TABLE OF CONTENT-

TABLE OF CONTENT- 1
1. Jack Arch - 2
1.1 Two way arch- 2
2. Loading - 4
2.1 Horizontal earthquake loads- 4
2.2 Vertical earthquake loads- 4
2.2.1 Dynamic response coefficient - 5
2.2.2 Performance factor of jack arch slab, Rw 7
3. Design Parameters - 8
4. Design of Reference Slabs- 8
4.1 Parametric Evaluation Of Design Parameter Factors - 9
5. Design Procedure - 14
6. References: 16

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 1.Jack Arch -
A jack arch is a structural element in masonry construction that provides support at openings in
the masonry.Unlike regular arches , jack arches are not curved in form. Instead, they are flat in
profile.

Different modes of failure of traditional one-way jack arch slab.

(i) movement of simply supported steel beams from their position under earthquake
shaking causing the collapse of brick arches
(ii) inability of the brick arches to transfer in-plane loads perpendicular to the steel
beams
(iii) concentration of stresses in the stiff brick arches due to out-of-plane vibration of
the slab
(iv) weakness of the slab system in transferring in-plane shear
(v) dynamic interaction between the stiff brick arches and the more flexible steel
beams under vertical vibration
(vi) inability of the slab to act as a diaphragm as is required for good seismic
performance

1.1 Two way arch-

To overcome the shortcomings of the one-way jack arch slab, the senior author has
recently proposed using a number of transverse steel beams spanned between the
main I-beams to form a steel grid . In this way the unconnected parallel steel beams
will become part of an interconnected steel grid, allowing the vertical loads to be
transferred in two directions, also enabling the transfer of the in-plane forces.

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The proposed two-way, steel grid, jack arch system therefore addresses all the
weaknesses of the traditional one-way slab as discussed below:

(i) The inability of the one-way slab in transferring the transverse in-plane loads
through the brick arches is overcome by inclusion of transverse steel beams.

(ii) In a two-way grid system, the brick arches are made discontinuous at the location
of transverse beams and become divided into a number of smaller panels
undergoing much smaller out-of-plane bending stresses.

(iii) Discontinuities in brick arches at the locations of transverse beams also act as
plastic hinges, which in turn reduces the overall stiffness of brick arches. On the
other hand, a steel grid will be stiffer than individual I-beams. Therefore, the two
systems will be dynamically more compatible and the effects of dynamic interaction
will be reduced.

(iv) The steel grid creates a homogeneous diaphragm action for the slab in such a
way that if some local failure in supporting walls or support beams occurs, the load
from the unsupported part of the slab will be carried by the continuous grid. This will
stop the partial collapse of the slab.

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(v) The steel grid will confine the brick arches in small (steel framed) panels where
no differential movements of the supporting steel occur during an earthquake and as
a result the arches remain in place.

(vi) By creating a stiff steel grid, the in-plane shear forces will be directed towards the
steel grid and away from the brick arches, hence the build up of stresses in brick
arches is avoided

2.Loading -

Loading to be considered in the design of jack arch slabs, are gravity and
earthquake loads.The earthquake loads, acting on a jack arch slab are in-plane
horizontal loads and out-of-plane vertical loads.

2.1 Horizontal earthquake loads-

The earthquake-induced horizontal forces acting on the slab may be either in-plane
axial or in-plane shear forces. The in-plane axial forces are caused by the inertia of
the slab alone. The in-plane axial forces are neglected for design purposes.

The in-plane shear forces, however, may be large and should be considered in
design. These forces are the result of differential movements of the parallel slab
supports caused by the torsion in the building. The horizontal shear force acting on
the slab may be determined by analyzing the building for earthquake loads, using an
equivalent-static, a pseudo-dynamic or a dynamic method.

2.2 Vertical earthquake loads-

The majority of stresses developed in the slab are due to the combined effects of
gravity and vertical earthquake loads.
The earthquake load, E, is related to the weight of the system, We, in the following
form:
E = CWe

We is considered as the total dead load plus live load

The earthquake coefficient, C, may be determined from the relation:

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 C= ABI/RW

Where, A is design base acceleration

B= dynamic response coefficient
I = importance factor
Rw= performance factor

The design base acceleration, A, is given by seismic codes for different localities.

2.2.1 Dynamic response coefficient -

This coefficient is a function of the soil type, To, and the fundamental period of
vibration of the system, T.
Assuming the slab as a linear, elastic rectangular plate bending element, the classic
solution for the fundamental bending mode of vibration is given in the following form:

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2Π𝑎
T= 0.5 sec
3 2
λ1[𝐸𝑒𝑓𝑓ℎ /12ρ(1−ν𝑚)]

In above equation ,
a= length of slab
h = thickness
𝐸𝑒𝑓𝑓 =effective elastic modulus
ρ = mass per unit area of slab
ν𝑚= Poisson’s ratio of the slab
λ1is a dimensionless parameter depending on the geometry of the plate and its
boundary conditions.

