Influence of arch action on load-carrying capacity of double-sized industrial precast slabs: A combined numerical and experimental study

Abstract

The precast industry offers slab panels of different geometries according to the field conditions. These slab panels are popular in temporary constructions and beneficial in sustainability but have some financial limitations and local constraints. For a long time, the construction industry has used the arch action method, which restricts the stresses to the compression zone in concrete members and develops the required load-carrying capacity. For the same motives, industrial buildings have preferred semi-circular precast roofs, but the morphology was not suitable. For the proposed slab in this research, firstly, the typical industrial precast slab panel was doubled in width to minimize the time and effort required for its casting, curing, and placement. Secondly, that doubled-in-width slab was provided with arch action to confine the stresses to compression and benefit from the section entirely. Lastly, the top of the slab was kept flat to take advantage of the roof space. All these changes aimed for structural stability, reduced material weight, improved load-carrying capacity, appropriate mobilization, and financial viability. A numerical approach and practical experimentation were adopted using finite element modeling (FEM) software, ABAQUS, to analyze the mechanical force versus displacement response of both slabs through the CDP (concrete damaged plasticity) model. The proposed slab exhibited better as its capacity was increased by about 1.5 times that of a typical slab. Though the material weight was little increased from 0.04 m3 to 0.045 m3, the reduced joint filler materials, reinforcement, and the mixing and lifting machinery efforts compensate for it. Hence, the slab can be recommended for the industry to save the economy while taking heavier loads efficiently.