Proof testing of a noncomposite floor system
A suspended concrete slab in a noncomposite floor system construction exhibited cracking in the upper surface, which was considered to be aggravated by the movement of heavy steel wheeled trolleys. A critical section of the floor was carefully instrumented for deflection and strain measurements and readings were taken with the heaviest service load at locations for maximum stress. The results established that the resulting induced stresses were relatively small, well below the allowable working values, which confirmed the prognosis that the complete floor was acting as an I-beam bridge structure. Accordingly, the floor was considered adequate to carry the 23.5 ton (21.3 Mg) moving trolley load.