What is Slab, Beam, Column, and Construction?

 

Structural engineers make much consideration when turning structural design into reality. One of the important things to consider is the stability upon which the whole structure is dependent. Stability is a determining factor of how long the building will stay safe. Columns, slabs and beam play an important role in withstanding the weight of the building.

The slab is an essential structural element designed to create important surfaces, including roofs, floors, and ceilings. It has a top and bottom portion with horizontal structural components. It is mainly used for providing support to the columns and beams. 

Beams

Beams are defined as horizontal rods which help to carry loads of the building. The beams are made in such a way that helps to withstand the load of building ceilings, floors, and roofs. To support the combined weight of stacked walls and transfer the support load, larger and heavy beams are sometimes applied. As discussed below, beams are used to withstand the weight of ceilings, floors, and roofs by distributing the overall weight.

Design

Talking about the design, it needs to be carefully considered by a structural engineer. In order to make the beam, the engineers need to do the required calculation such as beam size, shape, and load on the structure. The dimension of the beam is fixed in line with the internal forces.

Material

For new construction, the materials used to make the beams are steel, concrete, grouted masonry, and wood. An experienced engineer will help to pick the material in accordance with the geometry of the building, fire rating, and budget of the building. 

Columns

The column serves the same purpose as beams. Particularly they are vertical components that distribute the total load.

Location

The columns should be positioned in an appropriate way, which will help increase the stability of the entire building.

Design

Initially, the engineers determine the amount of load that will be supported by the column. Based on the load the engineer will calculate the size of the columns. Therefore, like beams, columns are also crafted depending on the load values. Additionally, before designing the columns, the lateral forces due to earthquakes must be considered when choosing the size and shape of the column.

Material

Two basic materials are used for column construction, which are steel and concrete. Steel columns are categorized into three types: C section, I section, and hollow section. At the same time, concrete columns can be designed into circular and rectangular sections. The columns composed of steel and concrete are specifically used in multistory buildings where the amount of compressive weight is quite large.

Bottom Line

So you have now had a clear idea about slab and beam in a structural design. For getting more knowledge you can get in touch with Nova Formworks. This is a well-established company. They are a genuine dealer of tailored plastic formwork systems and their products are exported globally. The company is committed to providing fault-free products to their beloved clients so that they can retain customers’ trust.