LimitState:SLAB

Automated yield-line analysis software

LimitState:SLAB is the only commercially available slab analysis software to systematically automate the well-known yield-line method, allowing the ultimate load capacity and critical failure mechanism to be calculated in seconds.

Reveal hidden strength in RC slabs

The yield-line method will often highlight that an existing slab has reserves of capacity, or that a new slab requires considerably less reinforcement than indicated by other methods.

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A Wide Range Of Reinforced Concrete Slab Analysis Applications

Building slab design

LimitState:SLAB can be used to analyse complex slab geometries with ease, often demonstrating that far less reinforcement and simpler bar mark arrangements can be employed.

Bridge deck assessment

With LimitState:SLAB the assessment of multiple load cases as a vehicle traverses a bridges can be accomplished with ease, unlocking potential surplus capacity.

Refurbishment projects

LimitState:SLAB enables structural engineers to deliver significant savings for their clients when undertaking structural analysis for refurbishment projects.

Complex reinforcement

With LimitState:SLAB it’s simple to analyse a problem with complex reinforcement patterns. Just outline the different areas of reinforcement and the software will do the rest.

Software Benefits

Fast

Set up and solve slab yield-line analysis problems in minutes. Rapidly explore “what if” scenarios. The animated yield-line failure mechanisms are quick and easy to interpret.

Powerful

Uses Discontinuity Layout Optimization technology to systematically automate the yield-line analysis method, analyzing billions of possible failure mechanisms and highlighting the critical one. Far more powerful than hand analysis methods and easier to use than Finite Element based tools.

Trusted

Exploits the full power of a tried and tested analysis method, verified against a wide range of benchmark yield-line analysis problems. LimitState software is used and trusted by engineers in over 30 countries worldwide.

Analysis Workflow

Define the problem geometry using the built-in drawing tools. Alternatively import DXF files directly or use the wizards to rapidly generate a standard slab problem.
Define the slab properties for the analysis. Assign these to problem geometry using drag and drop or the Property Editor.
Load types include pressure, point and line loading as well as self-weight. In addition to the more usual types, such as fixed, free and simple, boundaries can be set to be partially fixed, knife-edge and also consider the possibility of slab lift-off.
On solve, the software uses cutting-edge optimization techniques to automatically consider billions of potential yield-line mechanisms, identifying the critical case and associated factor of safety within seconds.
View and animate the yield-line mechanism solution for easy interpretation.
Generate reports of the problem definition and results, or export selected data for further analysis.

Analysis Technology

The Discontinuity Layout Optimization (DLO) approach used in LimitState:SLAB is underpinned by rigorous Limit Analysis theory. You can read more about how DLO identifies critical yield-line mechanisms in the Proceedings of the Royal Society.

Step 1 (a)

Step 1 (b)

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

How DLO works…

The user specifies the slab geometry (a), loading (b) and support conditions.
Nodes are distributed across the slab.
Potential yield-line discontinuities connect the nodes.
The layout of yield-line discontinuities forming the critical collapse mechanism are found using optimization, along with the corresponding collapse load factor.