Analysis of Various Types of Slabs and Their Comparison with the Conventional Slab

Concrete is a vital component in construction projects worldwide, but its extensive usage poses challenges related to cost and environmental impact. This research paper explores methods to reduce concrete consumption while maintaining construction quality. It analyzes and compares innovative structural slabs with both corners and edges as fixed, namely Bubble Deck Slab (BDS) and Filler Slab (FS), with the traditional Conventional Slab (CS). The study addresses the importance of modern and sustainable construction practices, focusing on parameters like deflection, stress, and volume change in percentage. The study uses ANSYS software to create 3D finite element models for three types of slabs: BDS, FS, and CS. Material properties, loading, and both boundary conditions are defined following standards. The BDS and FS systems use void formers to reduce concrete consumption and overall slab weight, providing cost savings and environmental benefits. The ANSYS analysis examines their structural behavior and performance, demonstrating their potential as sustainable alternatives to the CS. The reduction in the volume of concrete can reach up to 31 and 21% in FS when corners are fixed and when edges are fixed leading to substantial cost savings in construction. Additionally, the slab deflects more by approximately 13 and 11% in BDS when corners are fixed and edges are fixed respectively when compared to the CS. Moreover, the stresses experienced by these slabs are reduced by up to 9 and 3% when filler material are considered in FS when corners and edges are fixed respectively compared to the stresses in the CS.