Overview

This course serves as an introduction to the specifications and construction of surface beds with solid concrete floor slabs, which are one of the only concrete elements designed to accommodate the properties of concrete and not to resist loading. Supporting layerworks are vitally important, particularly if the pavement is segmental and made up of concrete or clay prefabricated blocks. Furthermore, insurance claims for this application of concrete are high and misunderstanding of the basic principles of design and construction is common. Cracking in solid slabs due to poor accommodation of concrete shrinkage movements occurs frequently as does weak, powdery floor surfaces that create a dust nuisance, unacceptable to many clients.

Program Outline

This course covers aspects of:

• Properties of concrete necessary for specification of floors
• Selection of materials to minimise shrinkage, improve finish and increase abrasion resistance
• Subbases and support materials
• Required workability and avoidance of plastic shrinkage cracking
•  Finishing pavements in the green phase of concrete
• Required strength of concrete as assessed by compressive strength and more importantly by flexural strength
• Prevention of cracking
• Plastic cracking, its causes and avoidance
• Drying shrinkage cracking
• Types of joints and their location in the floor
  
  • Surface hardness and finishing technique
  • Construction of floors
• Bleeding and concrete temperature
• Method of placement
• Placement of reinforcement if required
• Segmental concrete pavements
  
  • Advantages and disadvantages
  • Classification of blocks and laying patterns
  • Transmission of lateral forces
  • Edge restrains
  • Bedding and jointing sand
  • The importance of lockup
• Segmental clay pavements
• Diagrams for pavement design as given in the clay pavement manual
• Expansion of clay and effect on pavement
  
  • Design of solid concrete pavement thickness
  • Floor thickness to accommodate support conditions and imposed loads
• Use of design charts given in the code of practice for floor design for forklifts, posts and uniformly distributed loads

Who Should Attend?

• Concrete for Contractors
• Consultants
• Designers
• Constructors
• Supervisors
• project managers
• Client and government bodies
• Civil Engineers
• Structural Engineers
• Engineers