Compressive membrane action in reinforced concrete one-way slabs

The behaviour of reinforced concrete one-way slabs subjected to horizontal translational end restraint is described in this paper. The presence of the end restraint in duces compressive membrane action in the slab, increasing its strength and stiffness above that calculated using ß exural theory. The experimental component of this investigation in volved the fabrication and testing of 16 one-way slabs, which were load tested under various bound a ry conditions. A very stiff reaction frame was used to impose the bound a ry conditions on the slabs. The results showed a signiÞ cant in crease in load-carrying capacity (up to 2.5 times greater) when the slabs were subjected to horizontal translational end restraint com pared to simply supported slabs. This increase can be attributed to the presence of compressive membrane forces in the slabs. The results from these tests were compared to non-linear Þ nite element models and a method of analysis developed by Rankin and Long.1 Good agreement with the ex per i men tal results was obtained using both Þ nite element anal y sis and Rankin and Long.s method. Variables that affected the peak load, according to Rankin and Long.s method, were also investigated