Hollow-Core Slab Designer (ACI 318-19)
Design one precast, pretensioned hollow-core slab unit, simply supported, with straight bonded strands, untopped or with an unshored composite topping, by ACI 318-19 (SI units) and the PCI methods. Pick a PCI generic section (4HC6, 4HC8, 4HC10 or 4HC12) from the library, type a circular-core section, or enter your producer's section data. One layer of bottom strands and optional top strands, normalweight concrete, uniform loads, a transverse line load (a wall across the span), a concentrated load and a longitudinal line load (a wall along the span) with the PCI load distribution.
Checks: prestress losses by the PCI method; stresses at transfer, at service and in handling; flexural strength by strain compatibility or the ACI approximate equation, with the compression block through the topping, the top flange and the cores; strand development and the design strength along the span; shear strength Vci and Vcw at 45 stations with the prestress reduced in the transfer zone (dry-cast units carry no stirrups) and the hollow-core shear rule; horizontal shear of the topping; camber, long-term position and deflections; bearing and cover.
Two live figures redraw from your inputs: the cross-section with its dimensions, strands and cores, and the elevation with the loads, bearings, transfer and development zones, lifting points and shear sections. The Design Check Summary lists every check with its ratio and status and ends in one overall result: HOLLOW-CORE SLAB ADEQUATE, ADEQUATE · SEE CHECKS, REVISE THE SLAB or INCOMPLETE DATA. Not covered: continuous or cantilevered slabs, debonded strands, mild bars in the cores, filled cores, openings and notches, diaphragm action, fire rating, lightweight concrete, vibration, ASD, Class C (cracked) design and load tables. The PCI generic sections are for preliminary design: use your producer's section and strand positions for the final design. The Read Me lists the items worth confirming.
References: ACI 318-19 in SI (ACI 318M-19) for strength, serviceability and detailing; PCI MNL-126-98 (2nd ed.) for losses, camber, composite design and load distribution; PCI Design Handbook 7th edition for the generic sections and the handling multipliers, with the printed page of each reference shown in the workbook. NSCP 2015 is not included in this edition. The method was checked against the worked examples of PCI MNL-126-98 (losses, stresses, flexural and shear strength, camber and deflection).
Every result is a visible Excel formula with ACI 318-19 section references. Includes the Excel workbook and a worked A4 sample calculation (an office floor slab, 4HC8 with a 50 mm topping, six 9.53 mm strands, slab length 8.0 m). One licence per engineer or office.
