9.

0 Column Design

 The columns in a structure carry the loads from the beams & slabs down to the
foundations. They are primarily compression members although they may also have
to resist bending forces.
 Direct solution of the equations which determine the areas of reinforcement of column
can be very difficult and impractical. Therefore, design chart are often used to
facilitate the routine design of column sections.
 Design of columns is governed by the ultimate limit state. Correct detailing of the
reinforcement and adequate cover are important.

9.1 Loading and moments

 It is necessary to classify the column into one of the following types:

- A braced column – where the lateral loads are resisted by walls or some other
form of bracings.
- An un – braced column – where the lateral loads are resisted by the bending
action of the columns.
 With a braced column the axial forces & moment are caused by the dead & imposed
load only. For an un – braced column, the loading arrangement which include the
effects of the lateral loads must also be considered.
 For a braced column the critical arrangement of the ultimate load is usually that
which caused the large moment in the column, together with a large axial load. (refer
to fig. 9.1).
 When the moments in column are large and particularly with un – braced column, it
may also be necessary to check the case of max. moment combined with min. axial
load.
 The axial forces due to vertical loading may be calculated as though the beams and
slabs are simply supported.
 In some structures it is unlikely that all the floors of a building will carry the full
imposed load at the same instant. So, a reduction is usually allowed in the total
imposed load when designing columns & foundations in building which are 2 or
more storey high, as in table 9.1.
9.2 Short and slender columns

 A column is classified as short it both lex/h and ley/b are :

<15 for a braced column
< 10 for an un – braced column.
 The effective length lex & ley are relative to the x –x and y – y axis. h is the overall
depth of the section column and b is the overall width of a section column.
 The effective length are :
le = βl0
where l0 = clear distance between the column end restraints.
β = coefficient which depends on the degree of end restraints as specified in
table 9.2
 The application of these coefficients is illustrated for the braced column shown in
figure 9.2

 Short columns usually failed by crushing. A slender column is liable to fail by

buckling.
 The mode of failure of a column can be one of the following:
- Material failure with negligible deflection. If usually occurs with short columns
but can also occur when there are large end moments on a column with an
intermediate slenderness ratio.
- Materials failure intensified by the lateral deflection and the additional moment.
This type of failure is typical of intermediate column.
- Instability failure which occurs with slender columns and is liable to be preceded
by excessive deflections.
9.3 Reinforcement details

 Longitudinal steel
- A minimum of 4 bars is required in a rectangular column and 6 bars in a circular
column.
100 As
-  0.4 (min . steel )
Acol

100 As
-  6.0 (in vertical cast column )
Acol
Or
100 As
 8.0 (in a horizontal cast column )
Acol
But at lap
100 As
 10( for both typeof column )
Acol
Where As = total area of longitudinal steel
Acol = cross – sectional area of the Column
 Links
- Minimum size = ¼ x size of the largest compression bar but not less than 6mm
- Max. link spacing = 12 x size of the smallest compression bar.
- The links should be arranged so that every corner bar and alternate bar in an outer
layer of longitudinal steel is supported by a link passing around the bar and
having an included angle < 1350.
- All other bars or groups not restrained by a link should be within 150mm of a
restrained bar.
- In circular columns a circular link passing around a circular arrangement of
longitudinal bars is adequate.
 Figure 9.3 shows possible arrangements of reinforcing bars of two columns and a
floor. In fig. 9.3 (a) the reinforcement in the lower column is cranked so that it will fit
within the smaller column above. The crank in the reinforcement should commence
above the soffit of the beam so the moment of resistance of the column is not reduced.
 When both columns are of the same size (fig. 9.3 (b)), the bars in the upper column
should be cranked so that the moment of resistance of the column is not reduced.
  Separate dowel bars as in fig. 9.3 (c) may also be used to provide continuity between
2 lengths of column.

9.4 Design of short column

9.4.1 Axially loaded short columns (see note **)

 Where axial load dominates, 2 approximate design formulae are recommended for
short columns.
 In the method of construction prevents the column form being subjected to applied
moment, the ultimate axial load should not exceed
N = 0.4fcuAc + 0.8Ascfy
Where Ac = net cross section area of concrete
Asc = total area of vertical reinforcement
fcu = characteristic strength of concrete
fy = characteristic strength of steel
N = axial loading that can be resist by column
 When a short column supporting an approximately symmetrical arrangement of beam,
the ultimate axial load should not exceed
N = 0.35fcuAc + 0.70Ascfy
Where
- The beams are designed for uniformly distributed imposed loads.
- The beam spans do not differ by more than 15% of the longer.
 ** This type of column can occur in precast concrete construction when there is
no continuity between the members. Also it can be considered to occur when
the column support a symmetrical & very rigid structure.

