Design of Reinforced Concrete II Lec.

6 Columns

Columns

Columns are vertical compression members that transmit loads from the upper floors to the
lower levels and then to the soil through the foundation. Failure of one column in critical
location can cause the progressive collapse of the adjoining floors and the ultimate total collapse
of the entire structure. Thus, extreme care needs to be taken in column design. Therefore, the
ACI code requires a considerable lower strength reduction factor Ø in the design of compression
members than those in flexure, shear and torsion.

The strength of column is evaluated on the basis the following principles:

1. A linear strain distribution exists across the thickness of the column.
2. Strain in the steel and in adjoining concrete is the same.
3. The maximum allowable concrete strain is εu= 0.003.
4. The tensile resistance of the concrete is neglected.

Types of columns:
Columns can be classified on the basis of:
A. Forms and arrangement of reinforcement:
 Tied columns (rectangular, square, or circular columns with longitudinal bars and lateral
ties).
 Spirally reinforced circular columns with longitudinal bars and spiral reinforcement.

 Composite column where steel sections are encased in concrete or concrete is cast inside
steel tubes.

Prof. Dr. Sallal R. Abid Wasit University - Civil Engineering Department 54

Design of Reinforced Concrete II Lec. 6 Columns

B. The position of the load on the cross section:

1- Concentrically loaded columns that carry concentric axial load only without moment.
2- Eccentrically loaded columns that are subjected to moment in addition to the axial force,
which is divided in turn into two categories according to the applied moment(s):
 Uniaxial: only one moment about x- or y-axis.
 Biaxial: two moments about x- and y-axis.

Moments of eccentrically loaded column: Mx = P. Ey and My= P. Ex

C. The length of the column in relation to its lateral dimensions:

1. Short column: column fails due to yielding of the steel at the tension face or crashing of
the concrete at the compression face.
2. Slender column (long column): column fails due to loss of lateral stability (due to
buckling). Therefore, the transition from the short column to the long column is defined
by using the slenderness ratio ( ).

According to ACI code, the effect of slenderness

maybe neglected if:
i. Braced (non-sway) frames:

( )

ii. Unbraced (sway) frames:

( ) ≤ 22

where:
Lu = unsupported length of column.

K: is the effective length factor based on end conditions in a structural frame.

Prof. Dr. Sallal R. Abid Wasit University - Civil Engineering Department 54

Design of Reinforced Concrete II Lec. 6 Columns

Buckling and effective length of rigid frames (a) braced frame (b) unbraced frame.

r : is the radius of gyration, which defines the effects of the shape and size of the cross-section
on the slenderness, where sections having higher moment of inertias have higher radius of
gyration, and thus, are more stable with a lower slenderness ratio.
r = radius of gyration = √ ⁄
Ag = area of gross cross section.
r = 0.3h for rectangular section.
r = 0.25D for circular section.

Ig = (rectangular section), and Ig = (circular section)

Lateral bracing is usually provided by:

1. Shear walls.
2. Elevator shafts. 3. Stair walls.

Determination of K Value:
∑( ⁄ )
Ѱ=
∑( ⁄ )

where:
E = 4700√

Prof. Dr. Sallal R. Abid Wasit University - Civil Engineering Department 54

Design of Reinforced Concrete II Lec. 6 Columns
I = Moment of inertia based on the gross cross section, neglecting the reinforcing steel.
Ic = 0.7 Ig (Column), Ib = 0.35 Ig (Beam), Ib = 0.7 Ig (T-beam).
Iw = 0.7Ig (unbraced wall), Is = 0.25Ig (flat slab or flat plate).
Ig : is the moment of inertia of the gross cross section (for T-section web inertia)
Note:
Ѱ = 0 for full restrained and fixed, and Ѱ = ∞ for unrestrained end.
M1 and M2 are the factored moments of the opposite ends of the column.
M2 is always larger than M1
⁄ is taken as positive for single curvature and negative for double curvature.
K ≤ 1 for braced columns.
K ≥ 1 for unbraced columns.

