Please. Need advice from expert in concrete construction methods. Help?

Question

I'm a volunteer trying to build a house for several very poor families in Cambodia. Wood and re-enforcing rods are very expensive! I have a small budget and am stuck. I have set 16 concrete pillars in a concrete footing. I have built the walls with brick. At the top of the pillars I have poured cross beams connecting all the pillars together. I want to know if Ican pour a concrete slab on top of the pillars using #12 rebar set at 1/2 meters apart forming a mesh on top of the pillars and then pour 10 cm (4 inches) of concrete mixed 3-8-10? Will this work? There will be a second story with a lightweight tin roof. No heavy appliances or furniture. Can someome please advise me?
Sorry, I should have said: the span between pillars is 3 meters or 117 inches. Pillars and Beams are 19 cm x 19 cm (7.5x7.5 inches).
One more thing: I'm using 3 parts portland cement, 8 parts crushed rock and 10 parts sand. Is that ok?

Answer 1

Sounds like you are headed in the right direction. Have you allowed for a lap of the reinforcement between the pillars and the slab [did you bend the rebar in the pillars into the slab]? Have you provide any bracing between the pillars? Don't know if the infill will act as bracing.

How are you forming the bottom of the slab?

You may want to seek out local help, they understand the local customs and practices better. You may find they have built similar structures and overcome the issues you face already.

You would be better served if you posted this question in the engineering section: http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/dir/;_ylt=AkBrq337_K3rjQHeg0UWiHJoCAx.?link=list&sid=396545219&fltr=_en

or post here and get a question and answer session going...
http://www.diynot.com/forums/index.php?sid=8b703d4254c94cbac762f661cd0e025e

Good Luck

Answer 2

I'm not an expert but my first thought is inspired by the highway and building construction in my area. I suspect you'd have to construct a form in which to pour concrete as the flooring for a second level, OR pre pour into forms, allow set, and hoist into place. Beyond that, even if no construction laws exist I'd still think that the concrete would have to have support/strengthening added in it's install, IE: Rebar or heavy gauge mesh, to be viable, and endure whatever environmental factors exist.