OPTIMIZATION TECHNIQUES FOR EQUALLY SIDED SOLID SLABS

Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering at El-Mataria,

Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.

Different design codes provide minimum and maximum limitations to achieve a safe

structure. However, no guidance is found for optimum design to achieve an economical

structure. In this paper, different optimization techniques for achieving optimum design of

two-way simply supported solid slabs are proposed. Design guidance within the code

provisions is also developed to help the practice engineer to achieve optimum design

characteristics. The yield strength of tension steel reinforcement marginally affects the

optimum dimensions and amount of steel reinforcement when minimum slab thickness

optimization technique is adopted. Conversely, saving in the amount of tension steel

reinforcement can reach up to 43% when high-grade steel is utilized for minimum area of

steel reinforcement optimization technique. The influence of the load level on the optimum

area and ratio of steel reinforcement is greater than its influence on the optimum slab

thickness.