IPHA publish HOLCOLODIS update

The International Prestressed Hollowcore Association (IPHA) has published a research update into load distribution across hollowcore concrete slabs through the HOLCOLODIS project.

Started in 2022 and scheduled to finish next year (2025), the goal is to develop better design guidelines for hollowcore floors, particularly for managing concentrated loads and large openings.

This research builds on IPHA’s tradition of supporting studies like HOLCOTORS, which focused on shear and torsional forces, and HOLCOFIRE, which examined the fire resistance of hollowcore slabs.

The HOLCOLODIS project is led by PhD student Miłosz Jeziorski, with guidance from Prof. Wit Derkowski from Cracow University of Technology and Linnaeus University. The work is overseen by IPHA’s Technical Committee and its president, Dr. Wim Jansze.

The research combines Finite Element Method (FEM) modelling, a type of computer simulation, with real-world tests on hollowcore floors. These analyses help predict how slabs will behave under various conditions. So far, tests have been carried out on single slabs and full floor fields with 150 mm, 320 mm, and 500 mm thick slabs, subjecting them to point loads and studying their responses until failure.

The data collected, using sensors to measure a wide range of factors, will be analysed and used to create new, practical design rules for engineers working with hollowcore flooring.

Further analysis of the data from the tests is ongoing, and a Technical Seminar is planned for autumn 2025 to present early findings to IPHA members. Final recommendations will be published at the project’s conclusion.

Through HOLCOLODIS and similar initiatives, IPHA aims to improve industry practices and maintain its role in driving research and development in the use of hollowcore technology.

All documentation and reports are available via the Hollowcore Knowledge Center.