Finite Element Analysis of Plain Cement Concrete Slab With and Without Opening: A Review

Abstract

In modern construction practices, plain cement concrete (PCC) slabs are often designed with openings to accommodate services such as electrical conduits, plumbing, and ventilation ducts. However, the introduction of openings leads to significant changes in the structural behavior of slabs, including increased deflections, stress concentrations, and potential early cracking. This research presents a comprehensive finite element analysis (FEA) study on PCC slabs with and without openings, considering different concrete grades (M20, M30, M40, and M60). The slabs were modeled under simply supported conditions and subjected to a uniform distributed load. Various parameters were analyzed, including opening size and location. In this paper, we are conducting a literature review regarding analysis of plain cement concrete slab

Introduction

Plain Cement Concrete (PCC) slabs are fundamental in construction due to their cost-effectiveness, ease of use, and durability, commonly used in floors, pavements, and structural decks. Despite their strengths, innovations are needed to meet evolving design and sustainability standards.

A key innovation involves pre-designed hollow openings within PCC slabs, which:

• Reduce slab weight, improving structural efficiency (especially in high-rise buildings).

• Facilitate MEP system integration, avoiding post-drilling damage.

• Lower material use, reducing environmental impact by minimizing cement and aggregate, aligning with sustainable construction goals.

II. Literature Review Highlights

???? Structural Behavior & Analysis Methods

• Jofriet & Gregory (1971): Used finite element analysis (FEA) to study bending and cracking in reinforced slabs; Beeby method offered better rigidity predictions.

• Peter Marti et al. (1990): Developed truss-model design for transverse shear transfer in reinforced slabs.

• Earij et al. (2017): Created a nonlinear FEM to simulate RC slab behavior under transverse loads, incorporating tension stiffening effects.

???? Impact & Punching Shear Studies

• Kojima et al. (1991): Impact tests using steel missiles showed that slab response depends on missile type and slab reinforcement.

• Marzouk & Hussein (1992): Found that high-strength concrete slabs have more brittle punching shear failure, and reinforcement ratio affects strength.

• Matthys & Taerwe (2000): FRP-reinforced slabs under concentrated loads showed interaction between shear and flexure.

???? Material Innovation & Repair Techniques

• Mosallam & Mosalam (2003): FRP strips effectively retrofitted/repaired slabs, increasing capacity by up to 500%.

• Foster et al. (2004): Demonstrated enhanced load capacity due to tensile membrane action in large-displacement slabs.

• Thanoon et al. (2005): Compared five repair methods (e.g., epoxy, carbon fiber); all improved the structural performance of cracked slabs.

???? Fiber & Alternative Reinforcements

• El-Sayed et al. (2005): FRP-reinforced slabs failed in shear; ACI design methods were overly conservative.

• Khaloo & Afshari (2005): Steel fiber length and volume increased energy absorption; proposed a design model for SFRC slabs.

• Roesler et al. (2006): Synthetic microfibers improved flexural capacity by up to 34%; fibers helped distribute stress more evenly.

• Schladitz et al. (2012): Textile-Reinforced Concrete (TRC) significantly increased load capacity and reduced deflection in large slabs.

???? Eco-Friendly Reinforcements & Sustainability

• Mali & Datta (2018): Bamboo used as an eco-friendly alternative to steel; bamboo-reinforced slabs showed comparable or better flexural performance than steel RC slabs.

• Abbas et al. (2022): Introduced Lead-loaded rice husk as an additive in PCC slabs to enhance flexural strength and promote toxic waste reuse—an innovative sustainability approach.

III. Key Takeaways from Research

• Hollow openings can improve material efficiency but must be carefully analyzed to avoid stress concentration and structural failure.

• Repair techniques (FRP, epoxy, grout, TRC) are widely validated for restoring or enhancing slab performance.

• Innovative materials like synthetic fibers, bamboo, TRC, and rice husk can offer eco-friendly, cost-effective alternatives to traditional reinforcement.

• Numerical tools like FEM are crucial for simulating slab behavior under different load, crack, and reinforcement scenarios.

If you’d like, I can also create:

• A table comparing the research works

• A presentation-style summary

• A brief conclusion or recommendation section based on this literature

Conclusion

Here in this paper, we are concluding several research papers regarding plain cement concrete slabs.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Mohd Anas Khan, Dr. Saleem Akhtar . This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.