MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF PLATES FROM APPROXIMATED METHOD

Resumo

Due to the lack of consensus among the several models applied to its internal forces

assessment, the design of slabs represents a task of reasonable complexity. The availability of high-
performance software allows its mechanical performance simulation from the continuous plate

concept. Despite its great acceptability the results obtained from such procedure are far from the
reality since the knowledge domain of the mechanical behavior of concrete yet did not reached
fullness. The validation of software’s can be performed by using simplified procedures adopting in
hand calculation or small algorithms. Such kinds of approaches are useful, including, as design
resources for more modest constructive units, namely, residential buildings or small commercial and
industrial structures. The Thin Plates Theory is applied to solid bodies composed by linear, elastic and
homogeneous material, whose thickness is inferior to its remaining dimensions. Some solutions of the
Differential Equation, derived from the referring Model, were proposed by Navier and by Levi. The
aim of this work is the analysis of mechanical performance of reinforced concrete slabs, layered upon
a group of high stiffness beams, from the Thin Plates Theory considering the solutions proposed by
Navier and by Levi. The obtained results have revealed that, even for that cases involving symmetrical
loading and edge conditions, the maximum bend moment in the “y” direction occur at a point deviated
from the center of the plate, and its magnitude is greater than that one recorded at the plate center.