EVALUATION OF SLAB ANALYSIS AND DESIGN PRACTICE TO ENHANCE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN ETHIOPIA.

Analysis and design of plate elements is too complex. In most cases, there is no closed form of solution for these intermediate structures. This leads full of assumptions and uncertainty which makes design uneconomical and difficult for day-to-day application. To tackle this problems, researchers and engineers developed simplified method with acceptable reliability and accuracy. Still the limitation is visible that some methods are only applicable to some particular problems. However, many professionals are claiming that the practice is not standard and may damage the economy of once country as whole if some devastating earth quake happens. As a result, care shall be taken during design, construction and service of the buildings. It is clear that buildings shall be safe, economical and serviceable. However, it is very difficult to attain these requirements in developing countries like Ethiopia. The objective of this study is to evaluate slab analysis and design practice in Ethiopia. Data was collected through document analysis and questioners. A total of 18 questioners were prepared and distributed to 45 respondents. Document analysis covers information like international and local challenges faced during analysis and design, approval and construction of slabs. It is also compares and clarifies our code of practice with respect to related international code practice and re-evaluates the country local practical, particularly in Ethiopia. About 40% of contractor and 47.7 % of consultant engineers agreed that the benefits of code preparation did not considered the need for more time, finance and experience with knowledge very well. Similarly, the respondents believed that the designs are done by unqualified and unregistered engineers which suggests that codes are not implemented in day to day design analysis. Overall, Ethiopian slab analysis code needs updating by considering economic, serviceability and safety values.