It was found that the effective elastic modulus of slab, Eeff, is linearly proportional to
the elastic modulus of brickwork, Em.
In the given figure, the ratio of effective elastic modulus of slab to elastic modulus of
brickwork (Eeff/Em) is plotted against Ws.
After determining Eeff, it is used to determine the fundamental period of vibration of
the slab.

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Fig.- The proposed dynamic response coefficient (B) for the jack arch slabs.

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2.2.2 Performance factor of jack arch slab, Rw

The system performance factor, Rw, corresponding to the UBC allowable stress
design format, is given by:
𝑅𝑤 =𝑅µΩ𝑌

where, 𝑅µ is ductility reduction factor

Ω 𝑖𝑠 over strength factor
Y is allowable stress factor

Fig. Ductility reduction factor (Rµ) for the jack arch slabs.

A safe value of Ω = 1.5 may be proposed for the overstrength of the jack-arch slab.
For steel construction, Y, varies between 1.4 to 1.5.

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 3.Design Parameters -
The parameters that affect the design are :
(i) dimensions of the slab
(ii) layout of the steel grid
(iii) boundary conditions and connections of slab elements
(iv) width and rise of brick arches
(v) loading, W,
(vi) elastic modulus of brickwork, Em
(vii) allowable stress of brickwork (fmall).

i) Dimensions and layout of slabs -

It is a useful common practice to limit the span of the main beams to 6.0 m.
In the proposed two-way system, if the transverse beams are to be effective in
carrying some load, it will be necessary to limit the transverse dimension of the slab
to twice the span of the main beams.
The maximum distance between the transverse beams should preferably be fixed as
twice the width of the arch i.e. brick panels have a maximum length to width ratio of
2.0.

ii) Width of Brick Arches-

In the construction of traditional jack arch slabs, the width of the arch varies from 80
cm to 1.0 m.
Numerical analyses carried out on slabs having different arch widths showed
optimum width to rise ratio of 16.

4. Design of Reference Slabs-

Required moment of inertia of slab -
The required moments of inertia of the main and transverse beams, Ireq, will be
determined from the following equation:
𝐼𝑟𝑒𝑞 = 𝐶𝑠𝐼𝑛
where,
𝐶𝑠 =αβωϵλ
𝐼𝑛 is the minimum moments of inertia of the main and transverse beams
α, β, ω, ε and λ are the factors

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4.1 Parametric Evaluation Of Design Parameter Factors -
The slab dimensions considered included;
3.0 by 3.2, 3.0 by 5.6, 4.5 by 4.8, 4.5 by 8.8, 6.0 by 6.4 and 6.0 by 12.0m
Steel grid configurations included;
(a) no transverse beams (one-way system)
(b) one transverse beam
(c) two transverse beams

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i) Slab support condition ( factor, α)

In Table 2 the correction factor, α, indicating the required change in the moment of
inertia of steel sections, is given for slabs of different sizes and steel grid
configurations.
Table 2:

ii) Width of Brick Arches ( factor, β)

In the construction of traditional jack arch slabs, the width of arch varies from 80 cm
to 1.0 m.Numerical analyses carried out on slabs having different arch widths
showed optimum width to rise ratio of 16. It is, therefore, recommended that, when
geometry of the slab dictates using shorter arches, the rise of arch to be taken as 5
cm and when a wider arch (up to 100 cm) becomes necessary, the rise of arch
should correspond to the width to rise ratio of 16.

The reference width of the arch used for design table analyses is 80 cm. When a
wider arch is used, a factor, β, should be applied to the supporting steel beams to
take into account the increased stresses in the brick arches.

This factor for different widths of arch is given in Table 3.

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Table 3:

iii) Loading, W (factor, ω) -

The design table is based on an equivalent static,vertical load of 1 ton/m2. Determine

the critical service gravity and vertical earthquake load combination, W (design load),
using any appropriate code recommendations (i.e. D + L or φ(D + L + E), etc.).
A factor is, therefore, necessary to account for variations in the load intensity. The
value of this correction factor for loading other than reference loading is listed in
Table 4.