Example 9.1

A beam and column system in a 3 storey building forms a 6m grid in plan. The design
ultimate dead load, Gk and live load, Qk are 4.0, 6.6 and 7.0kN/m2 from the top to down.
Given, fcu = 25N/mm2, fy = 460N/mm2. Assuming the minimum column width is 250mm,
design a suitable section for one of the middle columns in the bottom storey.

[Assume that the building is braced in both directions and the beams have been designed to
be 350mm deep, monolithically connected to the columns]

4kN/m2

6.6kN/m2 3m

3m
7kN/m2

3m

6m 6m 6m 6m

End condition 1 applied at both top and bottom of the column. Assume b = h = 250mm

β = 0.75

lex ley 0.75 x3000

   9  15
h b 250

So the column is short

Ultimate loading on bottom column (ignoring self weight) is

F = 6 x 6 (4 + 6.6 + 7)

= 633.6kN
Characteristic self weight = 9 x 0.252 x 24 = 13.5kN

Design self – weight = 1.4 x 13.5 = 18.9kN

Total design load, N = 633.6 + 18.9 = 653kN

As the arrangement of the beams is symmetrical, the following equation is used:

N = 0.35fcuAc + 0.7fyAsc

653 x 103 = 0.35fcuAc + 0.7fyAsc

Asc = 330mm2

So, provide 4T12, area = 452mm2 (longitudinal steel)

Minimum size of link if ¼ x 13 =3mm (but not less than 6mm)

>> Adopt 8mm dia, mild steel bar as link.

Max. spacing of link = 12x12 = 144mm

>> Adopt 100mm spacing

Therefore, link used is R8 – 100.

9.4.2 Short columns resisting moment and axial forces.

 The area of longitudinal steel for these columns is determined by:

- Using design chats of constructing M – N interaction diagrams.
- A solution of the basic design equations, or
- An approximate method.
 Design charts are usually used for columns having a rectangular or circular cross –
section and symmetrical arrangement of reinforcement.
 The basic equations or the approximate method can be used when any unsymmetrical
arrangement of reinforcement is required, or when the cross – section is non –
rectangular.
 Whichever design method is used, a column should not be designed for a moment less
than N x emin, where emin has the lesser value of h/20 or 20mm. h is the overall size of
the cross – section in the plane of bending.

9.4.2.1 Design charts

 The applied axial forces may be tensile or compression. In the analysis that follows, a
compressive force is considered.
 Figure 9.5 represents the cross – section of a member with typical strain and stress
distributions for varying position of the neutral axis. The cross –section is subject to a
moment M and an axial compressive force N in the figure, the direction of the
moment is such as to cause compression on the upper part of the section and tension
on the lower part.
 Let
Fcc = compressive force developed in the concrete and acting through the centroid of
the stress block.
Fsc = compressive force in the reinforcement area As’ and acting through its centroid.
Fs = the tensile or compressive force in the reinforcement area As and acting through
its centroid.
 The applied force, N must be balanced by the forces develop within the cross –
section
N = Fcc + Fsc + Fs
In this equation, Fs will be negative whenever the position of the neutral axis is much
that the reinforcement As is in tension, as in figure 9.6.
 Substituting into this equation the terms for the stresses and areas
N = 0.45fcubs + fscAs’ + fsAs
Where
fsc = compressive stress in As’
fs = tensile stress in As
 The design moment M must be balanced by the moment of resistance of the forces
developed within the cross – section. Hence, taking moments about the mid – depth
of the section.
M = Fcc(h/2 – s/2) + Fsc(h/2 – d’) – Fs(d – h/2)
Or
M = 0.45fcubs (h/2 – s/2) + fscAs’(h/2 – d’) – fsAs(d – h/2)
 For a symmetrical arrangement of reinforcement (As’ = As = Asc/2) and d’ = h – d,
equations W & X can be rewritten in the following form
N 0.45 f cu s A A
  f sc s  f s s
bh h bh bh
M 0.45 f cu s s A d A d
 (0.5  )  f sc s (  0.5)  f s s (  0.5)
bh h 2h bh h bh h
 In this equations the steel strains and stresses vary with the depth of the neutral axis
(x), thus N/bh and M/bh2 can be calculated for specified ratios of As/bh and x/h so
that column design charts for a symmetrical arrangement of reinforcement can be
plotted (fig. 9.7).
 The direct solution of equation Y & Z for the design of column reinforcement would
be very tedious, and therefore, a set of design charts for the usual case of symmetrical
sections have been prepared by British Standards Institution.
Example 9.2 Column design using design charts

