Chapter 1

Design of Reinforced Concrete

Columns

Yohannes K.
March 2019
1
1.1 Introduction
✓ Columns are the members that take axial
compressive load (P) and bending moments (Mx
and/or My).
✓ The axial compressive load (P), total gravity load, on
a specific column will obviously comes from the floor
systems (Beams, slabs and live and/or dead loads
acting on beams and/or Slabs just above the column
considered.
✓ The bending effect may be due to the lateral loads,
end moments, and/or due to eccentricity of the axial
loads.

2
Axial Load Axial Load & Uniaxial Bending Axial Load & Biaxial Bending
Design Load = P Design Load = P and Mx Design Load = P, Mx and My

P=P P=P Mx = P (ey) P=P Mx = P (ey) My = P (ex)

P P, Mx P, Mx My
x

3
Braced Vs Un-braced Columns
Braced Columns (in Non-sway frames):
• The lateral loads in a frame are transmitted to the
foundation through a system of bracing or shear
walls, the column member in such a frame is said to
be braced column and consequently carry only
vertical loads.
• Second order effect will be negligible.
• A frame may be classified as braced if its sway
resistance is supplied by a bracing system which is
sufficiently stiff to assume that all horizontal loads are
resisted by the bracing system. (Not more than 10%
of the horizontal loads are attracted by the frame).
4
Braced Vs Un-braced Columns
Unbraced columns in Braced columns in
Sway type of frame a non sway frame

5
Un-braced Columns (in sway frames):
✓ Frame action (Beam and column members) designed
to act together as a rigid frame in transmitting the
lateral forces (Wind or earthquake) down to the
foundations through bending action in the beams
and columns.
✓ Moments in the columns can substantially reduce
the vertical load carrying capacity.
✓ Frame as a whole will have significant lateral
displacement.
✓ The bending moment can increase due to second
order effect.
6
Second order effect or P-δ effect:

If the column is short, P- δ effect is negligible. If the

column is slender, P- δ effect is to be considered. 7
(Section 4.4.4.4 of EBCS 2) Isolated columns:
Isolated compression members (such as individual
isolated columns and columns with articulations in
a non-sway structure).

compression members which are integral parts of

a structure but which are considered to be
isolated for design purposes (such as slender
bracing elements considered as isolated columns.

columns with restrained ends in a non-sway

structure).
8
(Section 4.4.5 of EBCS 2) Slenderness ratio:
For isolated columns, the slenderness ratio is
defined by:
𝐿𝑒
𝜆=
𝑖
Where:
Le is the effective buckling length
i is the minimum radius of gyration of the
concrete section only.

Generally, the slenderness ratio of concrete

columns shall not exceed 140.
9
Second-order effects in compressive members need not be
taken into account in the following cases:
(a). For sway frames;
25
𝜆 ≤ ൞ 15 𝑁𝑠𝑑
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝜈𝑑 =
𝜈𝑑 𝑓𝑐𝑑 𝐴𝐶
Where 𝑁𝑠𝑑 = 𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑
(b). For non – sway frames;
(𝑀1 )
𝜆 ≤ 50 − 25
(𝑀2 )
Where M1 and M2 are the first-order (calculated) moments
at the ends, M2 being always positive and greater in
magnitude than M1, and M1 being positive if member is bent
in single curvature and negative if bent in double curvature.
10
Effective Length of Compression Members:
• The effective height (length) of a column is the distance
between the two consecutive points of contra flexure
or zero bending moments. The figure shown below may
serve this purpose.

11
In accordance with EBCS-2, 1995, the effective length Le
for an RC Column is given as;
𝒂. 𝑵𝒐𝒏 − 𝒔𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒅𝒆;
𝐿𝑒 𝛼𝑚 + 0.4
= ≥ 0.7
𝐿 𝛼𝑚 + 0.8

𝒃. 𝑺𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒅𝒆;
𝐿𝑒 7.5 + 4( 𝛼1 + 𝛼2 ) + 1.6 𝛼1 𝛼2
= ≥ 1.15
𝐿 7.5 + 𝛼1 + 𝛼2

