Performance and Behavior of One-Way Reinforced Concrete Bubbled Slabs

Abstract

Bubbled reinforced concrete (RC) slab has emerged in the recent few years as a promising technology toward buildings sustainability. This work presented a systematic framework for examining the potential and behavior of one-way RC slabs with presence and absence of these plastic hollow spheres. Ten full-scale slabs of 3200 mm length, having a rectangular cross-section of 570 mm width and multiple depths of (150,130,124,117 and 105 mm), were tested as simply supported under four points loads. Diameters, center to center distance of plastic spheres, and equivalent self-weight are the major variables explored in this study, and the impact of every variable, on the ultimate load, flexural stiffness, rotation, deflection and strains, has been explored. Research outputs showcased that at the same stage of loading, the bubbled slab exhibited more deformations (deflection, rotation, strains, and cracks) than a reference solid slab with the same thickness. Whilst, a fewer deformation was witnessed if compared with their equivalent weight solid slabs. Besides that, the ultimate strength and flexural stiffness of bubbled slabs manifested a decrease with acceptable ratios and were compatible with their reduction weight ratios by (1.7%-11.7%) and (1%-36.8%) respectively. Meanwhile, these values were greater than equivalent solid slabs as a consequence of the reduced slab thickness by (4.3%-17.1) and (10.4%-28.2%), respectively.