REINFORCED CONCRETE

COLUMN
Column Design Procedures:
A procedure for carrying out the detailed
design of braced columns (i.e. columns that do
not contribute to resistance of horizontal
actions) is shown in Table 1. This assumes
that the column dimensions have previously
been determined during conceptual design or
by using quick design methods. Column sizes
should not be significantly different from those
obtained using current practice.
Column can be classified as:
Braced where the lateral loads are resisted by
shear wall or other form of bracing capable of
transmitting all horizontal loading to the foundations;
and
Unbraced where horizontal load are resisted by
the frame action of rigidity connected columns,
beams and slabs.
With a braced structure, the axial forces and moments in the
columns are caused the vertical permanent and variation
action only;
With an unbraced structure, the loading arrangement which
include the effects of lateral load must also be considered
Loading and Moments
For a braced structure, the critical arrangement of the ultimate load
is usually that which causes the largest moment in the column
together with a larger axial load. Figure 2 shows the critical loading
arrangement for design of its centre column at the first floor level
and also the left-hand column at all floor levels.
1.35 Gk + 1.5 Qk
1.35 Gk + 1.5 Qk
1.35 Gk + 1.5 Qk
1.35 Gk
Figure. 2: A critical loading arrangement
Slenderness ratio of a column
Eurocode 2 states that second order effects may be ignored if they
are less than 10% of the first order effects. As an alternative, if the
slenderness () is less than the slenderness limit (lim), then second
order effects may be ignored.
The slenderness ratio of a column bent about an axis is given by:
Where:
l
o
- effective height of the column
i - radius of gyration about the axis
I - the second moment of area of the section about the axis
A - the cross section area of the column
A
I
l
i
l
0
0
= =
Effective height l
o
of a column
l
o
is the height of a theoretical column of equivalent section but pinned at both ends.
This depends on the degree of fixity at each end and of the column.
Depends on the relative stiffness of the column and beams connected to either end of
the column under consideration.
Two formulae for calculating the effective height:
Figure 3: Different
buckling modes and
corresponding effective
height for isolated column
i) For braced member
ii) For unbraced member the larger of:
And
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+ =
2
2
1
1
0
45 . 0
1
45 . 0
1 5 . 0
k
k
k
k
l l
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+ =
k k
xk k
l l
1
2 1
0
10 1
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+ =
2
2
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
k
k
k
k
l l
Where
k
1
and k
2
relative flexibility of the rotational restrains at end 1 and 2 of the
column respectively. At each end k
1
and k
2
can be taken as:
k = column stiffness/ beam stiffness
=
=
For a typical column in a symmetrical frame with span approximately equal
length, k
1
and k
2
can be calculated as:
beam
column
l EI
l EI
) / ( 2
) / (

beam
column
l I
l I
) / ( 2
) / (

beam
column
l I
l I
k k k
) / (
) / (
4
1
2 1
= = =
Limiting Slenderness Ratio short or slender columns
Eurocode 2 states that second order effects may be ignored if they are less than 10% of the first
order effects. As an alternative, if the slenderness () is less than the slenderness limit (
lim
), then
second order effects may be ignored. Slenderness,
= l
o
/i
where i = radius of gyration
Slenderness limit:
Where:
A = 1/(1+0.2
ef
) (if
ef
is not known, A = 0.7 may be used)
B =
w = (if w, reinforcement ratio, is not known, B = 1.1 may be used)
C = 1.7 r
m
(if r
m
is not known, C = 0.7 may be used see below)
n =
r
m
=
M01, M02 are the first order end moments, | M02| | M01|
If the end moments M01 and M02 give tension on the same side, r
m
should be taken positive.
w 2 1+
cd c
Ed
f A
N
02
01
M
M
** Of the three factors A, B and C, C will have
the largest impact on
lim
and is the simplest to
calculate. An initial assessment of
lim
can
therefore be made using the default values
for A and B, but including a calculation for
C. Care should be taken in determining C
because the sign of the moments makes a
significant difference. For unbraced
members C should always be taken as
0.7.
Example:
Determine if the column in the braced frame shown in
Figure 4 is short or slender. The concrete strength f
ck
=
25 N/mm
2
and the ultimate axial load = 1280 kN
Effective column height lo
L
col
= 3000 500 = 2500 mm
I
col
= 400 x 300
3
/12 = 900 x 10
6
mm
4
I
beam
= 300 x 500
3
/12 = 3125 x 10
6
mm
4
k
1
= k
2
= = 0.115
= 0.6 x 2.5 = 1.50 m
Slenderness ratio :
Radius of gyration, i =
( )
3 6
3 6
10 4 / 10 3125 2 ( 2
10 5 . 2 / 10 900
/ 2
/
x x x
x x
l I
l I
beam beam
col col
=

|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+ =
2
2
1
1
0
45 . 0
1
45 . 0
1 5 . 0
k
k
k
k
l l
mm
h
bh
bh
A
I
col
col
6 . 86
46 . 3
12 /
3
= = =
Slenderness ratio,
For braced column,
> 17.32
) /( / 2 . 26
lim cd c ED
f A N =
866 . 0
5 . 1 / 25 85 . 0 300 400
10 1280
) /(
3
= =
x x x
x
f A N
cd c ED
25 . 30 866 . 0 2 . 26
lim
= = x
32 . 17
6 . 86
10 5 . 1
3
0
= = =
x
i
l

