CV4120 Advanced Reinforced

Concrete Design
Lecture 1 – Slender Column

Assistant Professor Zhao Ou

Email: ou.zhao@ntu.edu.sg
Office: N1-01b-49
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Nanyang Technological University

1
Outline
• General
• Short and slender columns
• M–N interaction diagram
• Column slenderness ratio and limiting slenderness
• Design bending moment
• Nominal Curvature Method
• Design for biaxial bending
• Worked example

2
 General
• Columns are vertical members carrying primary axial loads from roof
and floors to foundations as well as bending moment.
• EC2 – Clause 5.3.1(7) specifies column as a structural member that
satisfies:
h/b≤4 and l/h≥3

3
 General
• Columns can be classified according to their locations.

Interior column Exterior column Corner column

4
 General
• Columns can also be classified as ‘braced’ or ‘unbraced’.
 Braced columns:
A column in a structure may be considered as braced in a given plane if
the lateral stability of the structure is provided by bracing elements (e.g.,
shear walls and cores) to resist all the lateral forces in that plane.
Therefore, braced columns are not required to be designed for lateral
forces.

5
 General
• Columns can also be classified as ‘braced’ or ‘unbraced’.
 Unbraced columns:
For unbraced structures without shear walls and cores, resistance to
lateral forces is provided by frame action, that is, by bending in the
columns and beams in that plane. The columns are said to be unbraced,
and must be designed to carry both vertical and lateral loads.

6
 Short and slender columns
• Columns can also be classified as ‘short’ or ‘slender’.
 A short column normally fails by localised crushing, without any sign of
lateral deflection at failure.
 A slender column fails by global buckling, with significant lateral
deflection at failure.

Crushing failure
Buckling failure of
of short column
slender column

7
 Short and slender columns
• Short columns:
 Short columns normally fail by localised crushing, a compression failure
with concrete or steel reaching their maximum strength.

8
 Short and slender columns
• Short columns:
 Design of short columns is based on the first-order loading.

N
M02
M02 M02

Effective length
M01 M01
M01
N First-order Design bending
Deflected shape bending moment moment

9
 Short and slender columns
• Slender columns
 Slender column fail by global buckling. Slender columns tend to deflect
significantly in the lateral direction, and the lateral deflection causes an
additional (second-order) bending moment in addition to the first-order
loading.

Buckling failure of Crushing failure

slender column of short column

10
 Short and slender columns
• Slender columns
 Design of slender columns is thus based on both the first-order loading
and the second-order bending moment induced from the lateral
deflection.
N
M02 M02
Effective length

e2 e2
Points of M0Ed M2=Ne2 MEd=M0Ed+M2
contraflexure

M01
M01
N First-order Second-order Design bending
Deflected shape bending moment bending moment moment
11
 M–N interaction diagram
• M–N interaction diagram is used to design a column under the design
loading or check whether the column would fail under the design
loading.
 For a short column, the design loading is equal to the first-order
loading.
 For a slender column, the design loading is defined as the sum of the
first-order loading and the second-order bending moment.

12
 M–N interaction diagram
• M–N interaction diagram is used to design a column under the design
loading or check whether the column would fail under the design
loading.
 N–M interaction diagrams are different for RC columns with various
cross-section shapes, reinforcement arrangements and concrete
grades.

13
 Column slenderness ratio and limiting
slenderness
• How to differentiate ‘short’ and ‘slender’ RC columns?
• Slenderness ratio of a RC column bent about an axis:
λ=l0/i=l0/ 𝐼/𝐴
Where l0 is the effective length of the column
i is the radius of gyration about the bending axis
I is the second moment of area of the section about the bending axis
A is the cross-section area
Note that the radius of gyration i is equal to 0.2887hd for a rectangular section,
in which hd is the dimension of the cross-section perpendicular to the
considered bending axis.
• If the slenderness ratio of the column λ is less than the EC2 limiting
slenderness λlim, the column is defined as a ‘short’ column and second-
order effect can be ignored. But if λ>λlim, the column is regarded as a
‘slender’ column, and second-order bending moment should be
considered.

