Equivalent Uniformly-Distributed Live Load on Two-Way Slabs

Uniformly distributed loads are usually adopted in structural design. An equivalent distributed live load on slabs has been proposed by the Chinese Load Code for the Design of Building Structures (GB50009-2001) to simplify calculations, where it specifies that the maximum absolute value of bending moment produced by the equivalent uniformly distributed load should be equal to that generated by local loads by assuming that the slab is simply supported on all four edges under both loading conditions. This assumption has large error for two-way reinforced concrete slab structures which are usually fixed on all edges. In this paper, based on classical thin plate theory, an analytical solution for equivalent uniformly distributed live load is derived for two-way slabs either fixed or simply supported on all edges and subjected to local distributed load. The resulting equation is simple but with high accuracy. The analytical solution can be applied easily for design of slabs