International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 10 Issue: 07 | July 2023
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
NOVEL METHODS AND MATERIALS FOR CONCRETE FLOOR SLAB CONSTRUCTION FOR SMALL FAMILY HOUSING BUILDINGS IN INDIA Srimaruthi Jonnalagadda1, Sitaram Vemuri2 1Honorary Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, V R Siddhartha Engineering College, Vijayawada, AP, India 2Structural Engineer, Assystem Stup
----------------------------------------------------------------------***------------------------------------------------------------------ABSTRACT This work is a natural follow-up for the previous work from the authors about the state of slab construction for single family housing units in India. A need to replace traditional cast-in-place construction with alternate materials and methods was concluded at the end of that previous study. In this paper, the authors enlist various alternate slab members and construction methods that are tried and tested both in research and industry circles in the US and European construction markets. Each of the alternate methods are elaborately discussed with their background and methods of engineering and construction. The advantages as well as the suitability of each of the methods to Indian small family housing markets are outlined. Any limitations and shortcomings are discussed. Finally conclusions are made about the need to conduct research to customize each of these methods and products to the specific requirements, conditions and standards of the Indian small family housing construction industry.
KEY WORDS: cast-in-place, concrete, composite, deck-panel, double-tee, hollow-core, home, India, precast, slab, steel, ultrahigh-performance-concrete, UHPC, waffle
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND A vast majority of floor slabs in housing buildings in India are constructed using traditional cast-in-place (TCIP) slab method. The construction sequence, the casting and curing procedures and the quality processes are elaborately detailed in the authors’ previously published work [1]. The challenges associated with TCIP construction are also discussed in that work. The authors’ concluded in that work that this method of construction is not relevant to the current socio-economic context in India anymore because it is resulting in poor economy and quality of construction. It was suggested that there is critical need for Indian builders, engineers and owners of single family housing units to consider new methods of construction on a large scale. In this paper, the authors continue on their previous work to put forward some of the novel construction methods, members and materials that are available in markets abroad. These methods have evolved through years of research and experimentation by academia and industry as well as implemented by engineers in real construction projects. The paper starts with introduction to precast concrete solid slab members, and the process of manufacture, transport and member erection at job site with quality and speed. Precast hollow-core slab members which are very popular in US and Canadian markets are discussed. The waffled precast slab option which provides significant stiffness but yet consumes less concrete is presented as one of the options. This is followed by a very popular precast double-tee members that are very commonly used for majority of parking garages. There is a very good reason to re-create these Double-Tee (DT) member geometry and design to make them good candidates for floor slab members for housing units in India. The DT slab option is followed by looking at the promising new material of Ultra-High-Performance-Concrete (UHPC) and the excellent opportunities it creates in the design and construction of very strong and durable concrete slab members. As another possible alternative, the composite steel-concrete composite slab construction using structural steel as material of construction is also presented. The objective of the authors is to present the various proven alternatives to cast-in-place slab and educate the engineers and especially the builders and owners of single family homes in India to adapt to the available modern methods and materials of construction. In the following section, each of these methods and material are discussed in detail along with advantages of the method over traditional cast-in-place slab method. Any limitations in the application of these methods to Indian housing markets is
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