Concrete placement in horizontal elements follows the same general principles outlined in Art. 9.32. Where the surface will be covered and protected against abrasion and weather, few special precautions are needed.
For concrete slabs, careless placing methods result in horizontal segregation, with desired properties in the wrong location, the top consisting of excess water and fines with low abrasion and weather resistance, and high shrinkage. For a good surface in a one-course slab, low-slump concrete and a minimum of vibration and finishing are desirable. Immediate screeding with a power-vibrated screed is helpful in distributing low-slump, high-quality concrete. No further finishing should be undertaken until free water, if any, disappears. A powered, rotary tamping float can smooth very-low-slump concrete at this stage. Final troweling should be delayed, if necessary, until the surface can support the weight of the finisher.
When concrete is placed for deep beams that are monolithic with a slab, the beam should be filled first. Then, a short delay for settlement should ensue before slab concrete is cast. Vibration through the top slab should penetrate the beam concrete sufficiently to ensure thorough consolidation.
When a slab is cast, successive batches of concrete should be placed on the edge of previous batches, to maintain progressive filling without segregation. For slabs with sloping surfaces, concrete placing should usually begin at the lower edge.
For thin shells in steeply sloping areas, placing should proceed downslope.
Slump should be adjusted and finishing coordinated to prevent restraint by horizontal reinforcing bars from causing plastic cracking in the fresh concrete.