14
 Column slenderness ratio and limiting
slenderness
• The limiting slenderness λlim is given as λlim =20ABC/ 𝑛
 n=NEd/Acfcd
 Design compressive strength for concrete
fcd=αccfck/γc=0.85fck/1.5=0.567fck
 NEd is the design axial compression load

 A=1/(1+0.2φef)
 φef is the effective creep coefficient.
 A maybe taken as 0.7, in the absence of information on φef
 B= 1 + 2𝐴𝑠𝑓𝑦𝑑 /𝐴𝑐𝑓𝑐𝑑
 Design strength for reinforcement fyd=fyk/γs=fyk/1.15
 B may be assumed to be equal to 1.1 when As is unknown

15
 Column slenderness ratio and limiting
slenderness
• The limiting slenderness λlim is given as λlim =20ABC/ 𝑛
 C=1.7-M01/M02
 M02 and M01 are the numerically larger and smaller end moments
of the RC column
 The ratio of M01/M02 is positive for single curvature bending but
negative for double curvature bending.
 -1≤M01/M02≤1
M02
M02

M01 M01

16 Double curvature bending

Single curvature bending with positive M01/M02 with negative M01/M02
 Design bending moment
• It is necessary to estimate the first-order bending moment at around the
mid-height of the RC column, since this is the point where the second-
order moment would potentially be a maximum.
• The mid-height first-order bending moment consists of two parts:
M0Ed=M0e+Mi
1) Bending moment from the design loading: M0e=0.6M02+0.4M01>0.4M02
2) Bending moment accounting for potential accidental effects: Mi=NEdl0/400

17
 Design bending moment
• RC columns are built monolithically into a structure at its top and
bottom end. Therefore, the effective length of a RC column, defined as
the distance between the points of contraflexure, is less than its actual
member length.
• The effective length of a RC column is very important. The accidental
bending moment as well as the lateral deflection and second-order
bending moment are calculated, based on the effective length of the
RC column.

18
 Design bending moment
• The second-order bending moment is equal to the product of the
design axial compression load and the lateral deflection at mid-height.
• The difficulty lies in the quantification of the mid-height deflection of the
RC column under the first-order loading.
N
M02 Effective length M02

e2 e2
Points of M0Ed M2=Ne2 MEd=M0Ed+M2
contraflexure

M01
M01
N First-order Second-order Design bending
Deflected shape bending moment bending moment moment
19
 Nominal Curvature Method
• EC2 specifies the nominal curvature method to calculate the deflections
of slender RC columns at mid-height.
• The curvature of a section at the balanced failure point:
 The strain at the compressive face of the section is 0.0035, while
the strain of the reinforcement is given by fyd/Es.
 The balanced curvature is calculated as 1/r0=(fyd/Es)/(0.45d), in
which d is the effective depth of the section.

20
 Nominal Curvature Method
• The curvature of a section above the balanced failure point 1/r is equal
to the balanced curvature 1/r0 multiplied by a correction factor Kr and a
creep factor Kφ.
1/r=KrKφ(1/r0)
 The correction factor is calculated as Kr=(nu-n)/(nu-nbal)≤1
 n=NEd/Acfcd
 nu=Nud/Acfcd=(Acfcd+Asfyd)/Acfcd=1+Asfyd/Acfcd
 nbal=Nbal/Acfcd, and may be taken as 0.4 for symmetrically reinforced
rectangular section.

21
 Nominal Curvature Method
• The curvature of a section above the balanced failure point 1/r is equal
to the balanced curvature 1/r0 multiplied by a correction factor Kr and a
creep factor Kφ.
1/r=KrKφ(1/r0)
 The correction factor is calculated as Kr=(nu-n)/(nu-nbal)≤1

d’/h=0.2 d’/h=0.1
22
 Nominal Curvature Method
• The curvature of a section above the balanced failure point 1/r is equal
to the balanced curvature 1/r0 multiplied by a correction factor Kr and a
creep factor Kφ.
1/r=KrKφ(1/r0)