REINFORCEMENT DETAILS
Longitudinal steel
A minimum of four bars is required in the
rectangular column (one bar in each corner) and
six bars in circular column. Bar diameter should
not be less than 12 mm.
The minimum area of steel is given by:
c
yk
Ed
s
A
f
N
A 002 . 0
87 . 0
10 . 0
> =
Links
The diameter of the transverse reinforcement should not
be less than 6 mm or one quarter of the maximum
diameter of the longitudinal bars.
Spacing requirements
The maximum spacing of transverse reinforcement
(i.e.links) in columns (Clause 9.5.3(1)) should not
generally exceed:
20 times the minimum diameter of the longitudinal
bars.
the lesser dimension of the column.
400 mm.
DESIGN MOMENT
Non Slender Column
M
ED
= max {M
o2
, M
min
}
Where:
M
o2
= M + N
ED
. e
i
M = max {M
top
, M
bottom
}
e
i
= l
o
/400
M
min
= N
ED
x e
0
e
o
= max{h/30, 20 mm)
Slender Column
For braced slender column, the design bending moment is illustrated
in Figure 5 and defined as:
M
Ed
= max {M
02
, M
0e
+ M
2
, M
01
+ 0.5 M
2
, N
Ed
.e
0
}
For unbraced slender column:
M
Ed
= max {M
02
+ M
2
, N
Ed
.e
0
}
Where:
M
01
= min {|M
top
|, |M
bottom
|} + e
i
N
Ed
M
02
= max {|M
top
|, |M
bottom
|} + e
i
N
Ed
e
0
= max {h/30, 20 mm}
e
i
= lo/400
M
top
, M
bottom
= Moments at the top and bottom of the column
Figure 5: Design bending moment
M
0e
= 0.6 M
02
+ 0.4 M
01
0.4 M
02
M
01
and M
02
should be positive if they give tension on the
same side.
M
2
= N
Ed
x e
2
= The nominal second order moment
Where:
N
Ed
= the design axial load
e
2
= Deflection due to second order effects =
l
o
= effective length
c = a factor depending on the curvature distribution,
normally
1/r = the curvature = Kr . K . 1/r0
|
.
|

\
|
c
l
r
0
1
10
2
~ t
Kr = axial load correction factor =
Where, n =
K = creep correction factor =
Where:
ef = effective creep ratio =
= 0, if ( < 2, M/N > h, 1/r
0
< 75)
= 0.35 + f
ck
/200 /150
1/r
0
=
A non-slender column can be designed ignoring second
order effects and therefore the ultimate design moment,
M
Ed
= M
02
.
( ) 4 . 0 , 1 , / = + =
bal u cd c Ed
n w n f A N
( ) ( ) 1 / <
bal u u
n n n n
( )
cd c yd s
f A f A w / =
1 1 > +
ef
|
Ed Eqp
M jM
0 0
/
( ) d E f d
s yd yd
45 . 0 / / ) 45 . 0 /( = c
SHORT COLUMN RESISTING MOMENTS AND
AXIAL FORCES
The area of longitudinal reinforcement is
determined based on:
Using design chart or construction M-N
interaction diagram.
A solution a basic design equation.
An approximate method
A column should not be designed for a moment
less than N
Ed
x e
min
where e
min
has a grater
value of h/30 or 20 mm
DESIGN CHART
The basic equation:
N
Ed
design ultimate axial load
M
Ed
design ultimate moment
s the depth of the stress block = 0.8x (Figure 6)
A
s
the area of longitudinal reinforcement in the more highly
compressed face
A
s
the area of reinforcement in the other face
f
sc
the stress in reinforcement A
s
f
s
the stress in reinforcement A
s
, negative when tensile
s sc cc Ed
F F F N + + =
s s s sc ck
A f A f bs f + + = ' 567 . 0
|
.
|

