CM

CM 420
420 Temporary Structures
Slab Form Design

CM 420
Temporary Structures

Temporary
Structures
Slab Form Design

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab Formwork

Parts of typical slab formwork

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CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab Formwork
ƒ Design Steps:
ƒ Step 1: Estimate design loads
ƒ Step 2: Sheathing thickness and spacing of
its supports (joist spacing)
ƒ Step 3: Joist size and spacing
of supports (stringer spacing)
ƒ Step 4: Stringer size and span (shore
spacing)
ƒ Step 5: Shore design to support stringers
ƒ Step 6: Check bearing stresses
ƒ Step 7: Design lateral bracing
3

Professor Kamran M. Nemati

Winter Quarter 2007 1
CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures
Slab Form Design

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab form Example

ƒ Design forms to support a flat slab floor 8
in. thick of normal weight concrete, using
construction grade Douglas Fir-Larch
forming members and steel shoring.
Ceiling height is 8 ft. and bays are 15x15
ft. Since forms will have continuing reuse,
do not adjust base design values for short
term load.

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab form Design Example

ƒ STEP 1: ESTIMATE LOADS:
ƒ Dead load, concrete and rebar,
[8 in. / (12 in./ft.)]x 150 pcf = 100 psf
ƒ Minimum construction live load on forms
50 psf (refer to lecture #1)
ƒ Weight of forms, estimated
8 psf

Total form design load

100 + 50 + 8 = 158 psf
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CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab form Design Example

ƒ STEP 2: SHEATHING DESIGN:
ƒ Assuming 3/4-in. form grade plywood
sheathing, from Tables 4-2 and 4-3:
ƒFb = 1545 psi
ƒFS = 57 psi
ƒE = 1,500,000 psi
ƒS = 0.412 in.3
ƒI = 0.197 in.4
ƒIb/Q = 6.762 in.2
6

Professor Kamran M. Nemati

Winter Quarter 2007 2
CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures
Slab Form Design

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab form Design Example

ƒ STEP 2: SHEATHING DESIGN:
ƒ Tables 4-2 and 4-3, for plywood:

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab form Design Example

ƒ CHECK BENDING
ƒ For design purposes, consider a 1-foot-wide
strip of plywood. Then:
w = design load of 158 psf × 1 ft. = 158 lb/lf
fS
l = 10.95
w
ƒ Substituting in the equation:

1545 × 0.412
l = 10.95 = 22.0 in.
158
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CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab form Design Example

ƒ CHECK DEFLECTION
ƒ For Δ = l/360:

EI 1500000 × 0.197
l = 1.693 = 1.693 = 1.693 1870 = 20.8 in.
w 158

ƒ For Δ = 1/16”:

EI 1500000 × 0.197
l = 3.234 = 3.234 = 3.234 1870 = 21.2 in.
w 158

Professor Kamran M. Nemati

Winter Quarter 2007 3
CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures
Slab Form Design

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab form Design Example

ƒ CHECK ROLLING SHEAR
ƒ For design purposes, consider a 1-foot-wide
strip of plywood. Then: VQ
FS =
Ib
ƒ since Vmax = 0.6wL , so:
VQ Q FS Ib
FS = = 0.6 wL × or: L= ×
Ib Ib 0 .6 w Q
ƒ Substituting in above equation:
FS Ib 57
L= × = × 6.762 = 4.0 ft. or 48 inches
0.6 w Q 0.6 × 158
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CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab form Design Example

ƒ From the above calculations, l = 20.8 in.
governs.
ƒ Meaning that joist supports CANNOT be
more than 20.8 inches apart.
ƒ HOWEVER, in order to select the span, we
must consider the size of the plywood
sheets and equal spacing of supports.
ƒ In this case, 5 equal spaces of 19.2 inches
on an 8-ft. wide plywood sheet will be
appropriate.
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CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab form Design Example

ƒ STEP 3: JOIST SIZE AND SPACING OF
STRINGERS TO SUPPORT THE JOISTS:
ƒ Check 2x4 construction grade Douglas-Fir-Larch as
joist (forms are used repeatedly, so there is no
short-term load adjustment).
ƒ From Table 4-2: Fb = 1000 psi and FV = 95 psi and
should be adjusted for horizontal shear by a factor
of 2. E = 1,500,000 psi. F ′ = 2.0 × 95 = 190 psi
V

12

Professor Kamran M. Nemati

Winter Quarter 2007 4
CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures
Slab Form Design

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab form Design Example

Joist spacing, in.
w= × design load, psf
12 in. ft.
19.2 in.
w= ×158 psf = 253 lb lf
12 in. ft.

ƒ From Table 4-1B, for S4S 2x4s: bd = 5.25 in.2,

I = 5.36 in.4, and S = 3.06 in.3

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Slab form Design Example

ƒ CHECK BENDING
Fb′S 1000 × 3.06
l = 10.95 = 10.95 = 38.1 in.
w 253

ƒ CHECK DEFLECTION
ƒ For Δ = l/360

EI 1500000 × 5.36
l = 1.693 = 1.693 = 1.693 31778 = 1.69 × 31.67 = 53.5 in.
w 253

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CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab form Design Example

ƒ CHECK SHEAR
ƒ Using the horizontal shear stress formula
for a uniformly loaded continuous beam:
0.9 w ⎛ 2d ⎞
fV = ⎜L− ⎟
bd ⎝ 12 ⎠
0.9 × 253 ⎛ 2 × 3.5 ⎞
fV = 190 = ×⎜ L − ⎟
5.25 ⎝ 12 ⎠
190 = 43.37 L − 25.3 ⇒ L = 4.69 ft.

