Design of Column

Learning outcomes
At the end of this lecture, the student should be able to:

a) Identify braced and unbraced column

b) Classify short or slender column
c) Design of braced column
d) Detailing of column
COLUMN (CL 3.8)
Introduction

Columns are structural members in buildings carrying roof and

floor loads to the foundations & therefore there are primarily
compression members.

Columns may carry axial load as well as moment due to the

continuity of the structure.

Column section is generally square or rectangular or circular,

however irregular shape of column used in special cases.

The size of a column and the position of the reinforcement in it

may be affected by the requirements for durability and fire
resistance, and these should be considered before the design is
commenced.
 Column Definition
Clause 9.5 in EN1992-1-1 deals with columns for which the larger
dimension h is not greater than 4 times the smaller dimension b.

Minor Axis
(y-y)

Major Axis
(x-x)

h > 4b
COLUMN SECTIONS

Rectangular

Square

Circular
 COLUMN REINFORCEMENT

LINKS REINFORCEMENT
LONGITUDINAL REINFORCEMENT

What if the column received horizontal point load at middle height?

Categories of Column

Braced Column Unbraced Column

Lateral loads are No shear wall or bracing.
resisted by shear walls Lateral loads are
or bracing. resisted directly by
columns in bending action.

Design axial forces and Design axial forces and

moments are due to moments are due to
vertical permanent vertical permanent and
and variable actions variable actions and
only. lateral loads.
 EXAMPLE 1 : TYPICAL FLOOR OF STRUCTURAL KEY PLAN

SHEAR WALL
1 2 3 4

Column braced in y direction and unbraced in x-direction

 Y
EXAMPLE 2: TYPICAL FLOOR OF STRUCTURAL KEY PLAN
X

SHEAR WALL
1 2 3 4

Column braced in both direction

 EXAMPLE 3 : TYPICAL FLOOR OF STRUCTURAL KEY PLAN Y
X

1 2 3 4

Column unbraced in both direction

 EXAMPLE 4 : TYPICAL FLOOR OF STRUCTURAL KEY PLAN Y
X

SHEAR WALL
1 2 3 4

Column braced in both direction

 UNBRACED COLUMN
Vertical loading

Lateral/Horizontal
Loading (wind
loading)

Column
(vertical
element)

Beam
(horizontal
element)
 Unbraced Column
Approximate Column
Analysis
Cantilever Method/
Portal Method
BMD DUE TO HORIZONTAL LOADING/WIND LOADING
 BRACED COLUMN
Vertical load

Bracing type X

Column (vertical
element)

Beam (horizontal element)

 Figure d: Hearst Tower, New York City

Figure a: Empire State Figure b: Citicorp Building, Figure c: Mercantile Building, St Louis
Building New York City

Examples: Braced Frame Buildings (Bracings)

Example: Braced Frames Building (Bracings)
Example: Braced Frame Building (Shear Wall)
 3

5
4
2 Column Classification
1
APLICATION OF AREA METHOD
IN
COLUMN DESIGN
EXAMPLE : ROOF PLAN (FLAT ROOF)

A
Y 4m
X

5m

C
3.6m 3.6m 3.6m

1 2 3 4
Notes :
1.All slab thickness to be 100mm thick unless otherwise stated.
2.All beam sizes to be 200mm x 400mm unless otherwise stated
3.Permanent loads from roof = 1 kN/m2; Variable loads for roof = 0.75 kN/m²
4. All column sizes to be 300mm x 300mm unless otherwise stated
 EXAMPLE : GROUND & 1ST FLOOR PLAN

A
Y
4m
X

5m

C
3.6m 3.6m 3.6m

1 2 3 4
Notes :
1.All slab thickness to be 150mm thick unless otherwise stated.
2.Gk Finishes (tiles) = 1.2 kN/m², Qk = 1.5 kN/m²
3.All beam sizes to be 200mm x 400mm unless otherwise stated.
3. All column sizes to be 300mm x 300mm unless otherwise stated
4. 115mm thick brickwall sitting along gridline A/1-4 and gridline 1/A - C
 Roof

3m
1st floor

3m

Ground floor

1m
Stump
3.6m 3.6m 3.6m
1 2 3 4

TYPICAL ELEVATION
Area method in column design

Design at corner column.

