This paper proposes a simplified, but effective, algorithm to obtain the critical design moments for slabs of parking garage. Maintaining the uniformly distributed load concept generally adopted in design of building structures, the equivalent vehicle load factors which can simulate the vehicle load effects without taking additional sophisticated numerical analyses are introduced. After determining a standard design vehicle of 2.4 ton through the investigation of small to medium vehicles made in Korea, the finite element analyses for the concentrated wheel loads are conducted by referring to the influence surfaces. Based on the obtained member forces, the equivalent vehicle load factors for slabs which represent the ratios of member forces under vehicle loads to those under uniformly distributed loads are determined. Besides, the relationships between the equivalent vehicle load factors and the sectional dimensions are established by regression and used to obtain the design moments by vehicle loads. The member forces calculated by the proposed method are compared with the results of different approaches mentioned in current design codes with the objective to establish the relative efficiencies of the proposed method.

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