Lecture-1

Columns
Introduction, classifications, and analysis

Instructor: Dr. Muhammad Tahir

Subject: Plain and Reinforced Concrete-1

Civil Engineering Department,

University of Engineering & Technology
(UET), Lahore, Narowal Campus 1
Outlines

Definition of column

Types of column

Types of column reinforcement

Source of moment in columns

Capacity of concentrically loaded short column

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Outlines

Definition of column

Types of column

Types of column reinforcement

Source of moment in columns

Capacity of concentrically loaded short column

3
Columns
Columns are those structural elements that are subjected
to axial compressive loads as the main force
o However, these may also be subjected to
simultaneous bending moments
o Columns are generally line elements with cross-
sectional dimensions considerably less than the
height.
o Columns support vertical loads from the floors and
roof and transfer these loads to the foundations.

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Outlines

Definition of column

Types of column

Types of column reinforcement

Source of moment in columns

Capacity of concentrically loaded short column

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Types of columns w.r.t. loading
Depending upon the presence or absence of bending
moments, columns may be of the following two types:
1. Concentrically loaded columns
Columns that are subjected to only axial loads with only
some accidental eccentricity of loads producing considerably
smaller bending moment.
2. Eccentrically loaded columns
Columns that are subjected to load at an eccentricity resulting
in a combined action of axial compression and bending
moment
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Types of columns w.r.t. Slenderness
The column behavior mainly depends on its
𝑘𝑙𝑢
slenderness ratio, denoted by
𝑟

where,
K is the effective length factor depending on the
presence or absence of side-sway and the end
conditions
𝑙𝑢 is the unsupported length of column
r is the radius of gyration of the column cross-section

along the axis of bending, 𝑟 = 𝐼

𝐴

Side-sway is the lateral movement between top and

bottom ends of column in the deformed shape
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Types of columns w.r.t. Slenderness
Depending upon the slenderness ratio, the columns may be classified into two
categories as under:
1. Short columns
Columns having slenderness ratio below the critical limit
o For such columns instability, chances of buckling are eliminated and second
order effects can be neglected during design.
o The strength of these columns depends on the material strengths and the
cross-sectional dimensions
o Short column fail by crushing of concrete

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Types of columns w.r.t. Slenderness
2. Slender columns
The columns for which the slenderness ratio is above critical limit is classified as
slender column
o The strength of such columns may be significantly lesser than the short columns
depending upon their slenderness ratio and the first order lateral deflections
o Failure of slender columns is due to buckling
o Moment magnification may take place due to second order effects

Second order effects usually means the

magnification of first order moments produced as a
result of product of the first order column
deflections and corresponding axial force

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Limiting Slenderness
According to ACI 318, the column may be considered
to be behave as a short column if:

𝑘𝑙𝑢 𝑀1
< 34 + 12
𝑟 𝑀2
Where,
M1 = magnitude of smaller end moment
M2 = magnitude of larger end moment
𝑀1
= zero if moment is absent, negative for single
𝑀2

curvature and positive for reverse curvature

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Limiting Slenderness-Example
For a concentrically loaded rectangular column with shorter side equal to h having k = 0.75
(partially fixed braced column), the limiting slenderness ratio is:

𝑘𝑙𝑢 0.75𝑙𝑢
= < 34 + 12 (0)
𝑟 0.3ℎ
0.75𝑙𝑢
< 34
0.3ℎ
𝑙𝑢
< 13.5
ℎ
This means that if the unsupported length (height) of a partially fixed braced column is less that
13.5 times its least lateral dimension, the column may be considered as a short column.

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Task 1

A concentrically loaded square concrete column have dimensions as 300 x 300 x 2400 mm, pinned at

both ends and braced for lateral sway . Determine whether the column is short or slender?

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Outlines

Definition of column

Types of column

Types of column reinforcement

Source of moment in columns

Capacity of concentrically loaded short column

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Type of column reinforcement
Longitudinal reinforcement
The main steel in column provided along the length of the member in the
corners or close to the periphery is called longitudinal reinforcement
Function
1. To provide resistance against bending moments
2. To provide certain minimum ductility (warning before failure through
deformation at sustained loads-delay in failure) in the column
3. To reduce creep and shrinkage in column
4. To prevent reduction in column stiffness against lateral movement by
reducing the crack widths

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Type of column reinforcement
Transverse reinforcement
The steel reinforcement in column provided in transverse direction to
the length of the member is called transverse reinforcement
Function
1. To prevent the outward buckling of the longitudinal bars that may
occur by breaking of the concrete cover
2. To provide confinement to the inner concrete, preventing its sudden
collapse and hence increasing ductility.
3. To provide resistance against shear and shrinking cracking
4. To hold the column steel at its proper position during casting of
concrete

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Type of column reinforcement
Transverse reinforcement is mainly provided in two forms
1. Ties 2. Spirals
Ties
Ties are the steel hoops or hooks provided to hold the steel
bars at their position and prevent their outward buckling
o Ties provide limited confinement to the concrete, so the
tied column will have relatively less ductility
o The failure of tied column is abrupt and complete imitated
by opening of ties or fracture of ties resulting in buckling
of main bars and crushing of concrete

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Type of column reinforcement
Spiral reinforcement
Spiral reinforcement consists of a continuous or lapped wire wrapped
around the longitudinal steel in the form of spiral at a closer pitch (spacing)
o Spiral reinforcement more effectively brace the longitudinal bars against
their outward buckling compared with the ties
o It provide much more confinement to the inner core of concrete
o Close to the peak load, the concrete cover spalls down, however, the
spiral keeps the longitudinal steel and inner concrete core intact
o The reduction in capacity of column due to cover spalling is offset by the
enhancement of core strength due to confinement provided by the spiral
o The loads are sustained for much longer times without final collapse
which provide lot of ductility
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Outlines

Definition of column

Types of column

Types of column reinforcement

Source of moment in columns

Capacity of concentrically loaded short column

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Sources of moment in columns
1. Unequal loading on both sides of column
when load on both sides of a column is unequal, the resulting load
will have eccentricity w.r.t. the column centroid and hence moment
will be generated. Corner columns always have load eccentricity due
to unequal supported area on sides.
𝑀 =𝑃×𝑒
2. Unequal span on both sides of column
Presence of unequal span on sides of a column also produces resultant
eccentricity and moment.

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Sources of moment in columns
3. Rigid frame action
If the joint between the concrete beams and the column is monolithic, it behaves as a rigid joint and
the end moments of beam is transferred to the column.
4. Eccentricity of load
Sometimes the load is applied on column at an eccentricity through brackets or other mechanisms
as in case of crane girders producing considerably larger moments.

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Sources of moment in columns
5. Out-of-Plumbness of the column
If the column is not exactly vertical, the load at the top
produces some eccentricity at the bottom.
6. Out of straightness of column
In case the column is not perfectly straight, some
eccentricity and hence moment is generated.

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Outlines

Definition of column

Types of column

Types of column reinforcement

Source of moment in columns

Capacity of concentrically loaded short column

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Capacity reduction factor for columns

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Ultimate strength of concentrically loaded short columns

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Example

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Thank You

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