 Column usually relates to vertically concrete elements

Types ;

 Column and pillar – usually applied to any material

 Stanchions – relates to vertically steel element
 Post – relates to vertically timber element
 Piers – relates to vertically brickwork elements
 transfer loads from slabs & beams to the
foundation and then to the soil.

 Basically, column is a compression member

that carries axial loads and bending moments
from the continuity of beams and slabs.
 Load is 90 degree with the COG of
the column
 The column is axially loaded
 The stress produced is direct
compressive stress and is uniform
overs the cross section of the column
 The load is not axial
 Eccentricity
 Off COG
 Bending stress induced in the column as
well as a direct compressive stress
 Smaller cross-section dimension of the column will be looked
at in terms of buckling.
 The column’s tendency to buckle , measured by its
slenderness ratio.

Slenderness ratio = Effective length of column (mm) = ᶴ

Least width of column (mm) b

Slenderness ratio = Effective length of column (mm) = ᶴ

Least radius of gyration (mm) r
 For short column,

Slenderness ratio < 15

Equation 38

N = 0.4fcuAc + 0.8Ascfy
 Where ;

 N = Design Axial Load

 Ac = The cross-sectional area of concrete excluding any
finishing material and reinforcing steel
 Asc = The cross-sectional area of the longitudinal steel.
 In order to ensure structural stability,
durability and practicality of construction, BS
8110 lays down various rules governing the
minimum size, amount and spacing of :
◦ (i) longitudinal reinforcement
◦ (ii) links
 Size and minimum of bars (clause 3.12.5.4,BS
8110)
◦ Column with rectangular cross-section should be
reinforced with a minimum of four longitudinal
bars, columns with circular cross-sections should
be reinforced with a minimum of six longitudinal
bars. Each of the bars should not be less than 12
mm in diameter.
 Reinforcement areas (clause 3.12.5, BS
8110)

o The code recommends that for columns with a gross-

sectional area Acol , the area of longitudinal reinforcement
( Asc ) should lie within the following limits:

0.4% Acol ≤ Asc ≤ 6% Acol

 Spacing of reinforcement

o The minimum distance between adjacent bars should not be

less than the diameter of the bars or hagg + 5mm, where
hagg is the maximum size of coarse aggregate.

o The code does not specify any limitation with regards to the
maximum spacing of bars, but for practical reasons, it should
not normally exceed 250 mm.
 Clause 3.12.7, BS 8110

 Minimum link diameter ¼ of the largest

longitudinal bar or 8 mm
(whichever is greater)

 Maximum spacing 12 x size of the smallest

longitudinal bar or the smallest cross-
sectional dimension of the column.
 A short braced column has to carry an
ultimate axial load of 1366kN. The column
size is 250mm x 250mm. Find the steel area
required for longitudinal reinforcement and
select suitable bar. The material grade are 30
and grade 460 reinforcement.
 A short braced column is required to carry an
axial load of 999 kN. Design a round column
containing 5.0 percent of steel if strength of
the steel is 460N/mm2 and strength of
concrete is 30N/mm2.
 (10marks)