Prof. Dr. Sallal R. Abid Wasit University - Civil Engineering Department 54

Design of Reinforced Concrete II Lec. 6 Columns
Ex. 1) Calculate the slenderness ratio for the first floor column A-1 and the ground floor
column B-2, where the dimensions of the column's cross section are 0.4 m in y-direction and 0.3
m in x-direction, while the beam dimensions are b = 0.3 m and h = 0.6 m. fc' = 25 MPa and the
frame is braced laterally in x-direction and the slab thickness is 0.2 m.

4.5 m

4.5 m
1st Floor

3
4m
Ground
Floor 2
4m
1 x
6m 6m
A B C y

Sol.)
For the first floor column A-1 (in x-direction)
∑( ⁄ )
Ѱ=
∑( ⁄ )

E = 4700√ =23500 MPa

( )
Ic = = = 0.63×109 mm4

( )
Ib = = = 1.89×109 mm4

( )
) column = = 3.29×109

( )
) beam = =11.1×109

ѰA = = 0.3

ѰB = = 0.6

K = 0.67 (braced)
r = 0.3h = 0.3(300) = 90 mm
( )
= = 29

Prof. Dr. Sallal R. Abid Wasit University - Civil Engineering Department 54

Design of Reinforced Concrete II Lec. 6 Columns

x-direction y-direction

For the first floor column A-1 (in y-direction)

( )
Ic = =1.12×109 mm4

Ib = 1.89×109 mm4
( )
) column = = 5.85×109

( )
) beam = = 7.4×109

ѰA = = 0.79

ѰB = =1.58

K=1.38 unbraced , r = 0.3×400 =120

( )
= = 47.15

For the ground floor column B-2 (in x-direction)

ѰA = = 0.3

ѰB = =0

K = 0.56 (braced)
( )
= = 25.51

Prof. Dr. Sallal R. Abid Wasit University - Civil Engineering Department 45

Design of Reinforced Concrete II Lec. 6 Columns

x-direction y-direction

For the ground floor column B-2 (in y-direction)

ѰA= = 0.79

ѰB = 0
K = 1.12 (unbraced)

= = 38.3

ACI 318 Requirements:

1. Longitudinal steel ratio ( ρ ):

ρmin = 0.01, ρmax = 0.08 (0.01 ≤ ρ ≤ 0.08)
2. Minimum number of bars:
4 bars for rectangular or circular tied columns.
6 bars for spirally circular columns.
3. Tie diameter in tied columns:
≥10 mm for long bars with Ø ≤ 32 mm
≥12 mm for long bars with Ø > 32 mm
4. Spacing of ties is the smaller of:-
16 diameter of long bars
48 diameter of ties

Prof. Dr. Sallal R. Abid Wasit University - Civil Engineering Department 45

Design of Reinforced Concrete II Lec. 6 Columns
Smallest dimension of column
5. Clear distance between longitudinal bars
Clear distance between bars should be: 1.5Ø ≥ 40 mm or ⁄ of largest aggregate size.
6. Every corner and alternate bar must be enclosed and clear distance between unsupported bars
should not be more than 150 mm.
7. Internal angle of ties should be less than 135°.

8. Minimum diameter of spiral ≥ 10 mm.

9. Spiral lap splice should be ≥ 48×spiral diameter.
10. Clear spacing between spirals must not be less than 25 mm and not greater than 80 mm.
11. Minimum steel ratio for spirals:

ρs = 0.45 ( - 1) where:

Ag = gross section area of column

Ac = core area, where Dc = D - 2×cover

12. Minimum concrete cover = 40 mm.

13. Reduction factor:
Ø = 0.7 for spirally reinforced column.
Ø = 0.65 for tied column.

Prof. Dr. Sallal R. Abid Wasit University - Civil Engineering Department 45