Design of RC Columns

by
YOGANANTHAM.C
M.Tech - Structural Engineering
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 LIMIT STATE DESIGN OF RCC COLUMNS

• Behaviour of Columns

• Code provisions for columns

• Design of axially loaded short columns of rectangular and

circular sections - ties and spiral reinforcements.

• Concept of Long columns (No Design calculations).

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Codes Needed
• IS 456: 2000
• SP 16

Contents
• Introduction
• Axially loaded columns
• Slender columns

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Compression Member
• Subjected to predominantly axial compressive force
• Columns, truss elements (struts), inclined members,
rigid frame members

Column or Pedestal?
Cl. 25.1.1, IS 456: 2000
• le/b > 3, Column
• le/b < 3, Pedestal
Where le = effective length of column

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Classification based on type of reinforcement

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Classification based on type of loading

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Classification based on slenderness ratios
• Short columns
• Slender columns/ long columns

Cl 25.1.2, IS 456: 2000,

If both lex/D & ley/b < 12, short column, else long
column
lex = effective length in respect to major axis
ley = effective length in respect to minor axis
D = depth with respect to major axis
b = width with to minor axis
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Effective Length
• distance between points of inflection in buckled
configuration of the column
• depends on unsupported length & support conditions

Effective length, le = kl

k = effective length ratio/ factor, depends on degrees of

rotational & translation restraints at column ends
l = unsupported length

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Unsupported length (l)
Cl 25.1.3, IS 456: 2000
Clear distance between end restraints except that:
• in flat slab construction, it shall be clear distance
between floor & lower extremity of capital, drop
panel or slab whichever is least
• in beam and slab construction, it shall be clear
distance between the floor & underside of shallower
beam framing into columns in each direction at next
higher floor level

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• in columns restrained laterally by struts, it shall be
clear distance between consecutive struts in each
vertical plane, provided that to be an adequate
support, two such struts shall meet columns at same
level & angle between vertical planes through struts
shall not vary more than 30⁰ from a right angle
• in columns restrained laterally by struts or beams,
with brackets used at the junction, it shall be clear
distance between floor & lower edge of bracket,
provided bracket width = beam strut width & half
column width

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Unsupported Lengths

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Effective Length Ratios for Idealised Boundary
Conditions – Non-sway Columns

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Effective Length Ratios for Idealised Boundary
Conditions – Sway Columns

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Code Recommended effective length values
E-3 (Table 28), IS 456: 2000
Columns braced against sideway:
• both ends fixed rotationally : 0.65 (instead of 0.5)
• one end fixed & other pinned : 0.80 (instead of 0.7)
• both ends pinned : 1.00
Columns unbraced against sideway:
• both ends fixed rotationally : 1.20 (instead of 1.0)
• one end fixed & other partially fixed : 1.50
• one end fixed & other free : 2.00

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• Effective length factor for a braced frame varies from
0.5 to 1, i.e. 0.5 for both ends fixed, 1 for both ends
pinned
• Effective length factor for an unbraced frame varies
from 1 to ∞, i.e. 1 for both ends fixed, ∞ for both
ends hinged
• In preliminary designs, use
k = 0.85 for braced frames
k = 1.2 for unbraced frames

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Code Requirements
Slenderness Limits (Cl 25.3, IS 456: 2000)
• l < 60b
• In any given plane, one end is free, l < 100b2/D

Minimum Eccentricities (Cl 25.4, IS 456: 2000)

• ex,min = lex/500 + D/30
• ey,min = ley/500 + b/30
• Subject to a minimum of 20mm
• Biaxial bending: eccentricity exceeds in one direction

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Very often, eccentricities not explicitly arising out of
structural analysis calculations act on the column due to
various reasons, such as:
• lateral loads not considered in design
• live load placements not considered in design
• accidental lateral/eccentric loads
• errors in construction (such as misalignments)
• slenderness effects underestimated in design

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Longitudinal Reinforcement (Cl. 26.5.3.1 IS 456: 2000)
Minimum Reinforcement:
• Columns: 0.8% of gross area
• Large-sized columns (architecture features): 0.8%
area of concrete required to resist direct stress
• Pedestals : 0.15% of gross area
Such a minimum limit is specified by the Code:
• to ensure nominal flexural resistance under
unforeseen eccentricities in loading
• to prevent yielding of bars due to creep & shrinkage
effects, which result in a transfer of load from
concrete to steel

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Maximum Reinforcement:
• 6% of gross area
• reduced maximum limit of 4% is recommended in
general

Minimum Diameter of bar:

• 12mm @ 300 mm c/c

Minimum no of bars:
• Rectangular column: 4 bars (corners)
• Circular columns: 6 bars (equally placed)

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• In a helically reinforced column, the longitudinal bars
shall be in contact with the helical reinforcement and
equidistant around its inner circumference

Cover to reinforcement:
• 40 mm or bar diameter whichever is greater
• 25 mm in small-sized columns (D ≤ 200 mm and
dia ≤ 12mm)
• Walls: 15 mm or bar diameter, whichever is greater
• In aggressive environments, increased cover but not
greater than 75 mm

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Transverse Reinforcement (Cl 26.5.3.2, IS 456: 2000)
All longitudinal bars must be enclosed within transverse
reinforcement, comprising either lateral ties (with
internal angles not exceeding 135o) or spirals.

