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EXAMPLE J.6 BASE PLATE BEARING ON CONCRETE

Given:

As shown in Figure J.6-1, an ASTM A992 column bears on a concrete pedestal with fcc = 3 ksi. The space between
the base plate and the concrete pedestal has grout with fcc = 4 ksi. Verify the ASTM A36 base plate will support the
following loads in axial compression:
PD = 115 kips
PL = 345 kips

Fig. J.6-1. Geometry for Example J.6.

Solution:

From AISC Manual Tables 2-4 and 2-5, the material properties are as follows:
Column
ASTM A992
Fy = 50 ksi
Fu = 65 ksi

Base Plate
ASTM A36
Fy = 36 ksi
Fu = 58 ksi

From AISC Manual Table 1-1, the geometric properties are as follows:
Column
W12u96
d = 12.7 in.
bf = 12.2 in.
tf = 0.900 in.
tw = 0.550 in.

Design Examples V15.0

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION
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From ASCE/SEI 7, Chapter 2, the required compressive strength is:

LRFD ASD
Pu 1.2 115 kips   1.6  345 kips  Pa 115 kips  345 kips
690 kips 460 kips

Base Plate Dimensions

Determine the required base plate area from AISC Specification Section J8 conservatively assuming bearing on the
full area of the concrete support.
LRFD ASD
Ic 0.65  :c 2.31 
 
:c Pa
A1 req 
Pu
(from Spec. Eq. J8-1) A1 req  (from Spec. Eq. J8-1)
Ic 0.85 f cc 0.85 fcc
690 kips 2.31 460 kips 
0.65  0.85 3 ksi  0.85  3 ksi 
416 in.2 417 in.2
Note: The strength of the grout has conservatively been neglected, as its strength is greater than that of the concrete
pedestal.
Try a 22-in. u 22-in. base plate.
Verify N t d  2  3 in. and B t b f  2  3 in. for anchor rod pattern shown in diagram:

d  2  3 in. 12.7 in.  2  3 in.

18.7 in.  22 in. o.k.

b f  2  3 in. 12.2 in.  2  3 in.

18.2 in.  22 in. o.k.
Base plate area:
A1 NB
 22 in. 22 in.
484 in.2 ! 417 in.2 o.k. (conservatively compared to ASD value for A1(req ) )

Note: A square base plate with a square anchor rod pattern will be used to minimize the chance for field and shop
problems.
Concrete Bearing Strength

Use AISC Specification Equation J8-2 because the base plate covers less than the full area of the concrete support.
Because the pedestal is square and the base plate is a concentrically located square, the full pedestal area is also the
geometrically similar area. Therefore:

Design Examples V15.0

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION
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A2  24 in. 24 in.
576 in.2
The available bearing strength is:
LRFD ASD
Ic 0.65 :c 2.31

A2 Pp 0.85 f cc A1 A2 1.7 f cc A1
Ic Pp Ic 0.85 f cc A1 d Ic 1.7 f cc A1 d
A1 :c :c A1 :c
(from Spec. Eq. J8-2) (from Spec. Eq. J8-2)
2 0.85  3 ksi  484 in.2  576 in.2
0.65  0.85 3 ksi   484 in.2  576 in.2
484 in. 2.31 484 in.2
d 0.65 1.7  3 ksi   484 in.2  1.7  3 ksi   484 in.2 
d
875 kips  1,600 kips, use 875 kips 2.31
583 kips  1,070 kips, use 583 kips
875 kips > 690 kips o.k.  583 kips > 460 kips o.k. 

Notes:
1. A2 A1 d 4; therefore, the upper limit in AISC Specification Equation J8-2 does not control.
2. As the area of the base plate approaches the area of concrete, the modifying ratio, A2 A1 , approaches unity
and AISC Specification Equation J8-2 converges to AISC Specification Equation J8-1.
Required Base Plate Thickness

The base plate thickness is determined in accordance with AISC Manual Part 14.
N  0.95d
m (Manual Eq. 14-2)
2
22 in.  0.95 12.7 in.
2
4.97 in.
B  0.8b f
n (Manual Eq. 14-3)
2
22 in.  0.8 12.2 in.
2
6.12 in.

db f
nc (Manual Eq. 14-4)
4
12.7 in.12.2 in.
4
3.11 in.

Design Examples V15.0

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION
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LRFD ASD
ª 4db º P ª 4db º: P
X « f
2
» u (Manual Eq. 14-6a) X « f
2
» c a (Manual Eq. 14-6b)
«  d  b f  » Ic Pp «  d  b f  » Pp
¬ ¼ ¬ ¼
ª 4 12.7 in.12.2 in. º § 690 kips · ª 4 12.7 in.12.2 in. º § 460 kips ·
« »¨ ¸ « »¨ ¸
«¬ 12.7 in.  12.2 in.2 »¼ © 875 kips ¹ «¬ 12.7 in.  12.2 in.2 »¼ © 583 kips ¹
0.788 0.789
Conservatively, use the LRFD value for X.

O
2 X
d1 (Manual Eq. 14-5)
1 1 X
2 0.788 d 1
1  1  0.788
1.22 ! 1, use O 1
Note: O can always be conservatively taken equal to 1.
Onc 1 3.11 in.
3.11 in.
l max ^m, n, Onc`
max ^4.97 in., 6.12 in., 3.11 in.`
6.12 in.
LRFD ASD
Pu Pa
f pu f pa
BN BN
690 kips 460 kips
 22 in. 22 in.  22 in. 22 in.
1.43 ksi 0.950 ksi
From AISC Manual Equation 14-7a: From AISC Manual Equation 14-7b:

2 f pu 1.67  2 f pa 
tmin l tmin l
0.90 Fy Fy
2 1.43 ksi  1.67  2  0.950 ksi 
 6.12 in.  6.12 in.
0.90  36 ksi  36 ksi
1.82 in. 1.82 in.
Use PL2 in. u22 in. u1 ft 10 in., ASTM A36.

Design Examples V15.0

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION