Design of reinforced concrete slabs : Python-based automation of reinforcement design and layout

Sammanfattning

This thesis presents a computational framework for the automated design verification and reinforcement mapping of reinforced concrete (RC) slabs based on finite element method (FEM) results. Instead of performing new FEM analyses, the work focuses on post-processing nodal internal forces—primarily bending moments—exported from the commercial FEM software BRIGADE Plus. The main objective is to automate structural verification according to Eurocode 2 and to compute the required reinforcement areas continuously across the entire slab domain.A Python-based tool has been developed to evaluate both Ultimate Limit State (ULS) and Serviceability Limit State (SLS) conditions at each node of the FEM mesh. The program implements Eurocode 2 design equations, automatically determines the required reinforcement in two orthogonal directions, and visualizes the results as contour plots, providing intuitive reinforcement demand maps. This enables a transparent, detailed, and data-driven approach to slab design. The proposed methodology is validated through a case study comparing the computational results with a traditional design report for an existing bridge slab. The findings demonstrate that the developed tool effectively streamlines the design process, reduces material usage, and enhances both efficiency and clarity in the reinforcement layout, while fully complying with Eurocode design standards.