Design Example

Objective
In this example, a simplified interaction diagram is constructed for an 18 in x 18 in tied column reinforced with 8No.9 Grade 60 bars (g = 8/182 = 0.0247). Use the simplified equations to determine 5 control points on the
interaction diagram.
Reference
Iyad M. Alsamsam, Mahmoud E. Kamara, Simplified Design Reinforced Concrete Buildings of Moderate Size and
Height, Third Edition, 2005, Portland Cement Association, Example 5.4.1.1, pp. 5-7
Code
Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318-05) and Commentary (ACI 318R-05)
Problem
Use the simplified equations to establish the interaction diagram for the column section shown in Figure 1 by
determining the following 5 points:
Point 1: Pure Compression
Point 2: Bar stress near tension face of member equal to zero, fs = 0
Point 3: Bar stress near tension face of member equal to 0.5fy (fs = 0.5fy)
Point 4: Bar stress near tension face of member equal to fy (fs = fy)
Point 5: At pure bending
Material Properties and Section Layout
Concrete:
fc' = 4000 psi
Steel:

fy

= 60,000 psi
b=18"

1.5"

(8)-#9 bars
h=18"

Figure 1 Square Column with Symmetrical reinforcement

Solution

Point 1: Pure Compression

Pn(max) = 0.80A g [0.85f c' + g (f y 0.85f c' )]
= 0.52 182[(0.85 4) + 0.0247(60 (0.85 4))]
= 808.3kips

Point 2 ( fs = 0 )
Layer 1:
1 C2

d1
= 1 1(1) = 0
d1

Layer 2:
1 C2

d2
9.00
= 1 1
= 0.42
d1
15.56

Layer 3:
1 C3

d3
2.44
= 1 1
= 0.84
d1
15.56

Since 1 C2

d3
> 0.69 , the steel in layer 3 has yielded.
d1

Therefore, set 1 C2

d3
= 0.69 to ensure that the stress in the bars in layer 3 is equal to 60 ksi.
d1

d
Pn = C1d1b + 87 Asi 1 C 2 i
d1
i =1

= 0.65{(2.89 15.56 18) + 87[(3 0) + (2 0.42) + (3 0.69)]}

= 0.65(809.4 + 253.2)
= 690.9 kips
n

d h

M n = 0.5C1d1b(h C3d1 ) + 87 Asi 1 C2 i di /12
d1 2

i =1

= 0.65{(0.5 2.89 15.56 18) (18 0.85 15.56) + 87[(3 0)(9 15.56) + (2 0.42)(9 9)
+(3 0.69)(9 2.44)]}/12
= 0.65(1932.1 + 1181.4) /12
=168.6ft kips

Point 3 fs = 0.5f y

Layer 1:
1 C2

d1
= 1 1.35(1) = 0.35
d1

Layer 2:
1 C2

d2
9.00
= 1 1.35
= 0.22
d1
15.56

Layer 3:
1 C2

d3
2.44
= 1 1.35
= 0.79 , use 0.69
d1
15.56

d
Pn = C1d1b + 87 Asi 1 C2 i
d1
i =1

= 0.65{(2.14 15.56 18) + 87[(3 (0.35)) + (2 0.22) + (3 0.69)]}

= 0.65(599.4 + 127.0)
= 474.9 kips
n

d h

M n = 0.5C1d1b(h C3d1 ) + 87 Asi 1 C2 i di /12
d1 2

i =1

= 0.65{(0.5 2.14 15.56 18) (18 0.63 15.56) + 87[(3 ( 0.35 ))(9 15.56) + (2 0.23)(9 9)

+ (3 0.69)(9 2.44)]}/12
= 0.65(2456.6 + 1780.7) /12
= 229.1ft kips

Point 4 fs = f y

Layer 1:
1 C2

d1
= 1 1.69(1) = 0.69
d1

Layer 2:
1 C2

d2
9.00
= 1 1.69
= 0.02
d1
15.56

Layer 3:
1 C2

d3
2.44
= 1 1.69
= 0.74 , use 0.69
d1
15.56

d
Pn = C1d1b + 87 A si 1 C 2 i
d1
i =1

= 0.65{(1.70 15.56 18) + 87[(3 (0.69)) + (2 0.02) + (3 0.69)]}

= 0.65(476.1 + 3.5)
= 314.0 kips
n

d h

M n = 0.5C1d1b(h C3d1 ) + 87 A si 1 C 2 i d i /12
d1 2

i =1

= 0.65{(0.5 1.70 15.56 18) (18 0.50 15.56) + 87[(3 (0.69))(9 15.56) + (2 0.02)(9 9)
+(3 0.69)(9 2.44)]}/12
= 0.65(2433.1 + 2362.8) /12
= 260ft kips

Point 5: Pure bending

Use iterative procedure to determine M n
Try c = 4.0in

 c d1
s1 = 0.003

c
4 15.56
= 0.003

= 0.0087

fs1 = E s s1
= 29000 (0.0087) = 251.4 ksi > 60 ksi, use fs1 = 60 ksi
Ts1 = As1fs1 = 3 (60) = 180 kips
c d2
s2 = 0.003

c
49
= 0.003

4
= 0.0038

fs2 = Es s2
= 29000 (0.0038) = 108.8ksi > 60 ksi, use f s1 = 60 ksi
Ts2 = As2fs2 = 2 (60) = 120 kips

c d3
s3 = 0.003

c
4 2.44
= 0.003

= 0.0012
fs3 = Es s3
= 29000 (0.0012) = 33.9 ksi
Cs3 = As3fs3 = 3 33.9 = 102 kips
Cc = 0.85f c' ab
= 0.85 4 (0.85 4) 18
= 208kips

Total T = (180) + (120) = 300 kips

Total C = 102 + 208 = 310 kips
Since

T C , use c = 4.0in

18

M ns1 = Ts1 d1 = (180) 15.56 /12

2
2

= 98.4ft kips
h

18

M ns2 = Ts2 d 2 = (120) 9 /12

2

=0

18

M ns3 = Cs3 d 3 = (102) 2.44 /12

2

= 55.8ft kips
3

M n = 0.5Cc ( h a ) + M nsi
i =1

= 0.5 208 (18 3.4 ) /12 + 154.2

= 280.7 ft kips
M n = 0.9 280.7 = 253ft kips

Compare simplified interaction diagram to interaction diagram generated from StructurePoints pcaColumn
computer program. As can be seen from the figure, the comparison between the exact (black line) and simplified
(red line) interaction diagrams is very good.

Point

1: Pure compression
2: fs = 0

Parameter

Calculations
(simplified)
808.3
690.9
168.6
474.9
229.1
314

pcaColumn
(exact)
808.3
679.8
164.99
463.8
225.43
307.3

4: fs = fy

Pn (kips)
Pn (kips)
Mn (ft-kips)
Pn (kips)
Mn (ft-kips)
Pn (kips)
Mn (ft-kips)

260

256.3

5: Pure bending

Mn (ft-kips)

253

247.72

3: fs = 0.5fy

Point 1
Point 2

Point 3

Point 4

Point 5