Column reference : A/1
Input :
1.All slab 100mm thick,gk= 1 kN/m2; qk= 0.75 kN/m²
2.All beam 200mm x 400mm, column 300mm x 300mm
Roof Floor Plan
Roof to 1st floor
i. Identify the Area = (2m x 1.8m) = 3.6 m²

ii. Identify the axial load (kN)

- From slab gk= (0.1m x 25kN/m3 +1kN/m2) x 3.6m² = 12.6 kN
- From slab qk= 0.75 kN/m2x 3.6m² = 2.7 KN

- From beam gk= 0.2m x 0.4m x 25kN/m3 x (1.8+2)m = 7.6 kN

- From column gk = 0.3m x 0.3m x 3m x 25kN/m3 = 6.75 kN

iii. Determine the total axial load, NULS (kN)

NULS = 1.35(12.6 + 7.6 + 6.75) + 1.5(2.7) = 40.4kN

Elevation View
Area method in column design

Design at corner column.

Column reference : A/1

1st to Ground floor

i. Identify the Area = (1.8 x 2) = 3.6 m²
1st Floor Plan
ii. Identify the axial load (kN)
- From slab gk= (0.15m x 25kN/m3 +1.2kN/m2) x 3.6m² = 17.8 kN
- From slab qk= 1.5 kN/m2x 3.6m² = 5.4 KN

- From beam gk= 0.2m x 0.4m x 25kN/m3 x (1.8+2)m = 7.6 kN

- From column gk = 0.3m x 0.3m x 25kN/m3 x 3m = 6.75 kN

-From 115thk brickwall = 2.6 kN/m2x (1.8 + 2)m x 3m = 29.6 kN

iii. Determine the total axial load, NULS (kN)

NULS = 1.35(17.8 + 7.6 + 6.75+29.6) + 1.5(5.4) = 91.5kN

Elevation View
Area method in column design

Design at corner column.

Column reference : A/1

Groundt floor to stump

i. Identify the Area = (1.8 x 2) = 3.6 m²
Grd Floor Plan
ii. Identify the axial load (kN)
- From slab gk= (0.15m x 25kN/m3 +1.2kN/m2) x 3.6m² = 17.8 kN
- From slab qk= 1.5 kN/m2x 3.6m² = 5.4 KN

- From beam gk= 0.2m x 0.4m x 25kN/m3 x (1.8+2)m = 7.6 kN

- From column gk = 0.3m x 0.3m x 25kN/m3 x 1m = 2.25 kN

-From 115thk brickwall = 2.6 kN/m2x (1.8 + 2)m x 3m = 29.6 kN

iii. Determine the total axial load, NULS (kN)

NULS = 1.35(17.8 + 7.6 + 2.25+29.6) + 1.5(5.4) = 85.4kN

Elevation View
 TOTAL CUMULATIVE AXIAL LOADS AT EACH FLOOR

Roof

3m
N = 31.5 KN
1st floor

3m

N = 117.8 KN
Ground floor

1m
N = 198.4 KN
Stump
3.6m 3.6m 3.6m
1 2 3 4

Design corner column at level ground to stump (Column ref : A/1)

 SUMMARY OF AXIAL LOADS

Total Axial load Cumulative Total

NULS (kN) Axial load
NULS (kN)

Roof to 40.4 40.4

1st floor
1st to 91.5 40.4+91.5=131.9
Ground floor
Ground to 85.4 131.9+85.4=217.3
Stump
 APLICATION OF
BEAM REACTION METHOD
IN
COLUMN DESIGN
Application of beam reaction method in column design
Example : 1st floor to ground floor

load due to slab = 0.15 x 24 = 3.6 KN/m²

load due to finishes = 0.6 KN/m²
load due to variable load = 1.5 KN/m²
Design load, n = 1.35 (3.6 + 0.6) + 1.5 (1.5)
= 7.92 KN/m²
Beam A/1 – 4 (200mm x 400mm)
Load from slab = nl /3 = 7.92 x 3.6/3 = 9.5 KN/m
x

