Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ISSN: 0120-5609
revii_bog@unal.edu.co
Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Colombia
How to cite
Complete issue
Scientific Information System
More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal
Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative
REVISTA INGENIERA E INVESTIGACIN VOL. 27 No.1, ABRIL DE 2007 (93-100)
ABSTRACT
This article presents a methodology for designing slabs on grade for industrial floors where there is an eccentricity
between the slab centroid and the gravity centre loads of the loaded axle of forklift trucks travelling over the
floor. An example was used for analysing how Portland Cement Association (PCA) and the Wire Reinforcement
Institute (WRI) methods are inadequate for designing floors subjected to this condition. The new proposal for
designing slabs on grade for industrial floors has been called the Camero method. An example of an industrial
floor designed to be capable of sustaining an infinite number of load applications (or 50-year life) was compared
to the results of the Camero method and PCA and WRIs simplified methods. Industrial floors should be capable
of sustaining an infinite number of load applications (50-year life) if designed with the Camero method; on the
other hand, if designed using PCA and WRI methods they will only last one year (in this example the number of
axle load applications in a 1-year period was equal to the number of allowable repetitions) because they will not
be able to sustain an infinite number of load applications. It was concluded that designing plain concrete slabs
(without reinforcement) on grade according to PCA and the WRI methods leads to slab fatigue, even though
extreme fibre stress should not exceed 50 percent (50%) of static modulus of concrete rupture and slabs should
sustain an infinite number of load repetitions (infinite amount of forklift truck traffic) were considered parameters
in their design.
Keywords: floor slab on grade, Portland Cement Association, Wire Reinforcement Institute, slab design on grade,
floor design, industrial floor slab, concrete floor, concrete slab on grade, pavement, rigid pavement.
RESUMEN
Se presenta una metodologa para el diseo de losas sobre terreno para pisos industriales en donde hay excen-
tricidad entre el centroide de la losa y el centro de gravedad de las cargas del eje cargado del montacargas que
transita sobre el piso. Mediante un ejemplo se analiza cmo los mtodos de diseo de pisos de la Portland Cement
Association (PCA) y la Wire Reinforcement Institute (WRI) son inadecuados para el diseo de pisos sometidos a
esta condicin. El nuevo mtodo propuesto para disear pisos industriales ha sido llamado Camero. Mediante
un ejemplo, un piso industrial es diseado para ser capaz de admitir un nmero infinito de aplicaciones de carga
(o un periodo de vida til del piso de 50 aos), comparando los resultados del mtodo Camero y los simplifi-
cados de la PCA y la WRI. El piso industrial ser capaz de admitir un nmero infinito de aplicaciones de carga
(50 aos) si es diseado con el mtodo Camero. De otra manera: si es diseado por los mtodos de la PCA y
la WRI nicamente durar un ao (En este ejemplo, en el periodo de un ao el nmero de aplicaciones del eje
cargado es igual al nmero de repeticiones admisibles), por eso el piso industrial no ser capaz de admitir un
nmero infinito de aplicaciones de carga. Concluimos que el diseo de losas sobre terreno de concreto simple
(sin refuerzo), de acuerdo con la metodologa de la PCA y la WRI, conduce a losas diseadas a fatiga, a pesar
de haber considerado en el diseo que el esfuerzo en las fibras superiores no excedera el 50% del mdulo de
rotura del concreto y que admitiran un nmero infinito de repeticiones de carga (nmero infinito de trnsito del
montacargas de diseo).
1
Ingeniero civil. Especialista en Finanzas de la Universidad de Los Andes, Colombia. Premio al Merito Acadmico en Construccin, Asociacin
de Ingenieros Civiles, Universidad Nacional de Colombia (AICUN). Gerente, firmas de diseo y construccin de edificaciones. Actual Gerente,
Construdiseos Alta Ingeniera Ltda. construdisenosai@hotmail.com, construdisenos@netcard.net.co
A NEW METHOD FOR DESIGNING FLOOR SLABS ON GRADE DUE TO THE DIFFICULTY OF APPLYING SIMPLIFIED DESIGN METHODS,
AMONGST THEM BEING THE PORTLAND CEMENT ASSOCIATION (PCA) AND WIRE REINFORCEMENT INSTITUTE (WRI) METHODS
Palabras clave: placas de piso sobre terreno, Portland Cement Association, Wire Reinforcement Institute,
diseo de losas sobre terreno, diseo de pisos, placas de pisos industriales, losas de pisos industriales, pisos
de concreto, pisos de concreto sobre terreno, pavimentos, pavimentos rgidos, soleras, soleras de hormign,
soleras industriales.