𝑂𝑟 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑦
𝐿𝑒
= 1 + 0.8𝛼𝑚 ≥ 1.15
𝐿
12
For the theoretical model shown below:
𝐾1 + 𝐾𝐶
𝛼1 =
𝐾11 + 𝐾12
𝐾2 + 𝐾𝐶
𝛼1 =
𝐾21 + 𝐾22
𝛼1 + 𝛼2
𝛼𝑚 =
2

Where:
K1 and K2 are column stiffness coefficients (EI/L) for the lower and
upper column respectively.
KC = is the stiffness coefficient (EI/L) of the column being designed.
Kij is the effective beam stiffness coefficient (EI/L)
= 1.0 (EI/L) for opposite end elastically or rigidly restrained.
= 0.5 (EI/L) for opposite end free to rotate.
= 0.0 (EI/L) for a cantilever beam. 13
 𝑁𝑠𝑑
𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑛𝑜𝑛 − 𝑠𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑒: ≤ 0.1
𝑁𝑐𝑟
Where: 𝑁𝑠𝑑 = the design value of the total vertical load.
𝑁𝑐𝑟 = critical vertical load for failure in a sway mode
given as
𝜋 2 𝐸𝐼𝑒
𝑁𝑐𝑟 =
𝐿2𝑒
𝑀𝑏𝑎𝑙
𝐸𝐼𝑒 = 0.2𝐸𝐶 𝐼𝐶 + 𝐸𝑆 𝐼𝑆 𝑜𝑟 𝐸𝐼𝑒 = ≥ 0.4𝐸𝐶 𝐼𝐶
1
𝑟𝑏𝑎𝑙
1 5
𝐸𝐶 ≈ 1100𝑓𝑐𝑑 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒, = ∗ 10−3
𝑟𝑏𝑎𝑙 𝑑
Where ;
𝐼𝐶 = 𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒
𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛 𝑤𝑟𝑡 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝐼𝑆 = 𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓
𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛 𝑤𝑟𝑡 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜n 14
Reinforcement Arrangement & Minimum Code
Requirements:
Functions of Lateral Reinforcement are:
• They hold the longitudinal bars in position in the forms
while the concrete is being placed.
• They prevent the slender longitudinal bars from
buckling out ward by bursting the thin concrete cover.
Rules for the arrangement:
∅𝑙
Diameter of ties, ∅𝑡 ≥ 6𝑚𝑚 𝑜𝑟
4
𝐶 12∅𝑙 𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑠
𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 ≤ ቐ 𝑏 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝐶
300 𝑚𝑚
𝑃𝑖𝑡𝑐ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑎𝑙 ≤ 100𝑚𝑚
15
Ties shall be arranged such that every bar or group of bars placed
in a corner and alternate longitudinal bar shall have lateral support
provided by the corner of a tie with an included angle of not more
than 1350 and no bar shall be farther than 150mm clear on each
side along the tie from such a laterally supported bar.

16
Main or Longitudinal reinforcement:
Area of longitudinal reinforcement, As:
0.008𝐴𝐶 ≤ 𝐴𝑆 ≤ 0.08𝐴𝐶
𝐴𝑆
0.008 ≤ ≤ 0.08
𝐴𝐶

4 𝑖𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝑀𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 # 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑠 ቊ
6 𝑖𝑛 𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑛𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑠, ∅𝑙 ≥ 12𝑚𝑚

17
The minimum lateral dimension of a column shall be at
least 150mm and the minimum diameter of a spiral
column is 200mm.
The Min. cover to reinforcement should never be less
than:
𝑎 ∅ 𝑜𝑟 ∅𝑛 ≤ 40 𝑚𝑚 , 𝑜𝑟
𝑏 ∅ + 5𝑚𝑚 𝑜𝑟 ∅𝑛 + 5𝑚𝑚 𝑖𝑓 𝑑𝑔 > 32𝑚𝑚

∅𝑛 = ∅ 𝑛 ≤ 55𝑚𝑚,
𝑛 = 𝑛𝑜 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑠 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝑑𝑔 = 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑛𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑎𝑥. 𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒.
18
Example 1: Classification of columns
All members in the following frame are rectangular and
constructed of the same strength concrete (E is the same
for both beams and columns). Considering bending in the
plane of the frame only, classify column EF as long or
short if the frame is braced. All girders are 300 x 600 mm.

