Strength of Composite Slabs

Abstract

Most composite‐slab designs in the United States are based on the results of extensive testing programs. These programs result in the development of load tables that structural engineers use for the design of composite slabs. Details of the required test program and subsequent determination of design live loads are presented in the ASCE standard Specifications for the Design and Construction of Composite Slabs. A problem with a design approach based solely on test results is that a structural engineer has no specification criteria upon which to base design calculations. For the design of some structural systems this method may be unavoidable; however, the results presented in this paper indicate that design procedures for composite slabs may be developed based on calculations. A method is presented in this paper for determining the strength and initial stiffness of composite slabs. The method is based on traditional reinforced‐concrete analytical methods. Results from a series of nine experimental composi...