COMPRESSION MEMBERS

Module 5: COLUMN BASE PLATE

COLUMN BASE PLATE

Steel Columns are placed on some type of supporting member or by a concrete

footing. A base plate is necessary when a steel column terminates on any reinforced
concrete footing to spread the high intensity of stress in the steel to a value that can be
safely carried by the reinforced concrete footing. These base plates can be welded
directly to the columns by means of some type of bolted or welded lug angles. For small
columns, these plates are usually shop-welded to the columns, but for larger columns it
is necessary to install the plates separately and set them to correct position. These
columns are then set and connected to the footing with anchor bolts which pass through
the lug angles which have been shop welded to the columns

Column loads transmitted to masonry and concrete foundation must meet the
same bearing pressure limitations as beam loads. The required base plate area

Column load
Ap =
Fp

where:
Fp is the allowable bearing stress of concrete

The NSCP Specifications provides two allowable bearing pressures for concrete
supports.
a. If the entire concrete area A2 is covered by the plate whose area is A1
Fp = 0.35f’c
b. If A1 is less than A2

A2
Fp = 0.35f’c √ but < 0.70f′c
A1

The following stresses are recommended by the NSCP Code Provision:

a. On Limestone & Sandstone ………………………….. Fp = 2.75 MPa

b. On Brick in Cement Mortar …………………………… Fp = 1.72 MPa
c. On Full Area of Concrete Support …………………. Fp = 0.35f’c
A2
d. On Less Than Full Area of Concrete Support ……. Fp = 0.35f’c √ < 0.70f′c
A1

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where:

f’c = specified compressive strength of concrete, MPa

A1 = area of steel concentrically bearing on concrete support, mm2
A2 = maximum area of the portion of the supporting surface that is geometrically
similar to and concentric with the loaded area, mm2

Base Plate Thickness Determination

Under a W-Shape Column,

Steel Plate (Base): B x N x t

W-Section Column: bf x d

B = 0.8bf + 2n
N = 0.95d + 2m

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Considering the most critical section of the steel base plate, and analyzing 1mm strip,

b=1
d=t

fp x 2
6( )
Mc 6M x 2
fb = = M = fp (x)(a) ( ) fb =
I bd2 2 1(t)2

3fp x 2 3fp x 2
t= √ fb = 0.75Fy t=√
I 0.75Fy

fp
t = 2x√
fy
where:

fp = actual bearing stress

fp = Pact / Aact
Fy = yield strength of the base plate

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Sample Problem 1

A W14x550, used as a column, is to carry an axial load of 3600 kN. Design a square base
plate to support the column. The base plate rests on full area of a square concrete
compression block with f’c= 21 MPa. Use A36 steel base plate.

W14 X 550 Properties

d= 437 mm
bf= 514 mm

Required: B x N x t

Solution: B = N (Square) Given:

P = 3600 kN
d = 437 mm
bf = 514 mm
f’c = 21 MPa
Fy = 248 MPa

Since the base plate is resting on full area of the concrete pedestal,

Fp= 0.35F’c

P 3600 x 103
Areqd = = = 489795.92 mm2
Fp 0.35(21)

B = N = √A = √489795.92 = 699.85 mm

say use B = N = 700 mm

fp N − 0.95d 700 − (0.95x514)

thk = ? t = 2x√ m= = = 105.85 mm
fy 2 2
B − 0.8bf 700 − (0.8x437)
n= = = 175.2 mm
2 2

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x = n = 175.2 mm

P 3600 x 103
fp = = = 7.35 MPa
BxN (700)(700)

7.35
t = 2(175.2)√ = 60.32 mm say t = 65 mm
248

.: Adopt 700 mm x 700 mm x 65 mm A36 Base Plate

Sample Problem 2

Determine the capacity of a 38mm thick A36 steel 400mm x 540 mm base plate. Concrete
pedestal is 600mm x 600 mm. F’c = 27 MPa. The column is made of W 14x82 with d =
363.5 mm and bf = 257.3 mm.