 The creep factor is calculated as Kφ=1+βφef

 β=0.35+fck/200-λ/150

23
 Nominal Curvature Method
• The deflection can then be integrated by assuming that the column
deflects in the form of a sine curve within the effective length.
𝜋𝑥
e2= ‫(׭‬1/𝑟) 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑥
𝑙0
π𝑥
=𝑙02 (1/𝑟)sin / π2
𝑙0

At mid-height, x/l0=0.5, and e2=0.1(1/r)l02=0.1l02KrKφ(fyd/Es)/(0.45d)

• The second-order bending moment is thus given as M2=NEde2

24
 Nominal Curvature Method
• The design moment at the mid-height of the RC column is calculated as
MEd=M0Ed+M2
• Note that the second order bending moment also affects the end
moments beyond the effective length. It tends to reduce the numerically
larger end moment, but increase the smaller end moment.

25
 Nominal Curvature Method
• At the end with larger first-order bending moment, the final EC2 design
end moment is assumed to be equal to the original first-order design
end moment, without considering the reduced effect from the second-
order moment.
• At the end with smaller first-order bending design moment, the final
EC2 design end moment is equal to the original first-order design end
moment plus half of the second-order bending moment at mid-height.
• Therefore, the overall design moment of a RC column is equal to the
maximum of the design moments at mid-height and both ends, i.e. the
maximum of M0Ed+M2, M02 and M01 +0.5M2.

26
 Design for biaxial bending
• Columns are often subjected to biaxial bending, especially those at the
corners of buildings.
• For members with a rectangular cross-section, separate checks in the
two principal plane are permissible if:
 λy/λz≤2 and λz/λy≤2
 (ey/h)/(ez/b)≤0.2 or (ez/b)/(ey/h)≤0.2
where ey=MEd,y/NEd and ez=MEd,z/NEd

27
 Design for biaxial bending
• Columns are often subjected to biaxial bending, especially those at the
corners of buildings.
• For members with a rectangular cross-section, where separate checks
in the two principal plane are not permissible, an approximate method
can be used to consider the biaxial bending effect.
• The key principals of the approximate method includes:
 Convert biaxial bending moments into a uniaxial bending moment.
 Design column based on the axial compression load and uniaxial
bending moment.

28
 Design for biaxial bending
• How to convert?
 For a column subjected to NEd, MEd,y and MEd,z, biaxial bending
moments can be converted into uniaxial bending moment about either
principal axis, depending on which of the following two conditions is
valid:
If MEd,y/h’>MEd,z/b’, then M’Ed,y=MEd,y+βh’MEd,z/b’
If MEd,y/h’<MEd,z/b’, then M’Ed,z=MEd,z+βb’MEd,y/h’
Where β=1-NEd/(bhfck)
M’Ed,y and M’Ed,z are the converted uniaxial bending
moments about the y-y and z-z axes, respectively.

• Having established the converted bending moment about one of the

column principal axes, the RC column can then be designed for the
combination of axial compression load and uniaxial bending moment.

29
 Worked example – 1 (Design)
Design data:
Axial compression load: NEd=1500 kN
First-order bending moment: M02=80 kNm, M01=-50 kNm
Column length: L=8.5 m Column effective length: l0=5.67 m
C30/37 Concrete: fck=30 N/mm2 Reinforcement: fyk=500 N/mm2
Effective creep coefficient: φef=0.87

30 Calculate the required reinforcement area.

 Worked example – 1 (Design)
• Calculate the column slenderness ratio
  l0 / (I / A)  l0 /(0.2887h)  5670/(0.2887 300)  65.5

• Calculate the slenderness limit:

min  20 ABC / n
A 1/(1 0.2 ) 1/(1 0.2 0.87)  0.85
ef

This is a ‘design’ and thus reinforcement is unknown. B is taken as 1.1.

C 1.7  M 01 / M 02 1.7 [(50)/(80)]  2.33
n  N Ed / Ac f cd 15001000/(3002  0.567  30)  0.98
min  20 ABC / n  20 0.851.1 2.33/ 0.98  44

The column slenderness ratio is greater than the EC2 slenderness limit.
Therefore, the column is regarded as ‘slender’, and second-order bending
moment should be considered.

