What Is Slab Beam / Hidden Beam / Concealed Beam | Advantage and Disadvantage

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.

Flat Beam

Slab Beam

An RCC beam is provided within the slab, which depth is equal to the slab depth refers to the hidden beam. It also refers to a  concealed beam. The hidden beam forms an integral part of the frame structure and is usually used.

Concealed Beam

Concealed beam is a reinforced concrete beam, also called concealed beam provided within the depth of supporting slabs. So, the depth of concealed beam is the same as slab depth as it can be noticed in the above figure. Concealed beams are popular and form an essential part of modern reinforced concrete framed structures.

Purpose of Slab Beam

Here, the different purposes of flat beams are as follows.

1. It helps to break the extensive slab panel into considerable size.
2. It helps to achieve the desired floor height.
3. It allows brickwork over the slab.
4. It helps to provide an easy path for ductwork.

Purpose of Hidden Beam

Here, the different purposes of hidden beams are as follows.

1. To disperse loads on the supporting slab.
2. To break a wide panel of slab to considerable size.
3. Around the cutouts.
4. To improve architectural aesthetic appearance by providing neat and leveled ceiling surface.

Purpose of Concealed Beam

Here, the different purposes of concealed beams are as follows.

1. It is used to help disperse load imposed on the slab.
2. It allows using a greater span of the slab.
3. Concealed beam area is provided exclusively for the architectural aesthetic purposes in the building interior.
4. To create a tying effect.

Advantages of Slab Beam

Here, the advantages of flat beam are as follows.

1. By providing slab Beam floor height can achieved, clears the way for electromechanical duct-work, economical and also aesthetic appearance of the building.
2. This is more applicable to commercial buildings.

Advantages of Hidden Beam

Here, the advantages of hidden beam are as follows.

1. It saves on floor height clearance.
2. Hidden beam saves cost of formwork, labor, and materials.
3. It creates an acceptable aesthetic appearance which permits for efficient interior space partitioning.
4. Concealed beam clears the way for horizontal electromechanical ductwork.

Advantages of Concealed Beam

Here, the advantages of concealed beam are as follows.

1. Concealed beam is used to saves the cost of shuttering, form work, labors and construction materials.
2. It gives clearance of storey height or floor to floor height.
3. It creates an acceptable aesthetic appearance
4. Concealed beam simplify the internal partition.
5. Concealed beam provide a better appearance of interior structure.

Disadvantages of Slab Beam

Here, the disadvantages of flat beam are as follows.

1. The disadvantage of the slab beam is that it’s considerably low ductility because of the height reinforcement ratio that’s provided to compensate for depth restriction specifically at column connection.
2. Structurally it creates a spanning problem, as spans for structural support are in a right angle to each other. This means one slab structurally rests over the other.

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.

Disadvantages of Concealed Beam

• The disadvantage of Concealed beam is that it has considerably low ductility due to height reinforcement ratio which is provided to compensate for depth restriction specifically at column connection.