A Numerical Investigation of the Structural Performance of Two Types of Reinforced Concrete Two-Way Slabs

This study compares the flexural behavior of two Reinforced Concrete (RC) floor systems, the flat slab system and the beam-slab system, using Finite Element Modeling (FEM) in ABAQUS. Both models were designed with equal concrete volume and reinforcement weight to ensure a fair basis for comparison. The flat slab system showed broadly distributed cracking and lower stress concentrations but exhibited a lower flexural capacity, failing at a maximum load of 199.71 kN. In contrast, the beam-slab system developed more concentrated cracking near supports, experienced higher reinforcement stresses, and sustained a higher load of 213.53 kN, although with greater deflection. These results align with previous studies, indicating that the beam-slab system offers better crack control and load-bearing capacity, despite increased deformation. With identical material quantities, the beam-slab system demonstrated higher flexural stiffness, whereas the flat slab system offered greater architectural flexibility. Overall, the findings underscore important structural and practical considerations for selecting efficient and reliable floor systems in modern RC design.