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It is not permitted to use flat slabs as the primary lateral system in SDC "D". I
had asked the same question to ACI a while back and below is the official response
I had received from ACI subcommitte on moment frames:
As stated in Paulay and Priestly, Seismic Design of Reinforced Concrete and

Masonry Buildings, "flat slab systems supported by columns is considered to be
unsuitable on its own to provide satisfactory performance under seismic actions
because of excessive lateral displacements and the difficulty to providing the
adequate and dependable shear transfer between columns and slabs, necessary to
sustain lateral forces, in addition to gravity loads."
What is a Hidden Beam?

Hidden beam is a reinforced concrete beam, also called concealed beam provided
within the depth of supporting slabs. So, the depth of hidden beam is the same as
slab depth as it can be noticed in Figure 2. Concealed beams are popular and form
an essential part of modern reinforced concrete framed structures. Lastly, strict
and rigid architectural consideration led to the provision of hidden beams. In this
manner, the load which might be brick wall will be dealt with and height of the
floor will not be compromised. In this article, different aspect of reinforced
concrete hidden beams will be discussed.
WHAT IS HIDDEN/CONCEALED BEAM?
Hidden beams can be defined as the beams whose depth is equal to the thickness of
the slab. Hidden beams are also known as concealed beam.
Beams normally have a depth larger than the slab it is lifting, however, hidden
beams have the same depth as the slab, but it is reinforced separately from the
slab, having stirrups and longitudinal bars just as a normal beam. Hence they can’t
be seen after fulfilling it with concrete. They are hidden in the slab.
Hidden beams are generally inserted within the suspended slabs where slab thickness
is considerable. The concept of concealed beam originated from flat slab concept.
They are more applicable in commercial buildings.
PURPOSE OF HIDDEN BEAMS:
Hidden beams are used for the following purposes
1. To disperse loads on the supporting slab.
2. To break a wide panel of slab to considerable size.
3. To achieve maximum floor height.
4. To clear the way for electro-mechanical duct work.
5. To improve architectural aesthetic appearance by providing neat and leveled
ceiling surface.
ADVANTAGES OF HIDDEN BEAM:
1. It saves floor height clearance.
2. It allows if a brickwork needs to be constructed over the slab.
3. It is economical as it saves cost of materials, formwork, and labor.
4. It gives better aesthetic interior appearance.
DISADVANTAGES OF HIDDEN BEAM:
Structurally it creates a spanning problem, as spans for structural support are at
right angle to each other. This means one slab structurally rests over the other.
WHAT IS HIDDEN/CONCEALED BEAM?
Hidden beams can be defined as the beams whose depth is equal to the thickness of
the slab. Hidden beams are also known as concealed beam.
Beams normally have a depth larger than the slab it is lifting, however, hidden
beams have the same depth as the slab, but it is reinforced separately from the
slab, having stirrups and longitudinal bars just as a normal beam. Hence they can’t
be seen after fulfilling it with concrete. They are hidden in the slab.
Hidden beams are generally inserted within the suspended slabs where slab thickness
is considerable. The concept of concealed beam originated from flat slab concept.
They are more applicable in commercial buildings.
PURPOSE OF HIDDEN BEAMS:
Hidden beams are used for the following purposes
1. To disperse loads on the supporting slab.
2. To break a wide panel of slab to considerable size.
3. To achieve maximum floor height.
4. To clear the way for electro-mechanical duct work.
5. To improve architectural aesthetic appearance by providing neat and leveled
ceiling surface.
ADVANTAGES OF HIDDEN BEAM:
1. It saves floor height clearance.
2. It allows if a brickwork needs to be constructed over the slab.
3. It is economical as it saves cost of materials, formwork, and labor.
4. It gives better aesthetic interior appearance.
DISADVANTAGES OF HIDDEN BEAM:
Structurally it creates a spanning problem, as spans for structural support are at
right angle to each other.
This means one slab structurally rests over the other.
*******************
How do I calculate stairs?
Use a tape measure to record the distance from the upper floor to the lower floor.
If the flooring is not yet installed, add the thickness of the flooring to the
total rise. Divide the total rise by the estimated height of the stair risers (7- 7
3/4 inches) to determine the approximate number of stairs.How do I calculate
stairs?
Use a tape measure to record the distance from the upper floor to the lower floor.
If the flooring is not yet installed, add the thickness of the flooring to the
total rise. Divide the total rise by the estimated height of the stair risers (7- 7
3/4 inches) to determine the approximate number of stairs.

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11

As stated in Paulay and Priestly, Seismic Design of Reinforced Concrete and

What is a Hidden Beam?

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