Comparative Study of Analysis and Cost of Flat Slab and Conventional Slab Structures in Somalia-Mogadishu

Abstract

All Somalian cities favor vertical growth over lateral growth due to a combination of rapid population growth, fast urbanization, lack of urban infrastructures, and rising land prices. The use of conventional slabs has been common in Somalia, but nowadays flat slabs are widely used due to their advantages such as reduced story height, ease of formwork installation, and shorter construction period, all of which affect the cost of construction projects. However, accurate analysis and design are required for flat slabs since they are susceptible to punching shear. This study aims to investigate the performance and behavior of flat slab and conventional slab floor systems subjected to gravity loads and to compare the total cost of flat slab floor systems and conventional slab floor systems for formwork, required concrete, and steel reinforcement in Somalia. 8-story residential buildings with flat slab and conventional slab floor systems have been analyzed using ETABS software as per ACI 318-14 and ASCE 7-16. The results show that flat slab structures have obvious architectural and structural advantages and in addition, the cost of a conventional slab floor system is 18.3% to 19.9% higher compared to a flat slab floor system. Based on the cost analysis results obtained from this case study, it could be concluded that the flat slab floor system is economical compared to the conventional slab floor system in Somalia.

Keywords

• Conventional slab
• Cost
• ETABS
• Flat slab
• Somalia