Solution:
a. P capacity based from the strength of steel plates:

fp
t = 2x√ ; x is larger of m or n
fy
N − 0.95d 540 − (0.95x363.5)
m= = = 97.34 mm
2 2

B − 0.8bf 400 − (0.8x257.3)

n= = = 97.08 mm
2 2
x = m = 97.34 mm

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Substituting
fp fp
t = 2x√ ; 38 = 2(97.34)√
fy 248
fp = 9.449 MPa

P
Fp = ; fp = Fp
BxN
P
9.449 =
(400)(540)

P = 2040.98 kN

b. P capacity based from the strength of concrete pedestal

Since the base plate is resting on less than full area of the concrete pedestal,

A2
Fp = 0.35f’c √ < 0.70f′c
A1

A1 = 400(540) = 216000 mm2

(red rectangle)

By Ratio and Proportion

600 540
=
z 400

z = 444.44 mm
A2 = 600z = 600(444.44) = 266664 mm2

266664
Fp = 0.35(27 )√
216000
Fp = 10.5 MPa < 0.7f ′ c = 18.9 MPa . : OK

P
Fp =
BxN
P
10.5 =
540 x 400

P = 2268 kN

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐏𝐦𝐚𝐱 = 𝟐𝟎𝟒𝟎. 𝟗𝟖 𝐤𝐍

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Sample Problem 3

Design the most economical A36 steel base plate to resist a column (W14X500, d = 497.8
mm and bf = 432.1 mm) load P= 3200 kN. F’c= 27 MPa. Concrete pedestal is 700 mm x
700mm.
Note: The steel base plate is not resting on full area of the concrete pedestal.

Solution:

Required: B x N x t

For the most economical base plate, m= n

N − 0.95d N − (0.95x497.8)
m= =
2 2

B − 0.8bf B − (0.8x432.1)
n= =
2 2
since m= n

N − (0.95x497.8) B − (0.8x432.1)
=
2 2

N = B + 127.23 − − − − − − − Equation 1

P A2
Ap = ; Fp = 0.35f’c √
Fp A1
3,200, ,000
BN =
A
0.35(27) √ 2
A1

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A1 = BN; A2 = ?

700 N 700B
= ; z=
z B N
700B
A2 = 700z = 700 ( )
N

7002 B
A2 =
N
3,200, ,000
BN =
7002 B
√ N
0.35(27)
BN

B = 483.75 mm

From equation 1
N = B + 127.23; = 483.75 + 127.23

N = 610.98 mm

Check if
A2
Fp = 0.35f’c √ < 0.70f′c = 18.9 MPa
A1

7002 B
√ N
Fp = 0.35(27) = 10.83 MPa < 18.9MPa . : OK!
BN

Solving for its most economical thickness,

fp
t = 2x√
fy

N − (0.95x497.8) 610.98 − (0.95x497.8)

m= = = 69.04 mm
2 2

B − (0.8x432.1) 483.75 − (0.8x432.1)

n= = = 69.04 mm
2 2

x = m = n = 69.04 mm

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P 3200 x 103
fp = = = 10.83 MPa
BxN (483.75)(610.98)

10.83
t = 2(69.04)√ = 28.85 mm
248

. : 𝐀𝐝𝐨𝐩𝐭 𝐀𝟑𝟔 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝟒𝟖𝟓 𝐦𝐦 𝐱 𝟔𝟏𝟓 𝐦𝐦 𝐱 𝟑𝟎 𝐦𝐦

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Activity 5

1. Given: A36 Steel Base Plate 500x750x45mm

Circular Pedestal of diameter 1.2m
Wide-Flange Column with d= 431mm and bf= 264.8mm

Required: Pmax if the pedestal is made from:

a. limestone
b. bricks
c. concrete with f’c= 27 MPa

2. Design the most economical A36 steel Base Plate to support a W16x100 Column
with P=3000 KN if:
a. The base plate rests on full area of concrete pedestal with f’c= 21 MPa.
b. The base plate rests on less than full area of concrete pedestal
700x750mm with f’c= 21 MPa.

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