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Reinforced Concrete Columns

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AS3 - Architectural Structures : Module 05 (Part 1)

Outline Structural definition of Columns

 Reinforced Concrete Columns  The member supporting all suspended elements of a structure.
 Concrete Column Categories  A member of a structural system designed to carry compressive
 Types of Concrete Columns loads.
 Axial Load Capacity of Columns P
 Interaction Diagrams P
 Concrete Column Failures P/2 P/2

 Reinforced Concrete Columns &

Cost of Structure P/2 P/2

 Code Requirements

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Structural definition of Columns Structural definition of Columns

 In reality columns are not limited to that of carrying compressive  Bending Moments applied to the column normally act in both axes of
loads. Actual conditions subject columns to both Axial Loads the cross section. Some cases they act simultaneously which is
(compressive) and Bending Moments brought about by lateral forces termed as Bi-Axial Bending.
(Earthquake and Wind) y

Mx
P x

My
P P
Mx My

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Concrete Column Categories Concrete Column Categories

Concrete columns can be roughly divided into:
Pedestals/Short Compression Blocks
I. Short compression blocks or pedestals
II. Short reinforced concrete columns
 Height is less than 3 times its least lateral
dimension
III. Long or slender reinforced concrete columns
 Ht < 3(b) where b is the width of the
column. 1m

0.4m

7 0.4m 8

Concrete Column Categories
Short Column
 Fails due to material failure
 A column is said to be short if its height
is such that lateral buckling need not
be considered.
 When the ratio of the effective height
to the least radius of gyration is less
than 45.
 Ht/r < 45 where r is the radius of
gyration of the section.
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Concrete Column Failures
Long Column/Slender Column
P-Δ Effect
 When a column is subject to primary
moments, the axis of the member will
deflect laterally, with the result of that
additional moments equal to the
column load times the lateral
deflection will be applied to the
column. These latter moments are
called secondary moments or P-Δ
Moments
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Concrete Column Categories
Long Column/Slender Column
 When the ratio of the effective height to the
least radius of gyration is greater than 45.
 Ht/r > 45 where r is the radius of gyration
of the section.
 It is recognized that as the height of the
column increases, the load carrying
capacity of the section decreases because
of the slenderness effects.
 The capacity of long columns is significantly
less than that of a short column given the
same cross section.
Concrete Column Categories
Long Columns &
Short Columns
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Types of Concrete Columns Types of Concrete Columns

 Reinforced concrete columns are
referred depending on the method
used for laterally bracing or holding
the bars in place:

I. Tied Columns
II. Spiral Columns
III. Composite Columns

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Types of Concrete Columns Types of Concrete Columns

Tied Column
 A column is said to be tied if it
has a series of closed ties.
 Usually used on square and
rectangular sections

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Types of Concrete Columns Types of Concrete

Ties are provided in reinforced concrete
Columns
for these reasons: Typical Tie
Arrangements
 Ties restrain the longitudinal bars from
buckling out through the surface of the
column.
 Ties hold the reinforcement cage together
during the construction process.
 Properly detailed ties confine the concrete
core, providing increased ductility
 Tie serve as shear reinforcement

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Types of Concrete Columns Types of Concrete Columns

Typical Tie Arrangements Spiral Column
 Uses a continuous helical spiral that is
wrapped around the vertical bars
 Usually used on circular sections

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Types of Concrete Columns Types of Concrete Columns

Composite Column
 These are RC Columns
that are reinforced by
steel sections instead of
reinforcing bars.

