Understanding the Behaviour of RCC Columns in a Multi-Storied Building

(Colonel. P Nallathambi. ME(Structural Engg), MBA, FIE, FIV,

M/S Sakthi Consultancy Pvt Ltd, Chennai 600044. Mobile: 094440 20706, Mail ID: nalla.sakthi@gmail.com

Generally, the behaviour of RCC Column is very different from beams and slabs behaviour in
a multi-storied building. Engineers and Architects have presumption that the column size and
reinforcement can be reduced from bottom to top due to reduction of load from floors. This
assumption may not be true. Especially for a building such as G+2 configuration, the column
will be designed based on moments from beams rather than only axial load from floors. The
quantity of steel required for columns may vary based on beam and column arrangements in a
building. Large span beams and irregular interval columns for accommodating car parks in stilt
floor and matching beam layout in other floors will increase the moments in the columns which
result in large quantities of steel requirements for the columns. Therefore, One should not
compare the steel quantity used in different buildings without knowing the layout of
those buildings.

Types of Columns in a Multi- Storied Building.

The columns in a building are classified as (1) axial loaded, (2) uniaxial and (3) biaxial
columns as shown in the figure. When an unbalanced moment acting on a column is negligible
or the column is subjected to axial load only, then it is called axially loaded column. When a
column is subjected to unbalanced moment in one direction with axial load is called uniaxial
column. If a column is subjected to unbalanced moments in both directions and axial load, then
it is called biaxial column.

The following table shows the capacity of different types of columns for different sizes and %
of reinforcements. When a column is subjected to biaxial moment then its axial load carrying
capacity is reduced. But the capacity of column is very high when it is carrying axial load alone.
Axial load and moments Capacity of column for different sizes and % of steel.

Orientation of a Column

Engineers should remember that the performance of a column depends on its orientation with
beam. If longer side of the column is aligned with span of the beam then the column load
carrying capacity is large. If the same column is aligned opposite, it’s moment carrying
capacity gets reduced drastically. One should not ignore the orientation effects to satisfy the
architectural requirements. Column should be verified for its capacity when it’s orientation is
changed. The following table shows the capacity of the columns for different sizes and % of
reinforcements oriented along X(Parallel) and Z (perpendicular) directions.
Neutral Axis of a Column

Unlike the beam, neutral axis of a column may fall within the column or outside the column
depending on the axial load and moment acting on it. When the moment acting on a column is
very high (tension zone) then its neutral axis shifts outside the column section. The behaviour
of a column is similar to a beam behaviour.

Sections Adopted in columns

Circular, square, rectangular , Tee(T), Ell(L), Plus(+) are the different shapes adopted as
column sections. The Ell and Tee shaped column sections behaviour are different from circular
and square column because the neutral axis lies out of its cross section area. Hand book of
Reinforced Concrete Design by SN Sinha book gives the design charts for design of Ell,
Tee and plus column sections. T, L and + types of columns are very efficient in corner of the
large span building to resist moments in both directions of the building. The arrangement of
reinforcements for various types of column section is given in the Figure.

Eccentricity in a RCC Column

No column can be constructed with zero eccentricity. Eccentricity in a column may arise
accidentally due to different end conditions, out of plumb and variation in construction
materials. Therefore IS code has recommended to design a column with minimum eccentricity
(e min ) along with axial load. The e min is calculated as,

e min = l/500 + D/30, where, l - is unsupported length and D is the lateral dimension.
Interaction Diagram for Design of RCC Column.

When a column is subjected to heavy compressive load or large moment with less axial load
then its load carrying capacity (efficiency) is reduced. At the same time, when a column axial
load and moment are moderate then its carrying capacity is high . Generally at the top floor of
the building, the axial load is very less on the column but the moment is same as in other
floors. The carrying capacity of the column at top floor level is lesser than bottom floor level.
Therefore, never assume that the top portion of the column size and reinforcement can
be reduced without design calculations.

