Welcome to Raftsoftware^®

Residential slabs on reactive soil

Design by engineering principles

Developed by RAFTsoftware Pty Ltd with Premier Software Group Pty Ltd

RAFTsoftware^® is the world's first and only computer program introducing a cost-effective alternative to the current practice of selecting slab designs prescribed in Australian Standard AS-2870 Residential slabs and footings - Construction (1996).

The program produces a performance chart (as shown to the right) of ultimate strength versus surface movement at which the slab fails. Interpolation of the performance chart determines the design ultimate strength to resist failure at the design surface movement applicable to the building site.

RAFTsoftware^® designed residential slabs are up to 20% cheaper in material construction costs than standard designs exhibiting comparable performance, and up to 50% stronger. The difference in costs is that standard designs rely on concrete with low tensile strength to sustain the flexural stresses in slabs, whereas RAFTsoftware^® designs rely on the much higher tensile strength of reinforcing steel. This saves a lot of concrete and requires only a little extra reinforcing. The difference in strengths is that standard designs provide only the minimum strength to resist cracking, whereas RAFTsoftware^® designs provide the ultimate strength to resist failure.

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