Alternative Approach for The Analysis of Suspended Slab Panels Under Partition Wall Load
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Date
2005-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Analysis techniques for most structural elements with different arrangement of externally
applied loads are well developed and sufficiently covered with modern analysis theories.
Further more, the application of today’s high-speed computers enables the analysis of
complex structures with different load arrangements. In addition to these effective analysis
tools, building design codes provide table of values and analysis charts for the analysis of
different elements of structural systems. As one of the structural element in building
structure, different analysis methods were proposed for the analysis of suspended slab panel
subjected to non-uniform loads.
Among the possible arrangement of externally applied loads on suspended slab panel a line
load is the one which can best represent the weight of partition wall on it. Different simplified
analysis methods were proposed to consider the contribution of this load to the design action
effects. The current practice of accounting this partition wall loads in the analysis of
suspended slab panel is to change it to the 'equivalent' uniformly distributed load. The
analysis of regular slab panel subjected to uniformly distributed load may be carried out using
computer softwares or using coefficients which are presented in many design codes (including
the Ethiopian Building Code of Standards for concrete structures, EBCS 2 – 1995). The
Swedish method and Reynolds method can be referred as some of the examples which are
used to obtain equivalent uniformly distributed load. These methods analysis need to be
investigated whether they can represent the actual load or not.
Therefore, as it is important to address this problem, comparative analysis has been carried
out. A new simplified method which considers the actual scenario has been developed. This
newly proposed method makes use of coefficients derived from the basic principle of elastic
analysis of plate. The results have been verified by comparing it with results of the finite
element analysis. It enables us to make elastic analysis of suspended slab panel subjected to
the weight of partition wall and avoids the uncertain use of approximate methods.
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Keywords
Suspended; Slab