Experimental research on reinforced concrete slabs with loads from column placed on the slab

Abstract

Slabs made of reinforced concrete often get subjected to loads that are distributed uniformly across the whole surface of the slab. On the other hand, there are situations in which the slab is subjected to concentrated loads by columns that are put directly on the slab surface and located at the free edge of the slab. This can easily cause damage to the slab. The authors of this paper conducted an experimental investigation to examine the behavior of a reinforced concrete slab with dimensions of 1200×1600×120mm. The slab was subjected to direct column loads at the free edge of the slab. When the diameter of the primary load-bearing steel bars in the slab was changed, the findings of the research made it possible to establish the relationships between load-vertical displacement, load-tensile (compressive) deformation, and crack formation and propagation on the top and lower surfaces of the slab.  Changing the steel bars resulted in a twenty percent decrease in load-bearing capacity for the S6 slab in comparison to the S1 slab, as demonstrated by the findings of the respective investigation.