Introduction
Designing slab floors on grade for industry consists of takes place between the slabs floor centroid (pavement)
designing slabs for storage and traffic loads produced and the forklift trucks loaded axle centre. Figure 1 shows
by vehicles and forklift trucks, these generally being the the geometry of the forklift trucks loaded axle. Figures 2
most critical. This article shows how the Portland Cement and 3 show the loaded axle working on the slab. The forklift
Association (PCA) and Wire Reinforcement Institute (WRI) trucks longitudinal axis has been called centre Cc and the
simplified methods for designing slabs for forklift truck traffic slabs longitudinal axis centre .
consider the bending moments applied to slabs smaller than
those presented under operational conditions by forklift
trucks being misaligned with the slabs longitudinal axis
centre (eccentricity between slab centroid and the centre
of the forklift trucks loaded axle).
Introduccin
Figure 1. Geometry of the forklift trucks loaded axle on the
El diseo de las losas sobre terreno (placas de contrapiso) para slab
pisos industriales comprende generalmente el de las losas para
cargas de estantera de almacenamiento y cargas de trfico
producidas por vehculos y montacargas, siendo estas ltimas
generalmente las ms crticas. Se demostrar en el articulo
cmo los mtodos simplificados de diseos de losas para
trnsito de montacargas de la Portland Cement Association
(PCA) y la Wire Reinforcement Institute (WRI) consideran
momentos flectores actuantes sobre las losas mucho menores
respecto de los que se presentan en condiciones de operacin
con montacargas desalineados con el eje longitudinal central
de la losa (excentricidad entre el centroide de la losa y el
centro de cargas del eje cargado del montacargas). Figure 2. Geometry of the forklift trucks loaded axle
operating on the slab
Desarrollaremos todas las frmulas para calcular analtica-
mente el momento flector actuante sobre la losa debido a Figures 1, 2, and 3 define:
las cargas del montacargas que transita sobre ella. Una vez
WS:Wheel spacing of the forklift trucks loaded axle
hecho esto, propondremos un nuevo mtodo para disear
pisos industriales, al que hemos llamado Camero. A: Distance between the slabs left edge and the centreline
of the first wheel of the forklift trucks loaded axle
Posteriormente, con un ejemplo compararemos el compor-
tamiento de un piso diseado por el mtodo Camero y por B: Distance between the slabs right edge and the centreline
los de la PCA y la WRI. of the second wheel of the forklift trucks loaded axle
C: Distance between the slabs left edge and the centreline
Stress due to load of the second wheel of the forklift trucks loaded axle
When a forklift trucks longitudinal axis centre does not D: Distance from the slabs left edge to the point where
coincide with a slabs longitudinal axis centre, eccentricity subgrade reaction is zero
CAMERO
E: Distance from the slabs right edge to the point where (2) (3)
subgrade reaction is zero
L: Slab width These equations relate to the bending moment M in a given
P1: Forklift trucks load applied to the loaded axles left transversal section of an elastic beam whose moment of
wheel inertia regarding the neuter axis is I, with curvature d2y/dx2
of the elastic material. The direction of the axes is illustrated
P2: Forklift trucks load applied to the loaded axles right in Figure 4. In equations (2) and (3), M = Mzz and I = Izz. E
wheel corresponds to the materials modulus of elasticity; in the
e: Eccentricity corresponds to the distance between the case of concrete, we call it Ec.
centroid of the slab (longitudinal axis centre of the slab,
called ) and the loads centre of gravity of the forklift trucks
loaded axle (Cc)
max: Maximum stress developed on the slab by forklift
truck interaction (vehicle axle load) slab (pavement)
subgrade
min: Minimum stress developed on the slab by forklift
truck interaction (vehicle axle load) slab (pavement)
subgrade
Where: min
y1 = x + min (4)
D
max = Stress on the soil (subgrade) due to forklift truck
min max
y2 = x (5)
load E
L = Slab width The equilibrium differential equations must be born in mind
when calculating the bending moment:
e = Eccentricity corresponds to the distance between the
centroid of the slab (longitudinal axis centre of the slab, For Figure 5 and with equation 3, we have:
called ) and the loads centre of gravity of the forklift trucks (6)
loaded axle (Cc). Figure 3 shows Cc when P1 = P2.
