F.A.L.

CONDUCIVE ENGINEERING REVIEW CENTER

2ND Floor, Cartimar Building, C.M. Recto Avenue, Quiapo, Manila
Contact Number/s: 0995-351-7556; 0945-734-3928

REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN - COLUMNS

Prepared by: Engr. Francis Arjay Pastores Luz

TYPES OF COLUMNS
Based on loading
1. Axially loaded columns – where loads are assumed
acting at the center of the column section.

2. Eccentrically loaded columns – loads are acting at a

distance e from the center of the column section.

3. Biaxially loaded columns – where the load is applied

at any point of the column section causing moments about
AXIALLY LOADED COLUMNS
the x and y-axes simultaneously.
A column subjected to pure axial loads does not exist in
concrete buildings. However, it can be assumed that axially
loaded columns are those with relatively small
Based on length
eccentricity, e, of about 0.1h or less, where h is the total
1. Short columns – where the column’s failure is due to
depth of the column and e is the eccentric distance from
crushing of concrete or the yielding of the steel bar under
the center of the column
the full load capacity of the column.

A column is considered to be axially loaded if the

2. Long columns – where buckling effect and slenderness
eccentricity of the force is less than or equal to
ratio must be taken into consideration in the design, thus
reducing the load capacity of the column relative to that of
a short column.

Also, the following must be satisfied:

a. For columns not braced against sidesway
Based on the shape
1. Square
2. Rectangular
b. For columns braced against sidesway
3. Round
4. L-shaped ( )
5. Octagonal and
6. Or any desired shape

Based on column ties where is negative if the column is bent in single

1. Tied columns – containing steel ties to confine the main curvature, and positive for double curvature.
longitudinal bars in the columns. Ties are normally spaced
uniformly along the height of the column. The radius of gyration r shall be permitted to be calculated
by (a), (b) or (c).
2. Spiral columns – containing spirals to hold the main
a. √
longitudinal reinforcement and help increase the column
ductility before failure. In general, ties and spirals prevent b. 0.30h (for rectangular columns)
the slender, highly stressed longitudinal bars from c. 0.25D (for circular columns)
buckling and bursting the concrete cover.

Ultimate nominal load capacity of the reinforced concrete

Based on frame bracings columns is obtained using the equation below:
1. Braced against sidesway – columns maybe part of a ( )
frame that is braced against sidesway. Bracing maybe
achieved by using shear walls or bracings in the building The maximum nominal axial load allowed by the code is:
frame. Columns resist mainly gravity loads, shear walls
resist lateral loads and wind loads.

2. Unbraced against sidesway – columns resist both

The ultimate axial load, :
gravity and lateral loads, which reduce the load capacity of
[ ( ) ]
the columns.
Where:
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c.) 1 1 the maximum size of coarse aggregate

NSCP 2015 Limitations 3
1. Strength Reduction factors, :
Axially loaded columns are compression controlled PROBLEMS:
members, thus, SITUATION 1 - A reinforced concrete tied column carries a
Tied columns: dead axial load of 1000 kN and a live axial load of 1350 kN.
Spiral Columns: Use concrete strength fc’ = 27.6 MPa and yield strength of
reinforcement fy = 400 MPa
2. Longitudinal steel percentage, : 1. Determine the design axial load that the column will
carry.
2. If the size of the column is limited to 350 mm x 450mm,
what must be the number of 20 mm bars.
3. Minimum number of longitudinal bars 3. Determine the smallest dimension of the square column
Tied columns: 4 bars section if the steel ratio is 2 %.
Spiral Columns: 6 bars
For other shapes – one bar at each corner SITUATION 2 - A spiral column carries a gravity dead load
of 1200 kN and a live load of 1800 kN. The column is of
4. Minimum spiral reinforcement, average height and it will be assumed that there is no
reduction in strength due to the effects of slenderness. Use
( ) approximately 1.5% reinforcement. Using concrete
Actual spiral ratio, strength fc’ = 27.6 MPa and yield strength fy = 415 MPa
4. Determine the required diameter of the spiral column.

where: 6. Determine the center to center spacing of 10 mm

fy = specified yield strength of spiral reinforcement but not more
than 415 MPa.
fc’ = specified compressive strength of concrete shall not be less
than 17 MPa.
Ag = gross area of column, mm2
Ach = area of core of spirally reinforced compression member
measured to outside diameter of spiral, mm2
D = diameter of column, mm
Dch = diameter of concrete core (i.e. diameter of column minus
the concrete cover at both sides), mm
5. Minimum diameter of spirals = 10mm
• Clear spacing should not be more than 75mm nor less
than 25mm
• Splices may be provided by welding or lapping
• Lapping – 48 bar diameters (48D) or a minimum of
300mm
6. Minimum diameter of ties
• 32mm diam. long. bars or smaller = 10mm
• Larger diameter bars and bundled bars = 12mm
diameter spiral reinforcement on the critical section.
SITUATION 3 - A 350 mm x 600 mm column is to be
constructed above the ground. The vertical reinforcement
consists of 12-
Maximum size of aggregates is 27 mm.
7. Determine the maximum spacing required for the ties.
8. Determine the required cover over the ties considering
the maximum aggregate size.
9. A reinforced concrete tied column is to resist the
following axial load:
. The concrete used has strength of 20.7 MPa and
the yield strength of 415 MPa. Determine the number of
25-mm bars if the steel ratio is 1.5%.
10. A reinforced concrete spiral column is to resist the
following axial load: PDL = 900 kN, PLL = 1200 kN and PWL =
350 kN. The concrete used has strength of 27.6 MPa and
the reinforcement yield strength of 345 MPa. Determine
the number of 20-mm bars if the steel ratio is 1.25%.

11. (PRACTICE): A 500 mm square column is reinforced

7. SPACING OF LONGITUDINAL BARS
with 12-20mmΦ distributed equally in all sides. The
In spirally reinforced or tied reinforced compression members,
concrete used has strength of 25 MPa and the re-bar yield
clear distance between longitudinal bars shall not be less than
1.5db or less than 40 mm. strength of 345 MPa. Determine the ultimate axial capacity
of column.
8. Spacing of ties shall not exceed:
12. (PRACTICE): A 450 mm diameter column is reinforced
• 48 times tie diameters
with 8 - 25mmΦ distributed equally within the 10mmΦ
• 16 times longitudinal bar diameter
spiral. The concrete used has strength of 27.6 MPa and the
• Least dimension of the column
re-bar yield strength of 275 MPa. Determine the ultimate
axial capacity of column.
9. Minimum clear cover shall not be less than the following
a.) 40 mm
b.) diameter of vertical bars
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Contact Number/s: 0995-351-7556; 0945-734-3928
ECCENTRICALLY LOADED COLUMNS
Eccentricity, e
The eccentricity, e, represents the distance from the plastic
centroid of the section to the point of application of load.
Plastic centroid is obtained by determining the location
of the resultant force produced by the steel and the
concrete, assuming that both are stressed in compression
to fy and 0.85f’c, respectively.
Load-Moment Interaction Diagram
LOAD-MOMENT INTERACTION DIAGRAM
Axial Compression,
( )
This is a theoretical case assuming that a large axial load is
acting at the plastic centroid; e=0 and Mn=0. Failure of the
column occurs by crushing of the concrete and yielding of
steel bars.
1. Maximum Nominal Axial Load,
This is the case of a normal force acting on the section with
minimum eccentricity, (See interaction
diagram)
NSCP 2015 Provides that,
Failure occurs by crushing of the concrete and the yielding
of the steel bars.
2. Compression failure:
Refer to interaction Diagram (BLUE)
This is the case of a large axial load acting at a small
eccentricity. It is ranging from to a minimum of
Failure occurs by crushing of the concrete on the
compression side with a strain of 0.003, whereas the stress
in the steel bars (on the tension side) is less than the yield
strength, fy (fs<fy). In this case, Pn>Pb and e<eb
3. Balanced Condition Pb
Refer to interaction Diagram (GREEN)
A balanced condition is reached when the compression
strain in the concrete reaches 0.003 and the strain in the
tensile reinforcement reaches εy= fy/Es simultaneously;
 Failure of concrete occurs at the same time as the
steel yields.
 The moment that accompanies this load is called
the balanced moment, Mb, and the relevant
balanced eccentricity is eb=Mb/Pb
4. Tension Failure:
Refer to interaction Diagram (YELLOW)
This is the case of a small axial load with large eccentricity,
that is, a large moment.
 Before failure, tension occurs in a large portion of
the section, causing the tension steel bars to yield
before actual crushing of the concrete.
 At failure, the strain in the tension steel is greater
than the yield strain, εy, whereas the strain in the
concrete reaches 0.003.
 The range of this case extends from the balanced
to the case of pure flexure. When tension controls,
Pn<Pb and e>eb
5. Pure flexure:
Refer to interaction Diagram (ORANGE)
The section in this case is subjected to a bending moment,
Mn, whereas the axial load is Pn = 0.
 Failure occurs as in a beam subjected to bending
moment only.
 The eccentricity is assumed to be at infinity.
PROBLEMS:
Problem 1: A 400mm square column is reinforced with 4-
25 mm diameter bars on its left portion 2-25mm diameter
in its right portion as shown. Steel covering = 70mm, fy =
415 MPa, fc’ = 28 MPa. Locate the plastic centroid of the
section from the y-axis. Neglect the volume of concrete
displaced by the main bars and assume that the concrete
section remains square.
Eccentrically Loaded Columns
A. Analytic Method
Case 1 - Balance Condition
Problem 2: A 350 mm x 700 mm column is reinforced
with 6 -28mm dia. bars, three bars distributed equally in
short dimension with steel covering of 70 mm. Use
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2ND Floor, Cartimar Building, C.M. Recto Avenue, Quiapo, Manila
Contact Number/s: 0995-351-7556; 0945-734-3928

