Software Verification

PROGRAM NAME: SAFE

REVISION NO.: 0

EXAMPLE AS 3600-2009 RC-SL-001

Slab Flexural Design

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
The purpose of this example is to verify slab flexural design in SAFE

A one-way, simple-span slab supported by walls on two opposite edges is

modeled using SAFE. The slab is 150 mm thick and spans 4 meters between
walls. The walls are modeled as pin supports. The computational model uses a
finite element mesh, automatically generated by SAFE. The maximum element
size is specified as 0.25 meters. To obtain factored moments and flexural
reinforcement in a design strip, one one-meter wide strip is defined in the X-
direction on the slab, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 Plan View of One-Way Slab

One dead load case (DL4KPa) and one live load case (LL5KPa), with uniformly
distributed surface loads of magnitudes 4 and 5 kN/m2, respectively, are defined
in the model. A load combination (COMB5kPa) is defined using the AS 3600-
2009 load combination factors, 1.2 for dead loads and 1.5 for live loads. The
model is analyzed for both load cases and the load combinations.

The slab moment on a strip of unit width is computed analytically. The total
factored strip moments are compared with the SAFE results. After completing
analysis, design is performed using the AS 3600-2009 code using SAFE and also
by hand computation. Table 1 shows the comparison of the design
reinforcements computed using the two methods.

EXAMPLE AS 3600-2009 RC-SL-001 - 1

Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAFE
REVISION NO.: 0

GEOMETRY, PROPERTIES AND LOADING

Thickness T, h = 150 mm
Depth of tensile reinf. dc = 25 mm
Effective depth d = 125 mm
Clear span ln , l1 = 4000 mm

Concrete strength fc = 30 MPa

Yield strength of steel f sy = 460 MPa
Concrete unit weight wc = 0 N/m3
Modulus of elasticity Ec = 25000 MPa
Modulus of elasticity Es = 2x106 MPa
Poisson’s ratio ν = 0

Dead load wd = 4.0 kPa

Live load wl = 5.0 kPa

TECHNICAL FEATURES OF SAFE TESTED

 Calculation of flexural reinforcement
 Application of minimum flexural reinforcement

RESULTS COMPARISON
Table 1 shows the comparison of the SAFE total factored moments in the design
strip with the moments obtained by the hand computation method. Table 1 also
shows the comparison of the design reinforcements.

Table 1 Comparison of Design Moments and Reinforcements

Reinforcement Area
Strip (sq-cm)
Load Moment
Level Method (kN-m) As +

SAFE 24.597 5.58

Medium
Calculated 24.600 5.58

A +s ,min = 370.356 sq-mm

COMPUTER FILE: AS 3600-2009 RC-SL-001.FDB

CONCLUSION
The SAFE results show an exact comparison with the independent results.

EXAMPLE AS 3600-2009 RC-SL-001 - 2

 Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAFE
REVISION NO.: 0

HAND CALCULATION
The following quantities are computed for the load combination:
ϕ = 0.8
b = 1000 mm
α=
2 1.0 − 0.003 f 'c = 0.91 > 0.85, Use α 2 = 0.85

γ 1.05 − 0.007 f 'c = 0.84 < 0.85, Use γ = 0.84

=

amax = γk u d = 0.84•0.36•125 = 37.80 mm

For the load combination, w and M* are calculated as follows:

w = (1.2w d + 1.5w t ) b
wl12
Mu =
8
2 '
 h  f ct , f
As = 0.24   bh for flat slabs
 d  f sy , f

 h  f ′ct , f
2
Ast .min = 0.24   bd
 d  f sy , f
= 0.24•(150/125)2•0.6•SQRT(30)/460•1000•150
= 370.356 sq-mm

COMB100
w d = 4.0 kPa
w t = 5.0 kPa
w = 12.3 kN/m
M -strip * = 24.6 kN-m

M -design * = 24.633 kN-m

The depth of the compression block is given by:

2M *
a =−
d d2 − = 10.065 mm < a max
0.85 f 'c φ b

EXAMPLE AS 3600-2009 RC-SL-001 - 3

Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAFE
REVISION NO.: 0

The area of tensile steel reinforcement is then given by:

M*
Ast = = 557.966 sq-mm > A s,min
 a
φf sy  d − 
 2
A s = 5.57966 sq-cm

EXAMPLE AS 3600-2009 RC-SL-001 - 4