It has been demonstrated in texts on the mechanics of The bending moment between point 0 and L (see Figures 2,
materials that, for beams, the relationship between bending 3 and 4) is then calculated by adding the bending moments
moment and radius of curvature is as follows: caused by each load for equilibrium.
A NEW METHOD FOR DESIGNING FLOOR SLABS ON GRADE DUE TO THE DIFFICULTY OF APPLYING SIMPLIFIED DESIGN METHODS,
AMONGST THEM BEING THE PORTLAND CEMENT ASSOCIATION (PCA) AND WIRE REINFORCEMENT INSTITUTE (WRI) METHODS
M p1 = P1 x A (11)
Equation (13):
(13)
M y1 indicates the bending moment caused by load y1. I = moment of inertia of the slabs transversal sectional
Calculating the bending moment for the rest of the loads regarding centroid axis and variable c measured starting
using the same methodology and using the same notation, from this axis
we have: Establish allowable stresses. The stresses should
Equation (10): not exceed the elastic limit at any point.
max 3
(10)
The following maximum compression and tension stress are
M y2 = xD recommended:
6E
Equation (14):
max compression = 0.45 fc = allowable concrete compression
stress
CAMERO
A plain concrete slab was obtained (without reinforcement) Minors charts show that there are 50 allowable repetitions of
having t=19.3 cm thickness (7.6 inches) with a safety factor loaded axles for the 0.83 (applied/MR=0.83) relationship with
of 2.0 and according to PCA and the WRI design charts (the 127.4 KN (13,000 Kgs.=28.6 Kips) for the given example.
same was obtained when applying equation 15). Current PCA and WRI safety factor for example 1 is 1.2 and
not 2.0 as we believed according to PCA and WRI design
A plain concrete slab having t=24.9 cm (9.8 inches) charts. The previous safety factor allowing only 50 repetitions
thickness was obtained with bending moment obtained of loaded axles explains why the slab (pavement) works
according to the Camero method. well at the beginning but begins to fail from fatigue within
a short period of time.
The preceding results would be identical if highway
pavement were to be designed instead of an industrial floor. A typical example of an industrial floor in which the forklift
The question was thus posed: Why does the pavement work trucks loaded axle centroid is eccentric with the slab
with PCA and WRI design thickness methods? centroid (and will always remain so during forklift truck
operation) is illustrated in Figure 6. It shows storage racks
If the maximum stresses applied to the slab were calculated with a narrow aisle where the aisle width is similar to forklift
with PCA and WRI methods the following was found truck width plus a small margin. Forklift trucks are used which
(applying equation 15) with t=7.6 inches (19.3 cm) and turn 90, also known as swing forklift trucks.
M=2,900 pounds inch/inch (12.9 KN m/m):
The PCA and WRI slab on grade design methods for y las losas as diseadas admitirn un nmero pequeo de
industrial floors led to a design for concrete fatigue, even repeticiones de cargas a fallar por fatiga.
though 2.0 was used when estimating the safety factor
(calculated in relation to the modulus of rupture) that Proponemos que para disear losas sobre terreno para pisos
allows that the slabs of plain concrete sustain an infinite industriales se utilice el mtodo Camero que hemos pro-
number of load repetitions. This happens in the case that puesto, con un factor de seguridad de 2,0. Si el periodo de
the forklift trucks centroid loaded axle is eccentric with the vida til de la obra es muy corto se puede reducir el factor
slabs centroid. When the preceding occurs, the bending de seguridad pero se deber calcular el trnsito que tendr
moment applied by the forklift truck loads is greater than la losa durante el periodo de vida til para verificar que no
that proposed by the PCA and WRI methods; the slabs so habr falla por fatiga.