31
 Worked example – 1 (Design)
• Calculate the first-order bending moment at mid-height M0Ed
M 0 Ed  M 0e  M i

 The first order bending moment from the applied loading M0e
M 0e  0.6M 02  0.4M 01  0.680  0.4 50  28 kNm
M 0e  0.4M 02  0.480  32 kNm

M 0e  32 kNm

 Bending moment accounting for potential accidental effects Mi

M i  N Ed l0 / 400 1500 5670/ 400/1000  21.3 kNm

 Therefore, the first order bending moment at mid-height is equal to

M 0 Ed  M 0e  M i  32  21.3  53.3 kNm

32
 Worked example – 1 (Design)
• Calculate the second-order bending moment at mid-height M2
M 2  N Ed e2

 The deflection at the mid-height of the column e2

e2  0.1l02 Kr K ( f yd / E )/(0.45d )

K 1 ef 1 (0.35  f ck / 200   /150)ef

1 (0.35  30/ 200  65.5/150)  0.87 1.06
( f yd / E )/(0.45d )  (500/1.15/ 200000)/(0.45 250)  0.00001932

e2  0.1l02 Kr K ( f yd / E )/(0.45d )
 0.1 56702  Kr 1.06 0.00001932
 65.8Kr

 The second-order bending moment at mid-height M2

M 2  N Ed e2 1500 65.8Kr /1000  98.7 Kr kNm

33
 Worked example – 1 (Design)
• Iteration to obtain Kr

 Assume Kr=1.0, then M2=98.7 kNm and MEd=53.3+98.7=152 kNm

N Ed / bhf ck 15001000/(300 300 30)  0.56
M Ed / bh2 f ck 152106 /(3003  30)  0.19

This leads to a new Kr=0.73

34
 Worked example – 1 (Design)
• Iteration to obtain Kr

 If Kr=0.73, then M2=0.73×98.7=72 kNm and MEd=53.3+72=125.3 kNm

N Ed / bhf ck 15001000/(300 300 30)  0.56
M Ed / bh2 f ck 125.3106 /(3003  30)  0.155

This leads to a new Kr=0.69

35
 Worked example – 1 (Design)
• Iteration to obtain Kr

 If Kr=0.69, then M2=0.73×98.7=68 kNm and MEd=53.3+68=121.3 kNm

N Ed / bhf ck 15001000/(300 300 30)  0.56
M Ed / bh2 f ck 121.3106 /(3003  30)  0.149

This is close enough to the previous results.

No need to do further iteration.

36
 Worked example – 1 (Design)
• Design for reinforcement
N Ed / bhf cd 15001000/(300 300 30 0.567)  0.98
M Ed / bh2 f cd 121.3106 /(3003 30 0.567)  0.264

Therefore, Asfyd/bhfcd=0.8, and As=2817 mm2

37
 Worked example – 2 (Check)
Design data:
Axial compression load: NEd=1500 kN
First-order bending moment about the y-y axis: M02,y=80 kNm, M01,y=-20 kNm
First-order bending moment about the z-z axis: M02,z=40 kNm, M01,z=0 kNm
Column length: L=6 m Column effective length: l0y=l0z=4.5 m
C50/60 Concrete: fck=50 N/mm2
Reinforcement grade: fyk=500 N/mm2 Reinforcement area: As=2945 N/mm2 (6H25)
Effective creep coefficient: φef=0.87

Check the adequacy of the RC column under:

(1) Axial compression load and uniaxial bending moment about the y-y axis
(2) Axial compression load and uniaxial bending moment about the z-z axis
(3) Axial compression load and biaxial bending moments

38
 Worked example – 2 (Check)

First-order bending First-order bending Cross-section

moment about the moment about the configuration
y-y axis z-z axis

39
 Worked example – 2 (Check about y-y
axis)
• Calculate the column slenderness ratio about y-y axis
y  l0 y / (I y / A)  l0 y /(0.2887h)  4500/(0.2887 500)  31.2

