Author(s): Anna Kowalska

Abstract: Floor slab systems play a decisive role in the structural efficiency, serviceability, and economic performance of mid-rise buildings. Conventional reinforced concrete slabs have long been favored for their robustness and familiarity, yet growing demands for material efficiency, rapid construction, and sustainability have accelerated the adoption of lightweight floor slab systems. This research presents a comparative evaluation of conventional solid slabs and lightweight alternatives, including hollow-core, ribbed, and voided slab configurations, within the context of mid-rise building construction. The analysis focuses on structural behavior, load-carrying capacity, stiffness, deflection control, and vibration performance under typical gravity and service loads. In addition, material consumption, self-weight reduction, construction time, and cost implications are systematically examined. Analytical modeling and simplified design calculations are employed to ensure consistency with prevailing design standards while enabling objective comparison. Results indicate that lightweight slab systems achieve significant reductions in dead load, leading to improved seismic performance and potential savings in foundation and vertical structural elements. However, variations in flexural stiffness and detailing requirements influence serviceability performance and demand careful design consideration. Conventional slabs demonstrate superior simplicity in construction and predictable behavior but exhibit higher material usage and increased structural mass. The research highlights that no single slab system is universally optimal; rather, selection should be guided by building height, span requirements, construction logistics, and performance priorities. By synthesizing structural, economic, and practical perspectives, this research provides designers and engineers with a clear framework for selecting appropriate floor slab systems in mid-rise buildings, supporting informed decision-making and balanced structural design outcomes. Such comparative insight is particularly relevant for contemporary urban projects where regulatory constraints, sustainability targets, and lifecycle considerations increasingly shape structural choices across diverse construction contexts and support optimization of design strategies through rational evaluation of performance trade-offs during early planning stages for mid-rise reinforced concrete building systems globally.

DOI: 10.22271/27078280.2026.v7.i1a.62

Pages: 32-36 | Views: 1 | Downloads: 1

Download Full Article: Click Here