Column Bases

COLUMN BASES
Column bases transmit the column load to the concrete or masonry foundation blocks. The
column base spreads the load on wider area so that the intensity of bearing pressure on the
foundation block is within the bearing strength. There are two types of column bases commonly
used in practice:
1. Slab Base
2. Gusseted Base
1. Slab Base:
These are used in columns carrying small loads. In this type, the column is directly
connected to the base plate through cleat angles as shown in figure. The load is
transferred to the base plate through bearing.
2. Gusseted Base:
For columns carrying heavy loads gusseted bases are used. In gusseted base, the column
is connected to base plate through gussets. The load is transferred to the base partly
through gussets. Figure shows a typical gusseted base connection.
Design of Slab Base:
The design of slab base consists in finding size and thickness of slab base. In the procedure given
below it is assumed that the pressure is distributed uniformly under the slab base.
Size of Base plate:
a. Find the bearing strength of concrete which is given by = 0.45 fck
b. Therefore, area of base plate required Pu / 0.45 fck,, where Pu is factored load.
c. Select the size of base plate. For economy, as far as possible keep the projections a
and b equal.
Thickness of base plate:
a. Find the intensity of pressure
𝑃𝑢
w=
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒
b. Minimum thickness required is given by
2.5 𝑤 (𝑎2 −0.3𝑏2 )𝛾𝑚𝑜 0.5
ts= [ ] >tf
𝑓𝑦
Where
ts = thickness of base plate
tf = thickness of flange.
The above formula may be derived by taking μ = 0.3 and using plate theory for
finding bending moment.
Connections:
a. Connect base plate to foundation concrete using four 20 mm diameter and 300 mm
long anchor bolts.
b. If bolted connection is to be used for connecting column to base plate, use 2 ISA
6565, 6 mm thick angles with 20 mm bolts.
c. If weld is to be used for connecting column to base check the weld length of fillet
welds.
Example.1
Design a slab base for a column ISHB 300 @ 577 N/m carrying an axial factored load of
1000 kN. M20 concrete is used for the foundation. Provide welded connection between
column and base plate.
Solution:
Bearing Strength of concrete = 0.45 fck
= 0.45  20 = 9 N/mm2
Facture load Pu= 1000 kN.
 Area of base plate required = 1000  103 / 9
= 111111 mm2
Provide 360  310 size plate.
Area provided = 360  310 = 111600 mm2
Pressure = 1000  103 / 111600 = 8.96 N/mm2
Projections are
a = 360 –300 / 2 = 30 mm
b = 310 – 250 / 2 = 30
ts= [ 2.5  8.96 (302 – 0.3  302)  1.1 / 250]0.5
7.88 mm
Thickness of flange of ISHB 300 @ 577 N/m is 10.6 mm
Provide 12 mm thick plate.
Connecting 360  310  12 mm plate to concrete foundation:
Use 4 bolts of 20 mm diameter 300 mm long to anchor the plate.
Welds: Properly machined column is to be connected to base plate using fillet weld.
Total length available for welding
= 2 (250 + 250 – 7.6 + 300 – 2 10.6) = 1542.4 mm.
Strength of weld = 410/3  1/1.25 = 189.37 N/mm2
Let ‘s’ be the size of weld. Then effective area of weld = 0.7 s Le
Where Le is the effective length.
Using 6 mm weld
Throat thickness = 0.7  6 = 4.2
Strength of weld/mm length = 1  4.2  189.37 = 795.354 N/mm
Therefore required length of weld = 1000103/795.354 = 1257 mm.
After deducting for end return of the weld at the rate of twice the size of the weld at each
end.
Available effective length = 1542.4 – 2  6  No. of returns
= 1542.4 – 2  6  12
= 1398.4 > 1257 mm.
Hence 6 mm weld is adequate.
DESIGN OF GUSSETED BASE
IS 800-2007 specifies that the gusset plates, angle cleats, stiffeners and fastenings etc., in
combination with the bearing area, shall be sufficient to take the loads, bending moments and
reactions to the base plate without exceeding specified strength. All the bearing surfaces shall be
machined to ensure perfect contact.
The following design procedure may be followed:
1. Area of base plate = Factored Load / 0.45fck
2. Assume various members of gusset base.

(a) Thickness of gusset plate is assumed as 16 mm.
(b) Size of the gusset angle is assumed such that its vertical leg can accommodate
two bolts in one vertical line. Corresponding to this leg the other leg is assumed in
which one bolt can be provided.
(c) Thickness of angle is kept approximately equal to the thickness of gusset plate.
3. Width of gusset base is kept such that it will just project outside the gusset angle and
hence
Length =Area of plate / width
4. When the end of the column is machined for complete bearing on the base plate, 50
percent of the load is assumed to be transferred by the bearing and 50 percent by the
fastenings.
When the ends of the column shaft and gusset plates are not faced for complete
bearing, thefastenings connecting them to the base plate shall be designed to transmit all
the forces to which the base is subjected.
5. The thickness of the base plate is computed by flexural strength at the critical sections.
Example.2
Design a gusseted base for a column ISHB 350 @ 710 N/m with two plates 450 mm x 20
mm carrying a factored load of 3600 kN. The column is to be supported on concrete
pedestal to be built with M20 concrete.
Solution:
fck=20 N/mm2
A = Pu / 0.45 fck
= 3600 103/ 0.45  20 = 400000 mm2
Selecting ISA 150115, 15 mm angle and 16 mm thick gusset plate
Minimum width required = 350 + 2  20 + 2  16 + 2  115
= 652 mm.
Use 700 mm wide plate.
Length of base plate = 400000/700 = 571 mm
Provide 700  600 mm plate
Pressure under the base plate = 3600  103 / 700  600 = 8.57 N/mm2
A = 700 – (350+202+162+215) / 2 = 124 mm
BM at section X-X per mm width
= 8.57  1242/2 = 65886 N-mm
At section Y-Y, bending moment [Note: per mm width P = 8.57  350 N]
Myy = 8.57  3502/2 – 700/2  8.577  (350/2 +20+ (16+15)/2)
= 106482 N-mm
 Design moment = 106482 N-mm.
Bending strength = fy / γmo= 250/1.1 = 227.27 N/mm2
Equating moment of resistance to bending moment we get,
1.2  1/6  1  t2 227.27 = 106482
 t = 48.4 mm
 Use 56 mm base plate of size 700  600 mm.
Assuming ends of columns are faced for complete bearing, the connection between gusset plate
and column will be designed for 50 percent of axial load.
Design load = 0.5  3600 = 1800 kN
Load on each splice = 1800/2 = 900 kN
Using 24 mm shop bolts,
Strength of bolt in single shear = 0.78 /4  242 400/3  1/1.25
= 65192 N
Strength in bearing is higher.
Bolt value = 65192 N
 No of bolts required = 900  103 / 65192 = 13.8
Provide 16 bolts as shown in figure for connecting column to gusset plate. Use another 8 bolts to
connect cleat angle to gusset plate.
Assignment:
1. A steel column ISHB 250 @ 537 N/m supports a total factored load of 1000 kN. Design a
slab base for the column. The column is supported on a pedestal made of M20 concrete.
2. Design a gusseted base to carry an axial factored load of 3000 kN. The column is ISHB
450 @855 N/m with two 250 x 22 mm cover plates on either side. The effective height of
the columnis 5 m. The column is to rest on M20 concrete pedestal.

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COLUMN BASES

2. Assume various members of gusset base.

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