Guide for Design of Slab-Column Connections in Monolithic Concrete Structures

Description

The recommendations in this guide are for determining connection proportions and details to provide adequate performance of cast-in-place reinforced concrete (RC) and post-tensioned concrete (PT) slab-column connections. The recommendations are written to satisfy serviceability, strength, and ductility requirements related to the intended functions of the connection.

Design of the connection between a slab and its supporting member requires consideration of both the joint and the portion of the slab, or slab and beams, immediately adjacent to the joint. Several connection failures associated with inadequate performance of the slab adjacent to the joint have been reported (Engineering News-Record (ENR) 1956,1971, 1973; Joint ACI-ASCE Committee 426 1974; Leyen-decker and Fattal 1977; Lew et al. 1982a,b; Rosenblueth and Meli 1986; Freyermuth 1989; Moehle 1996; Hueste and Wight 1997).

However, no reported cases of connection failure due to distress within the joint have been identified. Some connection failures have occurred during construction when young concrete slabs received loads from more than one floor as a consequence of shoring and reshoring (Agarwal and Gardner 1974; Lew et al. 1982a,b; Sbarounis 1984; ACI 347-05). The disastrous consequences of some failures, including total collapse of the structure, empha-size the importance of the design of the connection. These recommendations are intended to alert the designer to those aspects of behavior that should be considered in design of the connection and to suggest design procedures that will lead to adequate connection performance