Hollow core slab
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A hollow core slab , also known as a voided slab (German: Hohlkörperplatte, Swedish: hålplatta, Finnish: ontelolaatta) is a prefabricated slab of prestressed concrete typically used in the construction of floors in multi-storey apartment buildings. The slab has been expecially popular in countries, where the emphasis on home construction has been on affordable housing, including socialist countries of Eastern Europe and the nordic countries.
The concrete slab has tubular "holes", with diameter nearly equal to the thickness of the slab extending the full length of the slab. This makes the slab much lighter than a massive floor of equal thickness or strength. The slabs are typically 120 cm wide with standard thicknesses between 15 cm and 50 cm. The concrete I-beams between the holes carry the steel rods that provide the compressive stress that holds the slab together under heavy loads.
The slabs are produced at the factory, typically in lengths of about 100 meters, by extruding wet concrete along with the steel rods from a moving mold. The slab is then cut to pieces according to the lengths needed at the construction site.
A voided slab is a poor sound insulator. To meet modern standars of soundproofing the floor needs to be covered with a soft floor covering able to dampen the sound of steps. An alternative is to use a thin "floating" slab of concrete insulated from the voided slabs.
[edit] Bridges
Voided slabs are also used in the construction of bridges. In many cases the slab in molded in situ.
[edit] Diagram
Diagram showing the structure of a voided slab:
_______________ Upper surface OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Holes --------------- Lower surface
[edit] External links
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