Slab design combining interlocking blocks with a structural sheet

Abstract

The construction of structural slabs is one of the more complex, costly, time consuming, and hazardous processes in constructing buildings. This is mainly due to the on-site formwork placement, reinforcement arrangement, and concrete pouring — all required for commonplace slab designs. In theory, industrialization-ready slab designs pose a promising path towards overcoming these challenges. However, designs that can deliver on this promise are not yet fully developed. Here we present a new structural slab design fit for an industrialized construction framework. It is made of interlocking blocks that are adhesively bonded to a structural sheet. We first present the slab design, detail the rationale behind it, and illustrate its inherently quick and accurate construction technique. Then, using numerical simulations, we examine the structural action of the proposed design and how it compares with that of a typical reinforced concrete slab with the same material quantities. We find that the structural performance of the proposed design is competitive with that of a reinforced concrete slab in terms of stiffness, carrying capacity, and ductility. Our results show that the inherently superior constructability of the proposed design is achieved without critical sacrifice of performance, thus underscoring its promising potential as a viable structural design alternative.