SEISMIC PERFORMANCE OF TRADITIONAL BEAM-SLAB AND FLAT SLAB SYSTEMS: AN EXTENSIVE ANALYSIS

Abstract The seismicity of slab systems is significant in the overall safety, stability, and resilience of the reinforced concrete constructions erected on the earthquake-prone areas. The conventional beam slab systems have been known to possess a sound load transfer mechanism, increased lateral stiffness, increased ductility, and improved energy dissipation capacity all which lead to increased seismic resistance and controlled deformation during the movement of the ground. On the other hand, the growing use of flat slab systems, as a result of building flexibility, lower floor height, and efficiency in constructions, has cast serious structural concerns, because of their lower rigidity, amplified drift response, stress concentration at slab-column interface and their vulnerability to punching shear failure in seismic conditions. The review is based on the results of large scale experimental studies, advanced numerical modeling, and real life case studies of earthquakes in the attempt to offer a conclusive comparative assessment of the two slab systems. The research draws important behavioral variations in terms of stiffness deterioration, strength ability, ductility variables, load transfer proficiency, deflection character, and collapse mechanisms. Moreover, it reinforces the significance of performance based seismic design, the use of reinforcement details and the use of strong reinforcing details, drop panels, column capitals, shear reinforcements, and even integration with shear walls, to improve the seismic reliability of flat slab structures. In general, the review highlights that, although beam slab systems are usually more predictable and resilient with regard to seismic performance beam slabs, flat slab systems can be made to reach satisfactory levels of safety through effective design improvements, which is why informed system selection and detailing are the key to resilient and sustainable structural design.