19
Solution:
Moments of inertia:
300 ∗ 6003
𝐺𝑖𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠: 𝐼𝑔 = = 54 ∗ 108 𝑚𝑚4
12
300 ∗ 4003
𝐶𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛: 𝐼𝐷𝐸 = = 16 ∗ 108 𝑚𝑚4
123
300 ∗ 350
𝐶𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛: 𝐼𝐸𝐹 = = 10.71875 ∗ 108 𝑚𝑚4
12
Stiffness Coefficients:
𝐸 54 ∗ 108 5𝐸
𝐸𝐼𝑔 𝐾𝐵𝐸 = 𝐾 𝐶𝐹 = = 6 ∗ 10
𝐺𝑖𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠: 𝐾𝑔 = 9000
𝐿𝑔 𝐸 54 ∗ 108
𝐾𝐸𝐻 = 𝐾𝐹𝐼 = = 7.2 ∗ 105 𝐸
7500
𝐸 16 ∗ 108 5𝐸
𝐸𝐼𝐶 𝐾 𝐷𝐸 = = 4.21 ∗ 10
𝐶𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛𝑠: 𝐾𝐶 = 3800
𝐿𝐶 𝐸 10.71875 ∗ 108
𝐾𝐸𝐹 = = 2.82 ∗ 105 𝐸
3800
20
The column being considered is column EF.
Rotational stiffness's at joints E and F.
σ(𝐸𝐼𝐶𝑜𝑙 /𝐿) σ(𝐼𝐶𝑜𝑙 /𝐿)
𝛼= =
σ(𝛼𝑓 𝐸𝐼𝑔 /𝐿𝑒𝑓𝑓 ) σ(𝛼𝑓 𝐼𝑔 /𝐿𝑒𝑓𝑓 )

4.21 ∗ 105 + 2.82 ∗ 105

𝐽𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝐸: 𝛼𝐸 = 5 5
= 0.53
6 ∗ 10 + 7.2 ∗ 10
2.82 ∗ 105
𝐽𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝐹: 𝛼𝐹 = 5 5
= 0.21
6 ∗ 10 + 7.2 ∗ 10
𝛼𝐸 + 𝛼𝐹 0.53 + 0.21
𝛼𝑚 = = = 0.37
2 2
21
For a braced column (Non sway structure) for design:
𝐿𝑒 𝛼𝑚 + 0.4 0.37 + 0.4
= = = 0.66 ≥ 0.7
𝐿 𝛼𝑚 + 0.8 0.37 + 0.8
𝐿𝑒 = 0.7 ∗ 3.8 = 2.66 𝑚 = 2660 𝑚𝑚
𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜:
𝐿𝑒 𝐿𝑒 2660
𝜆= = = = 26.327
𝐼 𝐼/𝐴 10.7185 ∗ 108
300 ∗ 350
30
𝜆 ≤ 50 − 25 − = 66.66 … . 𝜆𝑐𝑎𝑙 = 26.327
45
≤ 𝜆𝑀𝑎𝑥 = 66.66 → 𝑂𝑘!
∴ 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕.
22
 1.2 Axial Compression:
The ultimate capacity of an axially loaded short column can be
determined by:
𝑃𝑑𝑢 = 𝑓𝑐𝑑 𝐴𝑔 − 𝐴𝑆 + 𝑓𝑦𝑑 𝐴𝑠𝑡 = 𝑓𝑐𝑑 𝐴𝑔 (1 − 𝜌) + 𝜌𝐴𝑔 𝑓𝑦𝑑
𝐴𝑠𝑡
𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒, 𝜌 = 𝑜𝑟 𝐴𝑠𝑡 = 𝜌𝐴𝑔
𝐴𝑔
𝑃𝑑𝑢 = 𝐴𝑔 [𝑓𝑐𝑑 1 − 𝜌 + 𝜌𝑓𝑦𝑑 ]
𝐴𝑔 = 𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎
𝐴𝑠𝑡 = 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡

