NEHRP Clearinghouse

Title: Effective Width of Floor Systems for Application in Seismic Analysis.
File: PB81168296.pdf
Author(s): Cotran, F. S.; Hall, W. J.
Source: National Science Foundation, Washington, DC., November 1980, 96 p.
Identifying Number(s): ['STRUCTURAL RESEARCH SER-486', 'UILU-ENG-80-2021']
Abstract: Effective width coefficients for floor systems have been developed for use in the analysis of frames subjected to lateral seismic loads. The method described covers a wide range of practical values of the slab dimensions and can be applied to both steel and concrete frames and to cases of flat slabs as well as slabs with supporting beams. The investigation is based on a parametric study of typical interior panels of floor systems, with and without supporting beams, using elastic finite element analysis to model the behavior of the floor system when the frame is subjected to lateral loads. The theoretical derivation of the method and the procedure employed for the finite element analysis is covered. Results of the study and a proposed simplified method of analysis for estimating the composite properties are presented. Simple examples illustrate application of the method, emphasizing seismic analysis and the resistance of floor systems under dynamic loads.
Keywords: Composite beams; Floors; Dynamic loads; Finite element analysis; Buildings; Earthquake engineering; Dynamic structural analysis; Earthquakes; Lateral pressure