concrete strength of 27.6 MPa and rebar yield strength of

276 MPa.
a. Determine the nominal balanced load Pnbal
b. Determine the eccentricity ebal for balanced failure.
c. Determine the nominal moment Mnbal for balanced
failure.

Case 2 – Compression Controlled

Problem 3: A 350 mm x 700 mm column is reinforced
with 6 -28mm dia. bars, three bars distributed equally in
short dimension with steel covering of 70 mm. Use
concrete strength of 27.6 MPa and rebar yield strength of
276 MPa. If the eccentricity e = 200 mm,
a. Determine the balance eccentricity,
b. Determine the ultimate axial load that could be
placed.
c. Determine the moment load

Case 3 – Tension Controlled

Problem 4: A 350 mm x 700 mm column is reinforced
with 6 -28mm dia. bars, three bars distributed equally in
short dimension with steel covering of 70 mm. Use
concrete strength of 27.6 MPa and rebar yield strength of
276 MPa. If the eccentricity e = 450 mm,
a. Determine the balance eccentricity,
b. Determine the ultimate axial load that could be
placed.
c. Determine the moment load

Eccentrically Loaded Columns

B. Graphical Method – use of available interaction
diagrams.

Problem 5: - A tied column having the cross section of 350

mm x 700 mm is reinforced with 6 – 32 mm dia. bars
distributed equally in the 350-mm dimension. Use
concrete strength of 28 MPa and re-bar yield strength of
415 MPa. Consider the ratio of the center to center
reinforcement distance to the longer side of column is
equal to 0.70.
13. Determine the reinforcement ratio in percent.
14. Determine the ratio e/h if the eccentricity is 280 mm.
15. Determine the value of the maximum load Pn that the
column could carry using the interaction diagram.

Problem 6: A spiral column having a diameter of 500 mm

is reinforced with 8-36mm dia. vertical bars. The diameter
of spiral is 10mm dia. Use concrete strength of 28 MPa and
re-bar yield strength of 415 MPa. Consider the ratio of the
center to center reinforcement distance to the diameter of
column is equal to 0.70.
16. Determine the steel ratio in percent.
17. Determine the eccentric load Pn having an eccentricity
of 200 mm using the interaction diagram.