Reinforced concrete slab design

Type of reinforced concrete slab

One way slab:

Definition: slab that is supported in one direction only.  The supports can be beams or walls.  If there are supported in all edges of the slab, the aspect ratio is large than 2.  The main reinforcement run in the short direction.  There in only temperature in the long direction.

Two way slab:

Two way slab is slab with supported beam at four edges and the aspect ratio is less than two.  The main reinforcements run in two perpendicular directions.

Flat slab and flat plate: 

Flat slab and flat plate are slab supported by columns without beams.  The aspect ratio is normally less than two.  The difference between flat slab and flat plate is that flat slab has  drop panel or column capital at column-slab joints.

Slab on grade:

Slab on grade are slab supported by ground.  The vertical load is transferred directly to soil.  Construction joints and control joints are used to control cracks due to shrinkage and temperature changes.  Reinforcement are also used for crack controls.

For industrial slabs that supporting rack posts.  The slab needs to be thick enough to effectively distribute post load to soil below without cracking the slab.  In addition, the slab also need to be able to support wheel load form forklift.  The flexural strength of concrete, the slab thickness, and the sub-grade reaction of soil are important for industrial slab design.