Openings in flat plate systems are essential for stairways, service ducts, ...etc. When openings exist in a plate, even if the sizes of the openings are relatively small as compared with the size of the plate itself, they are supposed to affect the structural performance of the plate and to cause reduction in its strength, stiffness and deformation capability, depending on the locations and number of the openings. The aim of this paper is to study the effect of the location of these openings on the behavior of R.C plates with edge beams. This requires proper combination of both the column, beam, and plate elements. A high precision isoparametric triangular thin layered element is used for modeling the studied plates while beams are modeled by a specially developed thick layered one, which takes shear deformation into consideration. Columns are represented by a group of springs of variable stiffnesses. Based on the comparison between the numerical results and those obtained by the available methods stated in the Egyptian and American Standards, recommendations for the analysis and design of reinforced concrete flat plates with openings are proposed. |
