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Flexural Behavior of Tightly Spliced Concrete Composite Slabs with Diagonal Reinforcement
Zechao Zhang1, Kejian Cai1, Jiang Yin2
1Zhejiang Engineering Technology Research Center for Civil Engineering Industrialized Construction, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315211, China.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 13, 2025
Summary
This study introduces two novel composite slab designs for improved joint load transfer. Both designs demonstrated bending capacities comparable to cast-in-place slabs, offering practical engineering solutions.
Area of Science:
- Civil Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Standardized concrete composite slabs often face challenges in load transfer efficiency at closely spaced joints.
- Existing designs may not fully leverage the synergistic potential between precast base slabs and composite layers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and evaluate novel composite slab designs for enhanced joint performance.
- To investigate the flexural behavior and load transfer capabilities of new tightly spliced composite slab configurations.
Main Methods:
- Static loading tests were conducted on two novel composite slab designs: bent diagonal-reinforced and ribbed diagonal-reinforced tightly spliced slabs.
- ABAQUS finite element simulations were employed to analyze the structural behavior and validate experimental findings.
Main Results:
- Both novel slab designs exhibited excellent synergy between the precast base slab and the composite layer under load.
- The joint sections of the proposed slabs achieved bending capacities comparable to traditional cast-in-place slabs.
Conclusions:
- The proposed bent diagonal-reinforced and ribbed diagonal-reinforced tightly spliced slabs offer improved load transfer performance at joints.
- Finite element analysis provided design recommendations for the Ribbed Diagonal-Reinforced Tightly Spliced Slab, suitable for large-scale applications.
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