ƒ Or L = 4.69’x12 in./ft. = 59.5 inches

15

Professor Kamran M. Nemati

Winter Quarter 2007 5
CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures
Slab Form Design

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab form Design Example

ƒ Comparing the three spans calculated
above, l = 38.1 inches governs.
ƒ Considering 15x15 feet bays and
desire for uniform spacing, 36 inch
spacing is a reasonable number.
ƒ This means that the spacing of
stringers will be at 5 equal spaces per
bay.
(5 × 36′′ = 180 inches = 15 feet )
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CM 420
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Slab form Design Example

ƒ STEP 4: STRINGER SIZE AND SPAN:
Stinger spacing, in. 36 in.
w= × load on form, psf = × 158 psf = 474 lb lf
12 in. ft. 12 in. ft.

ƒ Use 4x4 Construction grade Douglas-Fir-Larch

stringers. From Table 4-1B for S4S 4x4s: bd =
12.25 in.2, I = 12.50 in.4, S = 7.15 in.3; and d
= 3.5 in.
ƒ CHECK BENDING
FV′ S 1000 × 7.15
l = 10.95 = 10.95 = 42.5 in.
w 474
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CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab form Design Example

ƒ CHECK DEFLECTION
ƒ For Δ = l/360
EI 1500000 ×12.50
l = 1.693 = 1.693 = 1.693 39557 = 1.69 × 34.07 = 57.6 in.
w 474

ƒ CHECK SHEAR
ƒ Use the horizontal shear stress formula for a
uniformly loaded continuous beam:
0. 9 w ⎛ 2d ⎞ F ′bd 2d
FV′ = ⎜L− ⎟ ⇒ L= V +
bd ⎝ 12 ⎠ 0.9 w 12

190 × 12.25 2 × 3.5

L= + = 5.45 + 0.58 = 6.03 ft = 72.4 in.
0.9 × 474 12
18

Professor Kamran M. Nemati

Winter Quarter 2007 6
CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures
Slab Form Design

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab form Design Example

ƒ From the above calculations, l = 42.5 in.
governs.
ƒ Meaning that stringers CANNOT be more
than 42.5 inches apart (span of stringers).
ƒ HOWEVER, in order to select an
appropriate span, we must consider the
dimensions of the bay.
ƒ The 15-ft. bay could be divided into 5
equal spaces of 36 inches (180”/5 =
36”) which is less than the maximum
allowable span of 42.5 inches. 19

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab form Design Example

ƒ Alternatively, we can check the possibility of using
a deeper stringer, i.e. 3x6, in order to increase the
shore spacing.
ƒ Since bending is dominant here, we will check
bending for a 3x6 member.
ƒ For S4S 3x6s from Table 4-2: Fb = 1000 psf, and
from Table 4-1B, S = 12.60 in.3
Fb′S 1000 ×12.60
l = 10.95 = 10.95 = 10.95 × 5.16 = 56.4 in.
w 474
ƒ Now we can use 45-in. support spacing for the 3x6
stringers, which will divide the bay into 5 equal
spaces.
20

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab form Design Example

ƒ STEP 5: SHORE DESIGN:
ƒ Stringers are placed 36-inches apart,
supported by shores spaced 45 inches apart.
The area of support for each shore is:

Area = (36 / 12) × (45 / 12) = 11.25 ft.2

ƒ Then the total load per shore is:

11.25 ft.2 × 158 psf = 1778 lb.

21

Professor Kamran M. Nemati

Winter Quarter 2007 7
CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures
Slab Form Design

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab form Design Example

ƒ Schematic design:

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CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab form Design Example

ƒ Refer to Table 7-11 for wood shoring
material. Both 3x4 and 4x4 are
more than adequate to carry 1778
lbs for an effective length of 8 ft.

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CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab form Design Example

ƒ Step 6: Check Bearing Stresses:
ƒ Bearing should be checked where
stringers bear on shores and where
joists bear on stringers.
ƒ Stringers bearing on shore:
ƒ Assume the head piece of the adjustable steel
shore is 11½x3 5/8". The 3x6 stringer is
actually 2½ in. thick.

24

Professor Kamran M. Nemati

Winter Quarter 2007 8
CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures
Slab Form Design

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab form Design Example

ƒ If the headpiece is placed parallel to the
stringer, bearing area is 2½x11½ or
28.75 in.2. Bearing stress will be:
total shore load 1778
= ≅ 62 psi
bearing area 28.75
ƒ This is well below the base Fc⊥, which is
obtained from Table 4-2 (the value of
compression ⊥ to grain, Fc⊥, for No. 2
2×4 Douglas Fir-Larch is 625 psi).
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CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Slab form Design Example

ƒ Joist bearing on Stringers:
ƒ The two members are 1½ and 2½ in. wide.
ƒ Contact bearing area = 2½x1½ = 3.75 in.2
ƒ Average load transmitted by joist to stringer is:

Joist spacing x joist span x form load

19.2 36
× ×158 = 758 lb.
12 12

758 lb
= 202 psi
3.75 in.2
Bearing at this point is also low relative
to the 625 psi base value for Fc⊥.
26

Professor Kamran M. Nemati

Winter Quarter 2007 9