A reinforced concrete column with specified amount of longitudinal steel has different carrying
capacities of a pair of axial load Pu and moment Mu before its collapse depending on the
eccentricity of the load. Interaction diagram give the carrying capacities ranging from Po with
zero eccentricity on the vertical axis to Mo (pure bending) on the horizontal axis. The vertical
axis corresponds to load with zero eccentricity while the horizontal axis represents infinite
value of eccentricity. A radial line joining the origin O to point 1 represents the load having the
minimum eccentricity and a radial line joining the origin O to point 2 represents the load having
the balanced eccentricity. In fact, any radial line represents a particular eccentricity of the load.
Any point on the interaction diagram gives a unique pair of Pu and Mu that causes the state of
incipient failure. The interaction diagram has three distinct zones of failure: (a) from point Po
to just before point 1 is the zone of compression failure, (b) point 2 is the balanced failure and
(c ) from point 2 to point Mo is the zone of tension failure. In the compression failure zone,
small eccentricities produce failure of concrete in compression, while large eccentricities cause
failure triggered by yielding of tension steel. In between, point 2 is the critical point at which
both the failures of concrete in compression and steel in yielding occur simultaneously. The
interaction diagram further reveals that as the axial force Pu becomes larger the section can
carry smaller Mu before failing in the compression zone. The reverse is the case in the tension
zone, where the moment carrying capacity Mu increases with the increase of axial load Pu. In
the compression failure zone, the failure occurs due to over straining of concrete. The large
axial force produces high compressive strain of concrete keeping smaller margin available for
additional compressive strain line to bending. On the other hand, in the tension failure zone,
yielding of steel initiates failure. This tensile yield stress reduces with the additional
compressive stress due to additional axial load. As a result, further moment can be applied till
the combined stress of steel due to axial force and increased moment reaches the yield
strength.

Minimum reinforcement for a column

One interesting clause in IS 456 para 26.5.3.1(b), in any column that has a larger cross
sectional area than that required to support the load, the minimum percentage of the steel
must be based on the area of concrete required to resist the direct stress and not on actual
area. ie when a 300mm x 450mm column is provided in place of 230mm x 300mm due to
architectural reason or otherwise, there is no need to maintain 0.8% of minimum steel for
300mm x 450mm column but 0.8 % of the actual requirement of 230mm x 300mm size to be
provided. Therefore, a column can have minimum reinforcement of 0.45% also. Structural
designer should remember while designing or proof checking of other’s design.

Mimimun Size of a Column

As per IS 13920: 1993, Para 7.1.2, The minimum dimension of the member shall not be less
than 200 mm. However, in frames which have beams with centre to centre span exceeding 5
m or columns of unsupported length exceeding 4 m, the shortest dimension of the column shall
not be less than 300 mm.

Slenderness ratio

When effective length of column is larger than 12 times of least lateral dimension then the
column is slender . In a building, column length is normally 3.0m, least later dimension is
0.23m . L/r ratio=3.0/0.23 = 13. Hence the columns may be assumed as slender column, which
has tendency to buckle. But it is not true, because the columns in a multi-storied building are
continuous, the effective length of the column is 0.75L, ie 0.75 x 3 = 2.25m. L/r ratio =
2.25/0.23 = 10. Therefore, columns in a multi-storied buildings are generally not a slender
column.

Spiral ties over circular ties in a column

Spiral ties can increase the confinement effect of concrete in a circular column. 5% increase in
the strength of a spiral column over that of similar column with lateral ties is assumed.

Requirements for Earthquake Resistance Ductiling derailment.

Design and detailing of column is based on IS 456:2000, and SP 34 for gravity and wind load
and the lapping of reinforcement is permitted above the slab level. But IS 13920:1993 gives
detailing for earthquake loads. The following points should be considered in earthquake
resistance building and make the joints to have ductile behaviour:
 a) Lapping zone in middle of the column height.
b) Continuous ties in beam and column junctions.
c) Confined reinforcement in beam and column junctions.
d) 135˚ hooks in ties.
Conclusion

Behaviour of column in a multi-storied building is very complex in nature under various

conditions. All Engineers should understand the complexity and deal with it as the situation
demands. Thumb rule design of column is incorrect method to assess the strength of column.
The quantity of steel required to resist the building loads may varies based on column
orientation, unbalanced moment, types of load acting on the column etc. The different layout
and configuration of building demands different quantity of steel for the building. One should
not specify the steel quantity for a building to structural Engineer . Allow the structural
designer to design the building to withstand all type of forces as per codal provisions.

“safety and economy should go together in building design”