• Calculate the first order bending moment at mid-height M0Ed,y

M 0Ed , y  M 0e, y  M i, y

 The first order bending moment from the applied loading M0e,y
M 0e, y  0.6M 02, y  0.4M 01, y  0.680  0.4 20  40 kNm
M 0e, y  0.4M 02, y  0.480  32 kNm
M 0e, y  40 kNm

 Bending moment accounting for potential accidental effects Mi,y

M i, y  N Ed l0 y / 400 1500 4500/ 400/1000 16.8 kNm

 Therefore, the first order bending moment at mid-height is equal to

M 0Ed , y  M 0e, y  M i, y  40 16.8  56.8 kNm
40
 Worked example – 2 (Check about y-y
axis)
• Calculate the second-order bending moment at mid-height M2,y
M 2, y  N Ed e2, y

 The deflection at the mid-height of the column e2,y

e2, y  0.1l0 y 2 Kr K ( f yd / E )/(0.45d )

 Creep factor Kφ
K 1 ef 1 (0.35  f ck / 200  y /150)ef
1 (0.35  50/ 200  31.2/150)  0.87 1.34
 Correction factor Kr
n  N Ed / Ac f cd 15001000/(300 500 0.567  50)  0.353 nbal  0.4
nu 1 As f yd / Ac f cd 1 (2945 500/1.15)/(300 500 0.567  50) 1.3
Kr  (nu  n)/(nu  nbal )  (1.3  0.353)/(1.3  0.4) 1.05 So Kr 1

 Balanced curvature
( f yd / E )/(0.45d )  (500/1.15/ 200000)/(0.45 450)  0.00001074

41
 Worked example – 2 (Check about y-y
axis)
• Calculate the second-order bending moment at mid-height M2,y
M 2, y  N Ed e2, y

 The deflection at the mid-height of the column e2,y

e2, y  0.1l0 y 2 Kr K ( f yd / E )/(0.45d )
 0.1 45002 11.34 0.00001074
 29.1 mm
The second order bending moment is equal to
M 2, y  N Ed e2, y 1500 29.1/1000  43.7 kNm

• Calculate the total design bending moment at mid-height

M 0Ed , y  M 2, y  56.8  43.7 100.5 kNm

• Calculate the design bending moment at both ends

M 02, y  80 kNm
M 01, y  0.5M 2, y  20  0.5 43.7  41.9 kNm
42
 Worked example – 2 (Check about y-y
axis)
• The final design bending moment M Ed , y  max(100.5, 80, 41.9) 100.5 kNm

• Check based on the M-N interaction diagram:

M Ed , y / bh2 f cd 100.51000000/(300 500 500 0.567  50)  0.05
N Ed / bhf cd 15001000/(300 500 0.567  50)  0.35
As f yd / bhf cd  (2945 500/1.15)/(300500 0.567  50)  0.3

Therefore, the check

about the y-y axis is
satisfied.

43
 Worked example – 2 (Check about z-z
axis)
• Calculate the column slenderness ratio about z-z axis
z  l0 z / (I z / A)  l0 z /(0.2887b)  4500/(0.2887 300)  52

• Calculate the first order bending moment at mid-height M0Ed,z

M 0 Ed , z  M 0e, z  M i, z

 The first order bending moment from the applied loading M0e,z
M 0e, z  0.6M 02, z  0.4M 01, z  0.6 40  0.4 0  24 kNm
M 0e, z  0.4M 02, z  0.4 40 16 kNm
M 0e, z  24 kNm

 Bending moment accounting for potential accidental effects Mi,z

M i, z  N Ed l0 z / 400 1500 4500/ 400/1000 16.8 kNm

 Therefore, the first order bending moment at mid-height is equal to

M 0 Ed , z  M 0e, z  M i, z  24 16.8  40.8 kNm
44
 Worked example – 2 (Check about z-z
axis)
• Calculate the second-order bending moment at mid-height M2,z
M 2, z  N Ed e2, z

 The deflection at the mid-height of the column e2,z

e2, z  0.1l0 z 2 Kr K ( f yd / E )/(0.45d )

