COLUMN

}  Vertical members (in compression) of a

framework
}  Transfer loading (live & dead load) of upper
floor & beams to the substructure
(slenderness ratio <10)

(i.e. slenderness ratio > 10)

How to decide whether the column is short or slender?

Height of column = Slenderness Ratio

Width of column
}  When a column is subjected to loads; it may:
1)  Buckle
2)  Bend
3)  Crush
ž  These are the effects of loadings on columns.

ž  Long, slender columns are subject to failure by

buckling or bending rather than by crushing.
ž  buckling is the sudden lateral
(sideways) instability
(deflection) of a slender
structural member.
ž  In engineering, buckling is
failure type that is
characterized by a sudden
failure of a structural member
subjected to high compressive
stresses (axial load).
ž  A column may buckle when:
1.  A column is under an axial load. 

2.  Occurs suddenly with large changes in deformation

but little change in loading

3.  It depends on the length of the column

(slenderness) and the way column is fixed to
adjacent structural members
Slenderness of the column
§  the slenderness ratio (ratio of the effective length of a

column to the least thickness of its cross section).

§  A short concrete column is one having a ratio of

unsupported length to least dimension of the cross

section not greater than 10. If the ratio is greater than
10, it is a long column (i.e. a slender column).
§  Tendency of buckle is related to the height & thickness of
the column
§  ‘Slenderness ratio’ – the higher the ratio the slender the
column. i.e the greater the tendency to buckle. (more
than 10, less than 12)
§  Slenderness ratio = effective height <12
least thickness of column
Effective height (the length of buckling)
Depends on whether:
§  the column is attached to adjacent structure
either using;
1.  Hinged/pinned end (eg. precast element)

2.  Fixed end (insitu element)

§  The greater the fixity (restraint) at the

column ends such as fixed end; the less
the column will buckle under load.
Direction of buckling (which way
will it buckle?)
A column may buckle in any
direction under vertical load

§  Rectangular column buckling

occurs in direction of the least
resistance.

§  That is in the direction of the

least thickness.
Bending
May occur to a column due to one or more of
the following conditions :
1.  Eccentric loading
2.  Load coupled with the slenderness of the
column : load + slenderness of the column
(slenderness ratio > 12).
3.  Reaction of beam upon the column (due to
bending of the beam).
4.  The reaction of the frame (column & beam) to
wind loading.
Reaction of beam upon the column
§  As the beam deflects, it tends to pull the column towards itself
§  Thus inducing tension in the opposite surface.
LOADS

BENDING

COMPRESSIVE STRESSES

tension
TENSION STRESSES
stresses compressive
stresses compressive tension
stresses stresses
Eccentric loading
§  Application of eccentrically loading
on column – induce bending.
§  Compression on the side next to the
load & tension on the opposite site.
§  Eccentricity of load is often much
greater in column than in case of
walls – because beams are
commonly fixed to the side of
column.
The reaction of the frame (column & beam)
to wind loading
§  Occur in short column- height of the column
is small relative to its thickness.

§  When under load – short column will remain

stable under increasing compressive axial
load until the material finally crush.

§  The stronger the material the greater the

load it will carry before crushing due to
compression.
REINFORCEMENT ( Chudley, pg 475, Const. tech)
General information on concrete:
Ø  Concrete is strong in compression but weak in
tension
Ø  If compressive strength is not exceeded – no
reinforcement is required.
Ø  In order to be true, the following conditions must
exist:
1)  Loading must be axial
2)  Column must be short
3)  Cross-section of column must be large.
Ø  But, above conditions DO NOT occur in framed
building- results in bending (tension stress) and
thus needs for reinforcement.
 Reinforcement types;
1)  Tied
2)  Spiral
3)  Composite
4)  Combination
5)  Steel pipe

READ PAGE 474 OF CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY

HANDBOOK, CHUDLEY
Main bar:
ž  Min 4 nos of reinf bar
ž  Min.diameter of main
bars is 12mm
Link / binders
ž  to prevent buckling –
keep main bars more
toward the centre of
column.
Chudley, Handbook
pg 468
Main bar:
}  Not less than 6 nos.
}  Min.diameter of main
bars is 12mm
Link/binders
}  Used to prevent buckling
– keep main bars more
toward the centre of
column.
}  At least 6mm dia.
Helical bar
}  the pitch or spacing not
greater than 12 x
diameter of main bars.
page 477 Chudley,
Const. Tech.
Please read:
•  page 465 of Building Construction Handbook,
Chudley FOR REINFORCEMENT
•  page 484 – 491 for FORMWORK