Load from beam s/w = 1.35 x 0.2 x 0.4 x 24 = 2.6 KN/m

Load from brickwall = 1.35 x 0.115 x 22 x 3.0 = 10.2 KN/m
Total UDL acting on beam A/1-4 = 9.5 + 2.6 + 10.2
= 22.3 KN/m

Using Table 5.12, shear , V at gridline A/1,

V = 0.45 x 22.3 x 3.6 = 36 KN
 Beam 1/A– C (200mm x 400mm)
Design load, n = 7.92 KN/m²

Load from slab to beam 1/ A-B, = W = 7.92 x 3.6/6(3 – (3.6/4)²)

= 10.4 KN/m
Load from slab to beam 1/B-C = w = 7.92 x 3.6/6(3 – (3.6/5)²)
= 11.8 KN/m
Load from beam s/w = 1.35 x 0.2 x 0.4 x 24 = 2.6 KN/m
Load from brickwall = 1.35 x 0.115 x 22 x 3.0 = 10.2 KN/m
UDL beam1/A-B = 10.4 + 2.6 + 10.2 = 23.2 KN/m
UDL beam 1/B-C = 11.8 + 2.6 + 10.2 = 24.6 KN/m
Using moment distribution method for beam 1/A-C

23.2 KN/m 24.6 KN/m

4m 5m

A B C
Fixed end moment
MAB = - 23.2 x 4²/12 = - 31 KNm, MBA = + 31 KNm
MBC = - 24.6 x 5²/12 = - 51 KNm, MCB = + 51 KNm
Stiffness factor
KAB = 1.0, KBA = ¾ x i/4/(i/4 + i/5) = 0.42
KBC = 1 - 0.42 = 0.58, KCB = 1.0
Moment Distribution Method

A B B C
SF 1.0 0.42 0.58 1.0

FEM -31 +31 -51 +51

BAL +31 +8.4 +11.6 -51
CO +15.5 -25.5
BAL +4.2 +5.8

FM 0 + 59 - 59 0
Calculate shear force based on Final Moment

23.2 KN/m + 59 KNm

4m

A B1

∑MB1 = 0, VA x 4 + 59 – 23.2 x 4 x 2 = 0
4VA + 59 – 185.6 = 0
4VA - 126.6 = 0
VA = + 31.65 KN
Total reaction action at gridline A/1 (beam A/1-4 & beam 1/A – C)
= 31.65 + 36 = 67.8 KN

Axial load due to column selfweight =1.35 x0.3 x 0.3 x 24 x 3.0 = 8.7KN

Total axial load, NULS (from 1st floor to ground )= 67.8 + 8.7 = 77 KN
(using beam reaction method)

Total axial load,NULS (from 1st to ground) = 86 KN ( from area method)

-only 10% over estimated
2 Column Classification

Classification of Column
 Generally, a column can be classified as two types:
a. Short Column (fail by concrete crushing)
b. Slender Column (fail by due to deflection).

 The definition of ‘short’ and ‘slender’ is dependent on the

comparison between slenderness ratio, λ and threshold
slenderness, λlim.
If λ < λlim Column is short!

Column is slender!!
Second-order moments need
to be considered If λ > λlim
 Check Slenderness of columns
(Proposed column size = 300mm x 300mm, l = 3000
NED = 200kN, fc=30N/mm2)
lo lo Column ends condition:
λ  Fixed/fixed at both end,
i I/A c Effective length, lo = 0.75l
i = radius of gyration about the axis considered
I = second moment of area of the section about the axis
Ac = cross-sectional area of column

Radius of gyration for square/ rectangular , i = h/12 = 300/3.464 = 86.6 mm

Effective length, lo = 0.75l = = 0.75 x 3000= 2250 mm

λ = lo/i = 2250 /86.6 = 26

Effective length, lo

fixed / fixed l o  0 .75 l

pinned / fixed l o  0 .9 l
partially fixed / fixed l o  0 .8 l
pinned / partially fixed l  0 .95 l
partially fixed / partially fixed l o  0 .85 l
pinned / pinned lo  l
Effective Height, le

