GRDSLAB - Concrete Slab on Grade Analysis EXCEL Spreadsheet - CivilEngineeringBible.com (Download FREE!)

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GRDSLAB is a spreadsheet program written in MS-Excel for the purpose of analysis of concrete slabs on grade. Specifically, a concrete slab on grade may be subjected to concentrated post or wheel loading. Then for the given parameters, the slab flexural, bearing, and shear stresses are checked, the estimated crack width is determined, the minimum required distribution reinforcing is determined, and the bearing stress on the dowels at construction joints is checked. Also, design charts from the Portland Cement Association (PCA) are included to provide an additional method for determining/checking required slab thickness for flexure. The ability to analyze the capacity of a slab on grade subjected to continuous wall (line-type) load as well as stationary, uniformly distributed live loads is also provided.

Program Assumptions and Limitations:

1. This program is based on the following references:

• "Load Testing of Instumented Pavement Sections - Improved Techniques for Appling the Finite Element Method to Strain Predition in PCC Pavement Structures" - by University of Minnesota, Department of Civil Engineering (submitted to MN/DOT, March 24, 2002)
• "Principles of Pavement Design" - by E.J. Yoder and M.W. Witczak (John Wiley & Sons, 1975)
• "Design of Concrete Structures" - by Winter, Urquhart, O'Rourke, and Nilson" - (McGraw-Hill, 1962)
• "Dowel Bar Opimization: Phases I and II - Final Report" - by Max L. Porter (Iowa State University, 2001)
• "Design of Slabs-on-Ground" - ACI 360R-06 - by American Concrete Institute
• "Slab Thickness Design for Industrial Concrete Floors on Grade" (IS195.01D) - by Robert G. Packard (Portland Cement Association, 1976)
• "Concrete Floor Slabs on Grade Subjected to Heavy Loads" Army Technical Manual TM 5-809-12, Air Force Manual AFM 88-3, Chapter 15 (1987)
• "Streses and Stains in Rigid Pavements" (Lecture Notes 3) - by Charles Nunoo, Ph.D., P.E. (Florida International University, Miami FL - Fall 2002)

2. The "Slab on Grade" worksheet assumes a structurally unreinforced slab, ACI-360"Type B", reinforced only for shrinkage and temperature.An interior load condition is assumed for flexural analysis.That is, the concentrated post or wheel load is assumed to be well away from a "free" slab edge or corner.The original theory and equations by H.M. Westergaard (1926) as modified by Reference (a) in item #1 above are used forthe flexual stress analysis.Some of the more significant simplifying assumptions made in the Westergaard analysis model are as follows:

• Slab acts as a homogenous, isotropic elastic solid in equilibrium, with no discontinuities.
• Slab is of uniform thickness, and the neutral axis is at mid-depth.
• All forces act normal to the surface (shear and friction forces are assumed to be negligible).
• Deformation within the elements, normal to slab surface, are considered.
• Shear deformation is negligible.
• Slab is considered infinite for center loading and semi-infinite for edge loading.
• Load at interior and corner of slab distributed uniformly of a circular contact area.
• Full contact (support) between the slab and foundation.

3. Other basic assumptions used in the flexural analysis of the "Slab on Grade" worksheet are as follows:

• Slab viewed as a plate on a liquid foundation with full subgrade contact (subgrade modeled as a series of independent springs - also known as "Winkler" foundation.)
• Modulus of subgrade reaction ("k") is used to represent the subgrade.
• Slab is considered as unreinforced concrete beam, so that any contribution made to flexural strength by the inclusion of distribution reinforcement is neglected.
• Combination of flexural and direct tensile stresses will result in transverse and longitudinal cracks.
• Supporting subbase and/or subgrade act as elastic material, regaining position after application of load.

4. The "Slab on Grade" worksheet allows the user to account for the effect of an additional post or wheel load. The increase in stress, 'i', due to a 2nd wheel (or post) load expressed as a percentage of stress for a single wheel (or post) load and is to be input by the user.Refer to the input comment box for recommendations.

5. All four (4) worksheets pertaining to the PCA Figures 3, 7a, 7b, and 7c from Reference (f) in item #1 above are based on interior load condition and other similar assumptions used in the "Slab on Grade" worksheet. Other assumed values used in the development of the Figures 3, 7a, 7b, and 7c are as follows:

• Modulus of elasticity for concrete, Ec = 4, 000, 000 psi.
• Poisson's Ratio for concrete, m = 0.15.

6. In the four (4) worksheets pertaining to the PCA Figures 3, 7a, 7b, and 7c, the user must manually determine (read) the required slab thickness from the design chart and must manually input that thickness in the appropriate cell at the bottom of the page.An interation or two may be required, as when the slab thickness is input, it may/may not change the effective contact area.Note:the user may unprotect the worksheet (no password is required) and access the Drawing Toolbar (select: View, Toolbars, and Drawing) to manually draw in (superimpose) the lines on the chart which are used to determine the required slab thickness.

7.This program contains numerous “comment boxes” which contain a wide variety of information including explanations of input or output items, equations used, data tables, etc.(Note:presence of a “comment box” is denoted by a “red triangle” in the upper right-hand corner of a cell.Merely move the mouse pointer to the desired cell to view the contents of that particular "comment box".)

* GRDSLAB download link provides freeware version of the software.