This is required to:

• prevent premature buckling of individual bars
• confine concrete in core, improving ductility and
strength
• hold longitudinal bars in position during casting
• provide resistance against shear and torsion
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Pitch of Lateral ties:
Not more than the least of the following:
• Least lateral dimension
• 16 times smallest diameter of longitudinal bar
• 300 mm

Diameter of Lateral ties:

Not less than
• 1/4 x diameter of largest longitudinal bar
• In no case less than 6 mm

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Arrangement of transverse reinforcement:
• If longitudinal bars are not spaced more than 75 mm
on either side, transverse reinforcement need only to
go round corner and alternate bars for the purpose of
providing effective lateral supports

• If longitudinal bars spaced at a distance of not

exceeding 48 times the diameter of the tie are
effectively tied in two directions, additional
longitudinal bars in between these bars need to be tied
in one direction by open ties

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• Where the longitudinal reinforcing bars in a
compression member are placed in more than one
row, effective lateral support to the longitudinal bars
in the inner rows may be assumed to have been
provided if:
i) transverse reinforcement is provided for the
outer-most row in accordance with 26.5.3.2,
ii) no bar of the inner row is closer to the nearest
compression face than three times the diameter of
the largest bar in the inner row

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• Where the longitudinal bars in a compression member
are grouped (not in contact) and each group
adequately tied with transverse reinforcement in
accordance with 26.5.3.2, the transverse
reinforcement for the compression member as a
whole may be provided on the assumption that each
group is a single longitudinal bar for purpose of
determining the pitch and diameter of the transverse
reinforcement in accordance with 26.5.3.2. The
diameter of such transverse in 26.2.5.1.

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Bar arrangements

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Helical reinforcement:
Pitch:
• not more than 75 mm, nor more than one-sixth of the
core diameter of the column,
• not less than 25 mm, nor less than three times the
diameter of the steel bar forming the helix

Diameter:
Not less than
• 1/4 x diameter of largest longitudinal bar
• In no case less than 6 mm

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Design of Short Columns under Axial Compression
• produces uniform compressive strain distribution
across cross-section under loading

• For symmetrically reinforced section,

P0 = Cc + Cs = fccAc + fscAsc
P0 = fccAg + (fsc – fcc)Asc

• For unsymmetrically reinforced section,

Eccentricity, ec = [(fsc – fcc)ΣAsixi] / P0

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Axial loading of short columns

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Behaviour Under Service Loads
• no fixed ratio of fsc to fcc, even under axial loading
conditions
• Ratio depends on,
 amount of creep, influenced by history of sustained
loading & quality of concrete
 amount of shrinkage, depends on age of concrete,
method of curing, environmental conditions &
quality of concrete
• P0 = σccAg + (σsc – σcc)Asc

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Behaviour Under Ultimate Loads
• Behaviour is predictable
• Ultimate strength relatively independent of age &
history of loading.
• Axial shortening increases linearly up to 80% of Puo
& is idependent of type of transverse reinforcement
• Beyond Puo, depends on type & amount of transverse
reinforcement
• 5% additional strngth for spiral columns

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Behaviour of axial loaded short columns

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Design of Slender Columns
• Primary moments Mpr = Pe are developed along the
height of column
• Bending of column causes it to deflect laterally,
introducing additional displacement (load) dependent
eccentricities
M = P(e + Δ) = Pe + P Δ
M = Mpr + Msec
Mmax = P(e+Δmax)

Δmax occurs at mid height of column

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Behavior of Slender Columns

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Braced Slender Column – Stability Effect

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Un-braced Slender Column – Stability Effect

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Code Procedure for Slender Column Design
Strength Reduction Coefficient Method
B3.3, IS 456: 2000
• Used for working stress method
• Permissible stresses in concrete and steel are reduced
by multiplication with a strength reduction coefficient
Cr
Cr = 1.25 – (le / 48b)
• Alternatively, for more exact solution
Cr = 1.25 – (le / 160rmin)
rmin = least radius of gyration
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Additional Moment Method
Cl. 39.7.1, IS 456: 2000
Used for Limit State Design
Muax = (PuD/2000) (lex/D)2
Muay = (Pub/2000) (ley/b)2

Total Moments
Muxt = Mux + Muax
Muyt = Muy + Muay

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Design Procedure for Slender Columns as per SP 16
• Calculate slenderness ratios, lex/D & ley/b
• Using slenderness ratios, obtain values of ex/D & ey/b
from Table I
• Calculate additional moments, Muax = Puex & Muay =
Puey
• Assume percentage of steel to be provided and
calculate Asc
• Using Asc & chart 63, calculate Puz
• Calculate Pbx and Pby using d’/D ratios for both the
axes and Table 60

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• Calculate kx and ky,
• kx = (Puz – Pu) / (Puz – Pbx)
• ky = (Puz – Pu) / (Puz – Pby)
• Modify the additional moment calculated earlier by
multiplying with respective k values calculated above
• Calculate the modified initial moments as per code
• Calculate the moments due the minimum eccentricity
• Total moments = Mua + Mu,max
• Using Pu/fckD and Mu/fckbD2, calculate Mux1 & Muy1
for respective axes
• Check (Mux/Mux1)α + (Mux/Mux1)α < 1, else redesign

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