Waffle slab with solid heads?

[zeeblake]

I've seen some tutorials and videos showing how to model a waffle slab, but they don't discuss how to create "solid heads" in the areas near columns, where shear is maximum. Is it possible to do so? Note that the dimensions of the solid heads must match the grid of the waffle slab ribs, as they are achieved by removing the corresponding hollow blocks near the columns.

Also, can I expect to get a good reinforcement design, or maybe some weird/abrupt changes between the ribbed and the solid areas could be generated by the software?

[Artur.Kosakowski]

Hi @zeeblake

I've seen some tutorials and videos showing how to model a waffle slab, but they don't discuss how to create "solid heads" in the areas near columns, where shear is maximum. Is it possible to do so?

You can model them as rectangular/square panels with the uniform thickness.

can I expect to get a good reinforcement design?

If you need to design reinforcement for the waffle slab part of the floor then it has to be modeled as a 'flat' panel on concrete beams modeled as bar elements as it is not possible to design reinforcement for orthotropic panel thickness corresponding the the waffle slab shape.

If I managed to answer your question(s) press the Accept as Solution button please. This will help other users to find solution(s) much faster. Thank you.

[zeeblake]

What about the solid heads? How would you introduce them in the model?

[Artur.Kosakowski · Accepted solution]

Hi @zeeblake

As rectangular panels with a (larger) uniform thickness.

See: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/robot-structural-analysis-forum/adding-a-different-thickness-to-part-...

If I managed to answer your question(s) press the Accept as Solution button please. This will help other users to find solution(s) much faster. Thank you.

[zeeblake]

Thanks a lot, Artur! I was afraid this could cause overlapping errors, but you explained the difference between overlapping and interior very clearly in that thread. Thanks!