1 2 3 4
(1) BS8110:1985:

The effective height, le of a column : equation 30

l0 is the clear distance between the column end restraints.
Effective Height, le
 20
.A
.B
.C
λ 
lim
n
n = NED/(Acfcd)
=_____200 x 1000________
[(300 x 300) x (0.567 x 30)]
= 0.13
λlim = 20 x 0.7 x 1.1 x 0.7/0.13
= 29.9

λactual (26) < λlim(29.9)

Therefore column is short
The following conditions apply to the value of C:
(a)If the end moments, M01 and M02, give rise to tension on the same
side of the column rm should be taken as positive from which it follows
that C1.7.
(b)If the converse to (a) is true, i.e. the column is in the state of double
curvature, then rm should be taken as positive from which it follows
that C1.7.
(c)For braced members in which the first order moment arise only
from transverse loads or imperfections, C can be taken as 0.7.
(d)For unbraced members, C can be taken as 0.7.

rm = 1 rm = 0 rm = -1
C = 0.7 C = 1.7 C = 2.7
(a) (b)
 DESIGN AS A SHORT COLUMN WITH MINIMUM MOMENT, NEDe0

a minimum eccentricity, e0, equal to h/30, but not less than 20 mm where
h is the depth of the section.
Column size : 300mm x 300mm
Concrete gred : 30N/mm², Axial load, N = 200 kN
Steel strength : 500 N/mm²
Concrete cover : 30mm
Minimum eccentricity = h/30 = 300/30 = 10mm < 20mm
Use 20mm (eo) eccentricity to calculate minimum moment.
Minimum moment = eoN
= 20mm x 200 kN
= 4 kNm.
N/bhfck = 200 x 1000/(300 x 300 x 30) = 0.1
M/bh²fck = 4 x 10³ x 10³/(300 x 300² x 30) = 0.005
d/h = (300 – 30 – 8 – 12/2 )/300 = 256/300 = 0.85
Column Detailing
1. Longitudinal steel
- A min four (4) bars is required in a rectangular column and six (6) in a
circular column 12mm dia. Minimum

4 6

- The size of bars should >12mm

- The minimum area of steel is given by

As = 0.1NED/0.87f yk  0.002Ac
 The maximum area of steel, at laps is given by

As, max /Ac < 0.08

where As is the total area of longitudinal steel and Ac is the cross-sectional

area of the column.

 Otherwise, in regions away from laps:

As, max /Ac < 0.04

Links
 Min size = ¼ x size of the largest compression bar but  6mm
 Max. spacing  the lesser of ( 20 x the smallest compression
bar or at least lateral dimension of the column or 400mm)
This spacing should be reduced by a factor of 0.60.
(a) for a distance equal to the larger lateral dimension of
the column above and below a beam or slab, and
(b) at lapped joints of longitudinal bars > 14 mm diameter.
 The spacing of the links should be calculated due to where the
direction of the longitudinal reinforcement changes.
 Every longitudinal bar placed in a corner should be held by
transverse reinforcement.
 No compression bar should be further than 150mm from a
restrained bar.
Asfyk/bhfck = 0.1
As = 0.1 x 300 x 300 x 30/500 = 540mm²
Provide 4H16 (As = 804 mm²)
Minimum % of steel = 0.1N/0.87fyk
= 0.1 x 198.4 x 1000/(0.87x500)
= 46mm²
Minimum % of steel = 0.002 Ac
= 0.002 x 300 x 300
= 180 mm²
Maximum % of steel = 0.04Ac
= 0.04 x 300 x 300
= 3600 mm²

Therefore steel provided 4H16 (As = 804mm²) is sufficient

Links :
Diameter of links is the greater of:
i. 6 mm
ii. Ø/4 = 16/4 = 4 mm

Spacing of links should not exceed the lesser of :

i. 20Ø = 20 x 16 = 320 mm
ii. Least dimension of column = 300 mm
iii. 400 mm
Therefore, provide R6 at 300 mm centres.
300 mm

300mm Column 300 x 300

4H16
R6 – 300 c/c