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iv) Elastic Modulus of Brickwork, Em (factor, ε) -

Similar stress analyses to those mentioned above were carried out on the selected
slabs, this time changing the variable parameter to elastic modulus of brickwork.
Values between 2.5 GPa and 20.0 GPa were used for Em in different analyses. The
value of elastic modulus used as a basis for comparison was taken as Em = 2.5 GPa
which corresponds to the elastic modulus of the lightweight, perforated brick-lime
mortar prism.
The steel sections required to bring the maximum stress in brick arches to the level
of the reference slabs (Em = 2.5 GPa) were then normalized to the steel sections of
the reference slabs. The normalized values are equivalent to a factor, ε, which is
found to be proportional to Em in the following form;
ε = 1.0 + 0.4(Em – 2.5) (Em in GPa)

v) Allowable Stress of Brickwork, fmall (factor, λ)-

The allowable compressive stress of brickwork used to evaluate the design table
was assumed as 10 kg/cm2 (fmall = 0.2 f'm). For allowable stresses, fmall ≠ 10 kg/cm2,
another factor, λ, is used. The values of this correction factor are given in Table 5.

Table 5 has similarly been extracted from analyses in which steel sections for
different values of fmall were calculated.

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vi) Control of deflection -
Some codes of practice suggest a maximum allowable out-of-plane deflection of,
∆max =L/360.
This limit has been used for control of deflections in jack arch slab design. For every
slab size and steel configuration presented in the design table, the maximum
out-of-plane deflection of the slab was determined from the numerical analyses. This
deflection was in turn compared with the maximum allowable deflection and the
necessary changes in the design parameters, required to reduce the deflection to the
allowable limit and keep the stresses in brick arches and steel beams within their
specified allowable stresses, were calculated. A deflection parameter, γ, was then
calculated as;
γ = αβελ ≥ γmin

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 5.Design Procedure -
Based on the loading and design parameters discussed above, the following
procedure is proposed for design of one-way and two-way jack arch slabs:

Initial Design of Slab

i) Considering the dimensions of the slab, select the number of required main
beams. Adjust the width of the arch to match the actual dimensions of the slab (use
wider arches at the ends and smaller arches at the center).
ii) From the design table select the number of transverse beams required to control
the in-plane shear force on the slab (calculated from the seismic loading of the
building).
iii) From the selected steel configuration in the design table determine the moments
of inertia of the main and transverse beams, In.
iv) Calculate an initial load parameter, ω, from Table 4, assuming W as the sum of
service dead load and live load only.
v) Calculate initial Ireq for beams assuming Cs = ω.
vi) Select steel sections using Ireq .

Design Loads
vii) Calculate the vertical earthquake load
viii) Determine the critical service gravity and vertical earthquake load combination,
W (design load), using any appropriate code recommendations
(i.e. D + L or φ(D + L + E), etc.).

Correction Factors

ix) Considering the slab support condition, determine the slab support correction
factor, α, using Table 2.
x) If the width of the arch > 80 cm, determine the width of the arch correction factor,
β, using Table 3.
xi) Determine the vertical load correction factor, ω, using the calculated design load,
W, and Table 4.
xii) If Em ≠ 2.5 GPa, determine the Em correction factor, ε.
xiii) If fmall ≠ 10 kg/cm2, determine fmall correction factor, λ, from Table 5.
xiv) Calculate deflection control parameter, γ. Check that γ > γmin , if not ; γ = γmin
xv) Calculate design coefficient Cs, (Cs = γω).

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Final Design of Slab

xvi) Determine the Ireq for the beams of the selected configuration using Cs. If
necessary, change the size of the main and transverse steel sections to suit the
required moments of inertia, Ireq.
Note: The change in the size of steel sections may alter the vertical design load.

This change would not affect the other parameters. A recalculation of design load will
be necessary as stated in step (xvii). xvii) If in step (xvi) steel sections are changed,
repeat steps; (vii), (viii), (xi), (xv) and (xvi). xviii) . If necessary, increase the size of
transverse beams.

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6.References:
1. 13th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering Vancouver, B.C., Canada
August 1-6, 2004 Paper No. 3028 , SEISMIC EVALUATION AND DESIGN OF JACK
ARCH SLABS , Mahmoud R. MAHERI
2. Static and seismic design of one-way and two-way jack arch masonry slabs
Mahmoud R. Maheri , Hamid Rahmani Shiraz University, Department of Civil
Engineering, Shiraz, Iran Received 7 June 2001; received in revised form 26 May
2003; accepted 26 May 2003
3. ENCI 595.05- Masonry Arches, M. M. Reda Taha Design of Masonry Arches
4. 1997 UNIFORM BUILDING CODE Volume 2
5. Iranian code for seismic resistant design of buildings: Standard No. 2800", Building
and Housing Research Centre, Publication No. 82, Feb. 1988.

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