Triaxial Stresses in core spiral Column

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Types of Concrete Columns Types of Concrete

Composite Column Columns
Composite Column

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Axial Load Capacity of Columns Axial Load Capacity of Columns

My

x x

y y

OR

(a) Concentrically loaded column (b) Axial load plus uniaxial Moment

Types of Columns based on load position on Cross Section 25 Types of Columns based on load position on Cross Section 26

Axial Load Capacity of Columns Axial Load Capacity of Columns

Mx

My
x x

y y

OR

(c) Axial load plus biaxial Moment

Types of Columns based on load position on Cross Section 27 28
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Axial Load Capacity of Columns Axial Load Capacity of Columns Pc

Pno Pc
 Parts of the load carried by the concrete and the  When a symmetrical column is subjected to Ps Pno
steel vary with their magnitude and duration . axial load P, longitudinal strains ε develop Ps
ε
 For instance, the larger the percentage of dead uniformly across the section
loads and the longer they are applied, the greater  Because the steel and concrete are bonded
the creep in the concrete and the larger the together, the strains in the concrete and steel
percentage of load carried by the reinforcement
are equal
Concrete creep
 The Forces Pc and Ps in the concrete and steel
 Deformation of structure under sustained load. are equal to the stresses multiplied by the
 Long term pressure or stress on concrete can corresponding areas.
make it change shape.
 The total Load on the column Pno, is the sum of
 Deformation usually occurs in the direction the these two quantities
force is being applied.
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 Failure occurs when Pno reaches a maximum 30

Axial Load Capacity of Columns

a. Strains in Column
 The proportions of live and dead loads, the length of loading, and
other such factors have little effect on the ultimate strength
 If the concrete or the steel is stressed close to its ultimate strength, its
large deformations will cause the stress to increase quicker in the
other material thus only the ultimate strength of columns is
c. Load Resisted by Steel considered:
Pno
Pno = 0.85f ‘c(Ag − Ast ) + fyAst

b. Load Resisted by Concrete
 Where
 Ag = gross concrete area
 Ast = total cross-sectional area of longitudinal reinforcement,
including bars and steel shapes
 Pno = nominal load capacity, Pn
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d. Total Load Resisted by Column
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Interaction Diagrams Interaction Diagrams

Use of Interaction Diagrams
 Interaction diagrams are useful for Fail
studying the strengths of columns
with varying proportions of loads
and moments. Pass
 Any combination of loading that
falls inside the curve is satisfactory,
whereas any combination falling
outside the curve represents
failure.

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Concrete Column Failures

Short Column Long Column
Failure is due to crushing of The capacity is reduced by
concrete or yielding of rebars slenderness effects

SP Column Example
35 (a) Crushing Failure (b) Buckling Failure 36
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Concrete Column Failures Concrete Column Failures

Short tied column Spiral columns
 Parts of the shell or covering concrete will spall off and, unless the ties  Covering concrete or shell will spall off, but the core will continue to
are quite closely spaced, the longitudinal bars will buckle almost stand, and if the spiral is closely spaced, the core will be able to resist
immediately. an appreciable amount of additional load beyond the load that
 The failure can be sudden. causes spalling.
 The spalling off of the shell of a spiral column provides a warning that
failure is going to occur and the spiral is designed so that it is just a
little stronger than the shell that is assumed to spall off.

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Concrete Column Failures Concrete Column Failures

Tied Column Spiral Column
Buckling
 Totally Failed  Although badly damaged, is still
supporting a load  resulting from structural
 The very minimal ties were instability due to
inadequate to confine the core compressive action on
the member

After Earthquake

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Concrete Column Failures Concrete Column Failures

Shear Failure Plastic Hinging
 commonly manifests as diagonal cracks along the height of the  caused by the
column combined action of
the Axial force and a
large amount of
bending moment.

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Reinforced Concrete Columns

& Cost of Structure
 Proper Column placement will affect the cost of the structure.
 Placing columns in a grid-like pattern will not only economize your
structure it will also improve its structural response to external loads.
END OF LECTURE
 Avoid placing columns in a sporadic pattern.
 Lessen the use of Planted Columns. If it is unavoidable refrain from
QUESTIONS?
using them to support more than one floor.
 If these conditions cannot be achieved be it by owner or
architectural requirements, expect a cost of construction higher than
that of the normal.
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