Fig. 9.8 shows a frame of a frame of a heaving loaded industrial structure for which the
centre columns along line PQ are to be designed in this example. The frames at 4m centers
are braced against lateral forces, and support the following floor loads:

Gk = 10kN/m2 Qk = 15kN/m2 fcu = 30N/mm2 fy = 460N/mm2

Maximum ultimate load at each floor = 4.0 (1.4Gk + 1.6Qk)

= 4.0 (1.4 x 10 + 1.6 x 15)
= 152kN/m
Minimum ultimate load at each floor = 4.0 x 1.0Gk
= 4 x 10 = 40kN/m

Consider 1st the design of the center column at the underside (u.s.) of 1st floor. The critical
arrangement of load which will cause the maximum moment in the column is shown in fig.
9.9a.
i. column load

For 2nd and 3rd floor, F = 2 x 152 x 10/2 = 1520kN

For 1st floor, F = 152 x 6/2 + 40x 4/2 = 536kN

Column self weight, F = 2 x 14 = 28kN

Similar arrangement of load will give the axial load in the column at the underside
(u.s.) and top side (t.s.) of each floor level and these values of N are shown in Table
9.3

The moment on the column are not large and therefore the equation (N = 0.35fcuAc +
0.70Ascfy) may be used for preliminary sizing. Try a 300 x 400 column
N = 0.35fcuAc + 0.70Ascfy
2084 x 103 = 0.35 x 30 x 300 x 400 + 0.7 x 460Asc
Asc = 2559mm2
100Asc/bh = 2.13 OK
The 300 x 400 cross section is adequate.
ii. column moment

The loading arrangement and the substitute frame for determining the column
moments at the 1st and 2nd floors are shown in fig. 9.9b. Member stiffnesses are:

kAB = ½ x bh3/12L = ½ x (0.3 x 0.73)/(12x6) = 0.71 x 10-3

kBC = ½ x bh3/12L = ½ x (0.3 x 0.73)/(12x4) = 1.07 x 10-3

kBC = ½ x bh3/12L = ½ x (0.3 x 0.43)/(12x3) = 0.53 x 10-3

∑k = (0.71 + 1.07 + 2 x 0.53) x 10-3 = 2.84 x 10-3

>> distribution factor in the column = kcol / ∑k

= 0.53/2.84 = 0.19

F.E.M.BA = wl2/L = (152 x 62) / 12 = 456kNm

F.E.M.BC = wl2/L = (40 x 42) / 12 = 53kNm

So, column moment, M = 0.19 (456 – 53) = 76.6kNm

At 3rd floor,

∑k = (0.71 + 1.07 + 0.53) x 10-3 = 2.31 x 10-3

And

Column moment, M = (0.53/2.31) (456 – 53) = 92.5kNm

The area of reinforcement in table 9.3 is determined by using the design chart of figure 9.7.
Section through the column are shown in fig. 9.10

Cover for the reinforcement is taken as 50mm & d/h = 320/400 = 0.8

Min. area of reinforcement = 0.4bh/100 = (0.4x300x400)/100 = 480mm2

Max. area of reinforcement = 6bh/100 = (6x300x400)/100 = 7200mm2

Max. area of reinforcement at lap = 10bh/100 = (10x300x400)/100 = 12000mm2

The reinforcement provided is within these limits

9.4.3 Biaxial bending of short columns

 For most columns, biaxial bending will not govern the design. The loading pattern
necessary to cause biaxial bending in a building’s internal and edge columns will not
usually cause large moments in both directions.
 Corner columns may have to resist significant bending about both axes, but the axial
loads are usually small and a design similar to the adjacent edge columns is generally
adequate.
 A design for biaxial bending based on a exact analysis of the cross – section. This
method specifies that a column subjected to an axial load N and moment Mx and My
about the x –x and y – y axes respectively may be designed for single axis bending.
However, this single axis bending moment is increased and is subject to the following
conditions:
- If Mx/h ≥ My/b’, then increased single axis design moment is :
M’x = Mx + β(h’/b’) x My
- If Mx/h’ < My/b’, then increased single axis design moment is:
M’y = My + β(b’/h’) x Mx
The dimensions h’ and b’ are defined in fig. 9.17 and the coefficient β is specified in
table 9.4.
Example 9.3 Design of a column for biaxial bending.

The column section shown in fig. 9.18 is to be designed to resist an ultimate axial load of
1200kN plus moments of Mxx = 75kNm and Myy = 80kNm, fcu = 30N/mm2 & fy = 460N/mm2.

