Finite Element Analysis of Slab Deflection Due To Construction Loads

The construction phase of multi-story reinforced concrete buildings is considered as a critical phase in a building’s lifespan. Construction loads are likely to create additional deformations in the slabs, altering their serviceability. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how loads are distributed during construction and to estimate their effect on slab deflection at an early stage in the design process. In this paper, a finite element modeling process is developed to simulate the construction phase of a multi-story reinforced concrete building. The construction scheme involves the use of the shoring and reshoring system to transfer the load of newly cast floors to lower slabs. The model is employed to analyze the effects of construction loads on short-term and long-term slab deflection. The proposed modeling process takes into account construction sequences as well as time dependent properties of concrete. The modeling process is validated by comparing the model results to those of a case study from literature, which involved field measurements of slab deflections during the construction of a 28-story reinforced concrete building in Canada.