\
|

|
.
|

\
|
+
|
.
|

\
|
=
2
'
2 2 2
h
d F d
h
F
s h
F M
s sc cc Ed
Figure 6: Column section
Figure 7: Example of
column design chart
Two expressions can be derived for the area of steel required,
(based on a rectangular stress block, see Figure 8) one for the axial
loads and the other for the moments:
A
sN
/2 = (N
Ed
f
cd
b d
c
) / [(
sc

st
)
c
]
Where:
A
sN
/2 = Area of reinforcement required to resist axial load
N
Ed
= Axial load
f
cd
= Design value of concrete compressive strength

sc
(
st
) = Stress in compression (and tension) reinforcement
b = Breadth of section

c
= Partial factor for concrete (1.5)
d
c
= Effective depth of concrete in compression
= x h
= 0.8 for C50/60
x = Depth to neutral axis
h = Height of section
A
sM
/2 = Total area of reinforcement required to resist moment
= [M f
cd
b d
c
(h/2 d
c
/2)] / [(h/2d
2
) (
sc
+
st
)
c
]
Example:
Figure 8 shows a frame of heavily loaded industrial structure for which the
centre column along line PQ are to be designed in this example. The frame
at 4m centres are braced against lateral forces and support the following
floor loads:
Permanent action, gk - 10 kN/m2
Variable action, qk - 15 kN/m2
Characteristic materials strength are
fck = 25 N/mm2 and fyk = 500 N/mm2
Maximum ultimate load at each floor:
= 4.0 (1.35gk + 1.5qk) per meter length of beam
= 4.0 (1.35 x 10 + 1.5 x 15)
= 144 kN/m
Minimum ultimate load at each floor:
= 4.0 x 1.35gk
= 4.0 x (1.34 x 10)
= 54 kN per meter length of beam
Figure 8: Column structure
Column load:
1st floor = 144 x 6/2 + 54 x 4/2 = 540 kN
2nd and 3rd floor = 2 x 144 x 10/2 = 1440 kN
Column self weight = 2 x 14 = 28 kN
N
Ed
= 2008 kN
Figure 10: Results summary
Column moments
Member stiffness:
k
BC
= 1.07 x 10-3
k
col
= 0.53 x 10-3
k = [0.71 + 1.07 + (2 x 0.53)]10
-3
= 2.84 x 10
-3
3
3 3
10 71 . 0
6 12
7 . 0 3 . 0
2
1
12 2
1
2

=

= =
AB
AB
L
bh k
Floor N
Ed

(kN)
M
(kNm)

0
400

(kNm)
M
Ed

(kNm)

(mm
2
)
3
rd
u.s 540 82.6 3.30 85.90 0.18 0.07 0 240
2
nd
t.s 743 68.4 3.30 71.70 0.24 0.06 0 240
Column 540
2
nd
u.s 1274 68.4 6.61 75.01 0.42 0.06 0 240
1
st
t.s 1468 68.4 6.61 75.01 0.49 0.06 0.10 600
Column 540
1
st
u.s 2008 68.4 11.75 80.15 0.67 0.07 0.32 1920

Distribution factor for column =
Fixed end moments at B are:
F.E.M
BA
=
F.E.M
BC
=
Column moment M
Ed
= 0.19 (432 72) = 68.4 kNm
Design moment allowing for geometric imperfections
M
ED
= M + N
Ed
lo/400
lo = 2.34 ground floor
lo = 1.80m for first and second
19 . 0
84 . 2
53 . 0
= =
k
k
col
kNm 432
12
6 144
2
=

kNm 72
12
4 54
2
=

4
0
0
300
4H25 4H16
H8 at 300
H8 at 300
Ground to 1
st
Floor 1
st
to 3
rd
Floor
Figure 10: Column reinforcement details
At the 3rd floor
k = (0.71 + 1.07 + 0.53) 10
-3
= 2.31 x 10
-3
Column moment M
Ed
=
kNm 6 . 82 ) 72 432 (
31 . 2
53 . 0
=
BIAXIAL BENDING
The effects of biaxial bending may be checked using Expression
(5.39), which was first developed by Breslaer.
Where:
M
edz,y
= Design moment in the respective direction including second
order effects in a slender column
M
Rdz,y
= Moment of resistance in the respective direction
a = 2 for circular and elliptical sections; refer to Table 1 for
rectangular sections
N
Rd
= A
c
f
cd
+ A
s
f
yd
Table 1: Value of a
for a rectangular
section
Either or
Where e
y
and e
z
are the first-order eccentricities in the
direction of the section dimensions b and h respectively.
Where these conditions are not fulfilled, biaxial bending
must be accounted for.
(a) If then the increased single axis design
moment is
(b) if then the increased single axis design
moment is
2 . 0 / s
b
e
h
e
y
z
2 . 0 / s
h
e
b
e
z
y
,
' ' b
M
h
M
y
z
>
y z z
xM
b
h
M M
'
'
' | + =
,
' ' b
M
h
M
y
z
<
z y y
xM
b
h
M M
'
'
' | + =
The dimension h and b are defined in Figure 11 and the
coefficient is specified as:
ck
Ed
bhf
N
=1 |
Figure 11: Section with biaxial
bending
Design of column for biaxial bending
The column section shown in Figure 4 is to
be designed to resist an ultimate axial load
of 1200 kN plus moment of M
z
= 75 kNm
and M
y
= 80 kNm. The characteristic
material strengths are f
ck
= 25 N/mm
2
and f
yk
= 500 N/mm
2
.