may give
is accurate, no liability or responsibility of any kind (including liability for negligence) is accepted in this respect
by the Federation, its members, its servants or agents.

FfP Compositejloor structures

Contents

Foreword . ..

5 Composite beam-block floors

38

5.1 General. . . . .
38

I Introduction
7

51.1 Definitions
38

5.1.2 Typology .
38

S.2 Materials . . . .
38

2 Advantages and disadvantages of composite tructures 8

2.1 Composite slabs . . . . .

8

5.2.1 Concrete o.fjoist and topping

38

2.2 Composite concrete beams . . . . . .

8

5.2.2 Blocks o.f concrete, ceramic and other materials 39

5.2.3 Reinforcing steel .

39

2.3 Composite steel beams . . . . . . . .

8

2.4 Composite beam-block floor systems.

8

5.2.4 Prestressing steel

39

S.3 Structural analysis . . .

39

3 Theoretical a peets of composite structures

9

5.3.1 Linear analysis.

39

5.3.2 Non-linear analysis

40

3.1 Mechanical properties of composite cross-sections

9

5.4 Design of reinforced concrete joist noors

40

3.2 Shear capacity of the interface between precast and in

5.4.1 Construction stage

.....
40

12

situ concrete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.2.1 Basic considerations
. . . . .
12

5.4.2 Checking after removal of shores

41

3.2.2 Design equations according to FJ P .

13

5.S Design of prestressed concrete joist noors

43

5.5.1 Construction stage.

43

3.2.3 Shear in profitaled shear joints

14

44

5.5.2 Checking affer removal of shores

3.3 Redistribution of forces in composite cross..sections. IS
3.3.1 Material properties/or slow and long-term

5.6 Non-uniform loads.

44

5.7 Construction details .

45

loading.
.....
15

46

5.8 Fabrication of joists .

3.3.2 General procedure for the calculation of stress
5.9 Fabrication of blocks.
46

redistribution in statically determinate composite

members . . . .
15

5.10 Construction of one-way noors made up for precast

joists and blocks . . . . . . . .

46

3.3.3 Example of redistribution of stresses in a cross

5.10.1 Placing o.fjoists and blocks

46

section ofa hollow core slab with an in situ topping

(simply-supported)
..
. . . .. . 16

5.10.2 Placing of blocks . . .

47

3.3.4 Redistribution a/forces bj'connecting statically

5.10.3 Placing o.freinforcement
47

5.10.4 Placing o.f concrete

47

determinate members to statically indeterminate

5.10.5 Construction joints

47

structures. . . . . . ..
17

5.10.6 Load transfer in the case of shoring consecutive

3.4 Shear resistance of composite structures in the ultimate

limit state. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

.floors
3.4.1 Shear reinforced members .
. . 18

5.10.7 Time o.f removal

5.10.8 Curing
3.4.2 Statically determinate members. not reinforced in

5.11 Fire protection

shear
19

3.4.3 Continuous members. intermediate supports

21

5.12 Seismic actions

50

5.13 Quality control

51

5.131 General .
51

4 Compo ite slabs and beams . . .

22

5.13.2 Quality control off/oOi' design

51

4.1 General design principles . . .

22

51

5.13.3 Control ofprecast members

4.1.1 Serviceability limit state.
22

4.1.2 Ultimate limit state . . .

22

51

5.13.4 Quality control of materials

5.13.5 Construction control
51

4.1.3 Effect of temporary supports

22

5.14 Load tests. . . . . . . . . .

51

23

4.1.4 Continuity .
4.2 Composite slabs . . . . . . . . . .
23

4.2.1 General
23

6 Examples of practical solutions

53

6.1 Composite labs and beams .

4.2.2 Hollow core slabs with topping
24

53

6.2 Composite steel-concrete structures .

4.2.3 Non-prestressed solid planks with

57

in situ concrete
25

4.2.4 Prestressed solid planks with in situ concrete

26

27

4.2.5 Double-T units with topping

4.3 Composite concrete beams . . . . . . . . . .
29

4.3.1 General .
29

4.3.2 Composite beam with hollow core slabs

29

4.3.3 Composite beam with solid planks

32

4.3.4 Composite beam with double-T units

32

4.4 Composite steel beams . . . . . . . . . .

33

4.4.1 Definition of the structure.

33

33

4.4.2 Design principles for composite steel beams

4.5 Shear capacity of hollow core slabs on

flexible supports .
36

4.6 Fire resistance . . . .

36

4.7 Earthquake resistance

37

FlP Composite floor structures

Foreword

Precast structures often give a larger total safety reliability than is c mputed by present
design methods. This is mainly due to the fact that composite acti n is not taken into
account sufficiently for precast assemblies. However, much development and knowledge
exist on the matter, but clear design rules and guidelines are missing.
Three working parties of the FIP Commission on Prefabrication have been studying the
matter, and cooperated to prepare a 'Guide to good practice' on precast compo. ite floor
structures. The document contains therefore three main parts: general theoretical design
aspect of compo ite action (chapter 3); composite action between precast floors, toppings
and supporting beams (chapters 4 and 6); and guidelines for floors c mpo d of small
precast beams, infill blocks and topping (chapter 5). The Chaimlen of the three working
parties were Professor J. Walraven, Professor J. Calavera, and Professor A. Sarja, who
also coordinated the whole work.
The present 'Guid to good practice' is the outcome of 4 years' intensive work. It
provid s the engineer and the precaster with practical design and calculation rules for
composite action in precast structures. In this context it is a further contribution on the part
of FlP towards better and more economical precast construction.
Arnold Van Acker
Chairman
FiP Commision on Pr fabrication

FlP Compositejloor structures

Introduction

The term 'composite' refers to structures where precast and cast in

situ concrete worl< together to form an integral struct:rnal component.
Thus floors composed of precast slab units can be supported
continuously, toppings may be used to increase the structural depth
of the floor, the floor can be made composite with the suppOlting
beam to increase the structural depth of the latter or the floor can be
designed to act as a part of a monolithic frame. ll1e above effects
can be achieved whether the load bearing frame is steel or concrete.
In projects where equipment for heavy lifting is not economically
available at the nOimal construction site, composite beam-block
floor systems are frequent. Beams and blocks may be placed by
manpower using simple lifting devices only.
Nevertheless, this technique allows quite long spans and is also
sufficiently versatile. Typically, small prestressed 1- or inverted
T-sections or lattice girders are used. Brick, concrete or expanded
polystyrene blocks are placed on the beam flanges, and beams and
blocks are topped with concrete once additional reinforcement
has been placed.
There are many practical and economic advantages in such
systems. One aim of this publication is to serve as guidance
for composite construction, when corresponding Codes or
specifications are being prepared or amended; another is to
give the designer a tool and an understanding of the conditions
necessary to achieve composite action safely.

FIP Composite floor structures