designed will allow a smaller amount of load repetitions to
fail by fatigue. Notation
The following symbols are used in this paper:
Designing slabs on grade for industrial floors should use the
recommended process (Camero method), having a safety WS: Wheel spacing of the forklift trucks loaded axle
factor of 2.0. If the slabs useful life (pavement) is very short, A: Distance between the slabs left edge and the centerline
the safety factor can be decreased but the traffic the slab of the first wheel of the forklift trucks loaded axle
will have during its period of useful life must be calculated
B: Distance between the slabs right edge and the centerline
to verify that there will be no failure due to fatigue. of the second wheel of the forklift trucks loaded axle
Conclusiones C: Distance between the slabs left edge and the centerline
of the second wheel of the forklift trucks loaded axle
Se presenta un nuevo mtodo para el diseo de losas sobre D: Distance from the slabs left edge to the point where
terreno para pisos industriales. Este nuevo procedimiento subgrade reaction is zero
de diseo es llamado el mtodo Camero. Su ventaja es que
E: Distance from the slabs right edge to the point where
analticamente calcula el momento flector transmitido por
subgrade reaction is zero
el montacargas a la losa. El mtodo Camero revela que el
momento flector transmitido por el montacargas a la losa L: Slab width
es mucho ms grande que aquel que ha sido considerado
P1: Load applied by the forklift truck on the loaded
por los mtodos tradicionales de diseo, entre ellos los de axles left wheel
la PCA y WRI. Este artculo detalla adems cmo los pisos
industriales diseados con los mtodos tradicionales reducen P2: Load applied by the forklift truck on the loaded axles
su periodo de vida til. right wheel
e: Eccentricity. It corresponds to the distance between the
Los pisos industriales diseados con el mtodo Camero
slabs centroid (longitudinal axis center of slab, called )
pueden admitir un nmero infinito de trafico, en cambio
and the loads gravity center of the forklift trucks loaded
los diseados con los mtodos tradicionales nicamente axle (Cc).
admitirn un nmero finito de trfico (nmero limitado de
: The slabs central longitudinal axis. The slabs centerline
repeticiones de carga). Es decir, para un periodo de vida
til de 50 aos, un piso diseado con el mtodo Camero Cc: Load gravity center of forklift trucks loaded axle
durar 50 aos. El mismo piso diseado con los mtodos max: Maximum stress developed in the slab by the forklift
tradicionales puede durar nicamente un ao, ya que truck (vehicle axle load) slab (pavement) subgrade
soportar un nmero de trfico menor. (En este ejemplo, interaction
en el periodo de un ao el nmero de aplicaciones del eje min: Minimum stress developed in the slab by the forklift
cargado es igual al nmero de repeticiones admisibles por truck (vehicle axle load) slab (pavement) subgrade
el concreto). interaction
max bending: Maximum bending stress applied to the industrial
El mtodo de diseo de losas sobre terreno para pisos in- floor (slab) in direction x
dustriales de la PCA y la WRI nos conduce a un diseo por
M: Bending moment.
fatiga del concreto a pesar de haber utilizado en el clculo
un factor de seguridad de 2,0 (medido con relacin al m- c: Distance from the fiber farthest away from the slab to
dulo de rotura, MR) que permite que las losas de concreto the central axis of the slabs transverse section
simple admitan un nmero finito de repeticiones de cargas. I: Moment of inertia of the slabs transverse sectional,
Lo anterior en el caso de que el centroide del eje cargado regarding central axis and variable c measured from
del montacargas sea excntrico con el centroide de la losa. this axis
Cuando lo anterior ocurre el momento flector ocasionado y1: Distributed load on the slab by forklift truck (vehicle axle
por las cargas del montacargas es mucho mayor al que tie- load) slab (pavement) subgrade interaction and with
nen en cuenta los mtodos de diseo de la PCA y la WRI, downward direction (positive vertical force: +)
A NEW METHOD FOR DESIGNING FLOOR SLABS ON GRADE DUE TO THE DIFFICULTY OF APPLYING SIMPLIFIED DESIGN METHODS,
AMONGST THEM BEING THE PORTLAND CEMENT ASSOCIATION (PCA) AND WIRE REINFORCEMENT INSTITUTE (WRI) METHODS
y2: Distributed load on the slab by the forklift truck (vehicle MR: Modulus of concrete rupture
axle load) slab (pavement) subgrade interaction and k: Modulus of subgrade reaction
with upward direction
Bibliographic
M y1: Indicates the bending moment caused by load y1
Yoder, E.J. and Witczak, M.W., Principles of Pavement
M y2: Indicates the bending moment caused by load y2 Design., 2nd. edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York,
M p1: Indicates the bending moment caused by load P1 1975.
Ringo, B.C. and Anderson R.B., Designing Floor Slabs
M p2: Indicates the bending moment caused by load P2 On Grade., 2nd. edition, Illinois, The Aberdeen Group,
fc: Compressive strength of plain concrete as measured 1996.
from standard cylinder [6 inch x 12 inch (152 mm x Camero, H.E., Diseo y Construccin de placas de
305 mm)] test contrapiso industriales sin juntas en concreto reforzado.,
Asociacin de Ingenieros Civiles de la Universidad Nacional
Ec: Modulus of concrete elasticity de Colombias Journal, No. 31, Junio, 2002, pp. 12-13.