Mx/h’ = 75 / (350 – 70) = 0.268

My/h’ = 80 / (300 – 60) = 0.333

Mx/h’ < My / b’

Therefore increased single axis design moment is

M’y = My + β (b’ / h’) (Mx)

N / (bhfcu) = (1200 x 103) / (300 x 350 x 30) = 0.38

From table 9.4, β = 0.55

M’y = 80 + 0.55 (240 / 280)(75) = 115.4kNm

N / (bh) = 1200 x103 / (350 x 300) = 11.4

From the design chart of fig. 9.7

100Asc / bh ≈ 2.66

Therefore required Asc = 2730mm2

Provide 4T32 bars, area = 3220mm2

9.5 Design of slender columns

 A column is slender if the slenderness ratio about either axis is

- 15 for a braced column
- 10 for an un – braced column
 There is a general restriction on the max. slenderness of
lo < 60b’
and for an un – braced column
lo < 100(b’2/h’)
where
lo = The clear distance between end restraints
b’ = Smaller dimension of the column
h’ = Larger dimension of the column
 A slender column must be designed for an additional moment caused by its curvature
at ultimate conditions. The equations for calculating the design moments are only
applicable to columns of a rectangular or circular section and with symmetrical
reinforcement.
 A slender column should be designed for an ultimate axial load (N) plus an increased
moment given by
Mt = Mi + Madd
= Mi + Nau
Where
Mi = initial moment in the column
Madd = the moment caused by the deflection of the column
au = the deflection of the column
 The deflection of a rectangular or circular column is given by
au = βakh
where βa = (1/2000)(le/b’)2
b = smaller dimension of column
k = reduction factor
N uz  N
k  1.0
N uz  N bal
Where
Nuz = 0.45fcuAc + 0.95fyAsc
 Nbal = 0.25fcuAc
 In order to calculate k, the Asc of the column reinforcement must be known and hence
a trial and error approach is necessary, taking an initial conservative value of k = 1.0,
value of k are also marked on the column design as shown in fig. 9.7.

9.5.1 Braced slender columns

 Typical bending moment diagrams for a braced column are shown in fig. 9.19. The
max. add. moment Madd occurs near the mid – height of the column and at this
location the initial moment is taken as
Mi = 0.4M1 + 0.6M2 ≥ 0.4M2
Where Mi = smaller initial end moment due to design ult. loads.
M2 = the corresponding larger initial end moment
 The final design moment should never be taken as less than any the following:
- M2
- Mi +Madd
- M1 + Madd / 2
- N x emin with emin < h/20 or 20mm
 The equ. in section 9.5 can be used to calculate the additional moment, Madd and
combined with the appropriate initial moment to design a slender column with single
axis bending about either axis, provided,
-
h/b<3
b

- le/h < 20 (bent about major axis)

 When the above conditions (a) & (b) do not apply and the column is bent about its
major axis, the effect of biaxial bending should be considered.
Example 9.4 Design of a slender column

A braced column of 300 x 450 cross – section resists at the ult. limit state an axial load of
1700kN and the end moments of 70kNm and 10kNm causing double curvature about X – X
as shown in fig. 9.20. lex = 6.75m and ley = 8.0m, fcu = 30N/mm2, fy = 460N/mm2

Slenderness ratio are

lex/h = 6.75/0.3 = 22.5 > 15

ley/h = 8.0/0.45 = 17.8 > 15

therefore, the column is slender

M1 = -10kNm, & Mi = 0.4M1 + 0.6M2 = (0.4 x -10) + (0.6 x 70) = 38kNm > 0.4M2
 Nh le 2
M add  ( ) K
2000 b'
1700 x10 3 x300 6750 2
 ( ) x1.0
2000 300
 129kNm K  1.0 for initial value

For the 1st iteration the total moment is

Mt = Mi + Madd

= 38 + 129 = 167kNm

N 1700 x10 3
  12.6
bh 450 x300

M 167 x10 3
  4.12
bh 2 450 x300 2

From the design chart fig. 9.7

100Asc/bh = 3.0, and K = 0.67

This new value for K is used to recalculate Madd and hence Mt for the second iteration. The
design chart is again used to determine 100Asc/bh and a new K in shown in table 9.5. The
iterations are continued until the value K in column (1) and (5) are in reasonable agreemenet.

The steel area required is

2.1bh 2.1x450 x300

Asc    2835mm2
100 100

Checking of the final value of K interpolated from the design chart

N bal  0.25 f cu bd
 0.25 x30 x 450 x 240 x10  3
 810kN
N uz  0.45 f cu bh  0.95 f y Asc
 (0.45 x30 x 450 x300  0.95 x 460 x 2835)10  3
 3061kN
 N uz  N
K
N uz  N bal
3061  1700

3061  810
 0.6

Which agrees with the final value in column 5 of the table 9.5