23
A column may be classified as long when the
slenderness factor is defined as:
𝐿𝑒
≥ 12
𝑏
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒;
𝐿𝑒 = 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡;
𝑏 = 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑙𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
For such columns a load reduction factor Cr is
introduced in such a way that the concrete concentric
design axial load capacity can be given by:
𝑃𝑑𝑢𝑐 = 𝐶𝑟 𝑃𝑑𝑢 𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐶𝑟 = 1.25 − 𝐿𝑒 /48𝑏

24
Example 2: Axial Column
A column resting on an independent footing supports a
flat slab. The super imposed factored load transferred
from the slab is 1000 kN. Design the column assuming a
gross steel ratio of (a) 0.01 (b) 0.02. Use concrete C30,
steel S300 and class I works. Assume column height h =
4m.
Solution:
Step 1: Material Strength Properties:
𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝐶 − 30 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑒:

30 𝑁 0.85𝑓𝑐𝑘 𝑁
𝑓𝑐𝑘 = = 24 2
, 𝑓𝑐𝑑 = = 13.6 2
𝑎𝑛𝑑
1.25 𝑚𝑚 1.5 𝑚𝑚
2
0.21𝑓𝑐𝑘 3 𝑁
𝑓𝑐𝑡𝑑 = = 1.16485
1.5 𝑚𝑚2
25
For S-300 Rebar:
𝑁 𝑓𝑦𝑑 𝑁
𝑓𝑦𝑘 = 300 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑦𝑑 = = 260.87
𝑚𝑚2 1.15 𝑚𝑚2
Step 2: Determine cross sectional dimensions (b & h):
𝑃𝑑𝑢 = 𝐴𝑔 [𝑓𝑐𝑑 1 − 𝜌 + 𝜌𝑓𝑦𝑑 ]
𝑎 𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝜌 = 0.01 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑃𝑑 = 1000 𝑘𝑁
𝑃𝑑
𝐴𝑔 =
[𝑓𝑐𝑑 1 − 𝜌 + 𝜌𝑓𝑦𝑑 ]

1000 ∗ 103
𝑆2 = , 𝑆 = 249 𝑚𝑚
13.6 1 − 0.01 + 0.01 260.87
Use 250 mm X 250 mm Cross Section
26
𝐴𝑠𝑡 = 𝜌𝐴𝑔 = 0.01 ∗ 250 2 = 625 𝑚𝑚2
𝑈𝑠𝑒 4 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 16 𝑚𝑚 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑠
∴ 𝐴𝑠𝑡,𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑 = 804 𝑚𝑚2
6 𝑚𝑚
𝑇𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝐷𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟, ∅𝑡 ≥ ቐ ∅𝑙 16
= = 4 𝑚𝑚
4 4
∴ ∅𝑡 = 6 𝑚𝑚

12 ∗ ∅𝑙 = 12 ∗ 16 = 192 𝑚𝑚
𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑇𝑖𝑒𝑠, 𝑆𝑡 ≤ ቐ𝐿𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝐷𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 250 𝑚𝑚
300 𝑚𝑚
∴ 𝑆𝑡 = 192 𝑚𝑚

𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒, 𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝟔 𝒎𝒎 𝑑𝑖𝑎 𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑠 𝑎𝑡 𝟏𝟗𝟎 𝒎𝒎 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟.

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𝑏 𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝜌 = 0.02 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑃𝑑 = 1000 𝑘𝑁 →

1000 ∗ 10 3
𝑆2 = , 𝑆 = 232 𝑚𝑚
13.6 1 − 0.02 + 0.02 260.87
Use 240 mm × 240 mm cross section
𝐴𝑠𝑡 = 𝜌𝐴𝑔 = 0.02 ∗ 240 2 = 1125 𝑚𝑚2
𝑈𝑠𝑒 4Ø20𝑚𝑚 𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑠 ∴ 𝐴𝑠𝑡,𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑 = 1256 𝑚𝑚2
6 𝑚𝑚
∅𝑡 ≥ ൝ ∅𝑙 16 ∅𝑡 = 6 𝑚𝑚
= = 4 𝑚𝑚
4 4
12 ∗ ∅𝑙 = 12 ∗ 20 = 240 𝑚𝑚
𝑆𝑡 ≤ ቐ𝐿𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝐷𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 240 𝑚𝑚
300 𝑚𝑚
For Ties, use 6 mm diameter bars (ties) at c/c 240 mm.
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1.3 Columns With Moments

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Thank You!

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