02-08-2016, 01:57 PM
INTRODUCTION TO RCC FILLER SLAB
Filler slab technology is a simple and a very innovative technology for a slab construction.
The reason why, concrete and steel are used together to construct RCC slab, is in their individual properties as separate building materials and their individual limitation. Concrete is good in taking compression and steel is good in tension. Thus RCC slab is a product which resists both compression as well as tensile.
Fig 1: Simply supported slab cross section
Knowing this much if we want to move further to understand the “Filler slab” technology, we will have to further study the cross section of a typical simply supported RCC Slab. Under its own load and applied load, the slab will try to bend as shown in the Figure 1.
Fig 2: showing unwanted tension concrete
If we refer Figure 2, which indicates the neutral axis and also tension concrete in the bottom fibers of the slab which is in tension but the top fibers will be in compression. Knowing this much is the key to understand the filler slab technology. Tension in a slab is on the bottom fiber and compression on the top fiber. That means if we want to optimise the structure we can remove concrete from the tension zone where it is not much needed. That’s the key behind filler slab construction.
This is a very cost effective roofing technology. Knowing the way slab is constructed on site (w.r.t. Gujarat, India), it is not easy to remove, the concrete from the tension zone, hence we try and replace (partially); that part of concrete using light weight and low cost filler material. This method of construction is called filler slab.
Filler slab technology is being used across India, but substantial amount of work on the successful promotion and transfer of this technology was done by Ar. Laurie Baker in South India. It is one place where filler slab has crossed the boundary of research and controlled implementation to being one of the regular options of construction by both government and private sector and also architects and designers have been promoting this technology.
These filler materials are so placed as not to compromise the structural strength, stability and durability, resulting in replacing unwanted and non-functional tension concrete, from below and thus resulting in economy of high energy material consumption and respective cost savings and decreased dead load of the slab.
An internal cavity can be provided between the filler material which adds an extra advantage; other than cost savings and energy savings; improved thermal comfort for the interiors. Also an added advantage of lower dead weight transferred to the supporting elements and finally onto the foundation to further adds up cost saving in design of these elements.
These filler materials are so placed as not to compromise the structural strength, stability and durability, resulting in replacing unwanted and non-functional tension concrete, from below and thus resulting in economy of high energy material’s, consumption and considerable cost saving and decreased dead load of the slab.
Filler slab technology is a simple and a very innovative technology for a slab construction.
The reason why, concrete and steel are used together to construct RCC slab, is in their individual properties as separate building materials and their individual limitation. Concrete is good in taking compression and steel is good in tension. Thus RCC slab is a product which resists both compression as well as tensile.
Fig 1: Simply supported slab cross section
Knowing this much if we want to move further to understand the “Filler slab” technology, we will have to further study the cross section of a typical simply supported RCC Slab. Under its own load and applied load, the slab will try to bend as shown in the Figure 1.
Fig 2: showing unwanted tension concrete
If we refer Figure 2, which indicates the neutral axis and also tension concrete in the bottom fibers of the slab which is in tension but the top fibers will be in compression. Knowing this much is the key to understand the filler slab technology. Tension in a slab is on the bottom fiber and compression on the top fiber. That means if we want to optimise the structure we can remove concrete from the tension zone where it is not much needed. That’s the key behind filler slab construction.
This is a very cost effective roofing technology. Knowing the way slab is constructed on site (w.r.t. Gujarat, India), it is not easy to remove, the concrete from the tension zone, hence we try and replace (partially); that part of concrete using light weight and low cost filler material. This method of construction is called filler slab.
Filler slab technology is being used across India, but substantial amount of work on the successful promotion and transfer of this technology was done by Ar. Laurie Baker in South India. It is one place where filler slab has crossed the boundary of research and controlled implementation to being one of the regular options of construction by both government and private sector and also architects and designers have been promoting this technology.
These filler materials are so placed as not to compromise the structural strength, stability and durability, resulting in replacing unwanted and non-functional tension concrete, from below and thus resulting in economy of high energy material consumption and respective cost savings and decreased dead load of the slab.
An internal cavity can be provided between the filler material which adds an extra advantage; other than cost savings and energy savings; improved thermal comfort for the interiors. Also an added advantage of lower dead weight transferred to the supporting elements and finally onto the foundation to further adds up cost saving in design of these elements.
These filler materials are so placed as not to compromise the structural strength, stability and durability, resulting in replacing unwanted and non-functional tension concrete, from below and thus resulting in economy of high energy material’s, consumption and considerable cost saving and decreased dead load of the slab.