 Creep factor Kφ
K 1 ef 1 (0.35  f ck / 200  z /150)ef
1 (0.35  50/ 200  52/150)  0.87 1.22
 Correction factor Kr
n  N Ed / Ac f cd 15001000/(300 500 0.567  50)  0.353 nbal  0.4
nu 1 As f yd / Ac f cd 1 (2945 500/1.15)/(300 500 0.567  50) 1.3
Kr  (nu  n)/(nu  nbal )  (1.3  0.353)/(1.3  0.4) 1.05 So Kr 1

 Balanced curvature
( f yd / E )/(0.45d )  (500/1.15/ 200000)/(0.45 250)  0.00001932

45
 Worked example – 2 (Check about z-z
axis)
• Calculate the second-order bending moment at mid-height M2,z
M 2, z  N Ed e2, z

 The deflection at the mid-height of the column e2

e2, z  0.1l0 z 2 Kr K ( f yd / E )/(0.45d )
 0.1 45002 11.22 0.00001932
 48 mm
The second order bending moment is equal to
M 2, z  N Ed e2, z 1500 48/1000  72 kNm

• Calculate the total design bending moment at mid-height

M 0 Ed , z  M 2, z  40.8  72 112.8 kNm

• Calculate the design bending moment at both ends

M 02, z  40 kNm
M 01, z  0.5M 2, z  0  0.5 72  36 kNm
46
 Worked example – 2 (Check about z-z
axis)
• The final design bending moment M Ed , z  max(112.8, 40, 36) 112.8 kNm

• Check based on the M-N interaction diagram:

M Ed , z / hb2 f cd 112.81000000/(500300300 0.567 50)  0.09
N Ed / bhf cd 15001000/(300 500 0.567  50)  0.35
As f yd / bhf cd  (2945 500/1.15)/(300500 0.567  50)  0.3

Therefore, the check

about the z-z axis is
satisfied.

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 Worked example – 2 (Biaxial bending
check)
• Separate check for each axis is ok, if the following two conditions are
satisfied:
y / z  2 and z / y  2

ey / h e /b
 0.2 or z  0.2
ez / b ey / h

 Regarding the considered case:

y / z  31.2/52  0.6  2
z / y  52/31.2 1.7  2
e y / h M Ed , y / N Ed / h 100.51000 /1500 / 500
   0.53  0.2
ez / b M Ed , z / N Ed / b 112.81000 /1500 / 300
ez / b M Ed , z / N Ed / b 112.81000 /1500 / 300
  1.87  0.2
e y / h M Ed , y / N Ed / h 100.51000 /1500 / 500

Therefore, biaxial bending needs to be explicitly considered.

48
 Worked example – 2 (Biaxial bending
check)
• Check MEd,y/h’ and MEd,z/b’
M Ed , y / h ' 100.51000/ 450  223
M Ed , z / b ' 112.81000/ 250  451

Therefore, loading about the z-z axis is more critical and the biaxial
bending moments are converted to the uniaxial bending moment about the
z-z axis.

• The converted uniaxial bending moment about the z-z axis M’Ed,z
M 'Ed , z  M Ed , z   b ' M Ed , y / h '
 1 N Ed / bhf ck 115001000/300/500/50  0.8
M 'Ed , z  M Ed , z   b ' M Ed , y / h '
112.8  0.8 250100.5/ 450
157.5 kNm

49
 Worked example – 2 (Biaxial bending
check)
• Check based on the M-N interaction diagram:
M Ed , z / hb2 f cd 157.51000000/(500300300 0.567 50)  0.12
N Ed / bhf cd 15001000/(300 500 0.567  50)  0.35
As f yd / bhf cd  (2945 500/1.15)/(300500 0.567  50)  0.3

50 Therefore, the biaxial bending check is satisfied.

CV4120 Advanced Reinforced
Concrete Design
Lecture 1 – Slender Column

Assistant Professor Zhao Ou

Email: ou.zhao@ntu.edu.sg
Office: N1-01b-49
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Nanyang Technological University

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