Company's Name: ABC Consultants Job No.

: ABC/1001
101, Known Street, Known Area, Known City, Pin …. Design by: UVW
Client: Very Important Industries Ltd, Well Known City Date: 25-Apr-20
Project: XYZ Building Page No. C/101

SPREADSHEET FOR CALCULATIONS OF EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF R.C. COLUMNS

AS PER IS:456-2000

Calculates Effective Length of Rectangular or Circular Columns for given properties of Columns and Beams in a
frame for cases of with and without restraint against sway.
pan
e am S (typ) UC = Upper Col.
B
BtX 1
2 BtY

Y Axis
Framing Beams
BtX
2 1 Note: Column can be
BtY
x Rectangular or
Circular
C = Column X X Axis
lx = Unsupported

considered y
Length x-x axis
Length y-y axis
ly = Unsupported

Length (typ)

Beam Span (typ)

Beam Span
BbX 1 (typ)
2 BbY
L =Column

2 BbX Y Note:
BbY 1 To determine whether a column in a frame is a 'No
Sway' or a'Sway' column, Stability Index Q may be
computed as per Annex E of IS:456-2000. If Q < or =
0.04, column in the frame can be taken as 'No Sway'
LC = Lower Col. column, otherwise as a 'Sway' column.

Note: PLAN Columns in a Frame with strong shear walls or with

Column Lengths 'L' and diagonal bracings in the vertical plane may be considered
ELEVATION Beam Spans are centre to
as a 'No Sway' column.

centre distance of frame.

NOTES FOR USERS:
Column along X-X axis is 'No Sway' or 'Sway' type ? = 1No Sway 1. Text and figures in white cells are only

Column along Y-Y axis is 'No Sway' or 'Sway' type ? = 2Sway to be filled as inputs.
2. For notes on input preparation, refer
Unsupported length of considered Column C, lx (m) = 3.550 to worksheet on 'Notes'.
Unsupported length of considered Column C, ly (m) = 3.500 Note:
Column Mark = C7 Columns can be either Rectangular or Circular. Input is 'N/A"
where it is not applicable. Where Column LC or UC is not there,
all inputs for that column shall be zero.
Details of Columns:
Column Concrete Rectangular Column Circular Col. Column Moment of Inertia (m4) Flexural Stiffness
Grade, M x (m) y(m) Dia (m) Length, L(m) Ixx Iyy Kc-xx Kc-yy
Column C 25 3 0.300 0.500 N/A 4.000 0.003125 0.001125 19531.25 7031.25
Column LC 30 4 N/A N/A 0.6 4.500 0.006362 0.006362 38716.23 38716.23
Column UC 25 3 0.300 0.450 N/A 3.500 0.002278 0.001013 16272.33 7232.15
Company's Name: ABC Consultants Job No.: ABC/1001
101, Known Street, Known Area, Known City, Pin …. Design by: UVW
Client: Very Important Industries Ltd, Well Known City Date: 25-Apr-20
Project: XYZ Building Page No. C/102

Note: Beams considered are of rectangular shape only. If a beam is not there at the end considered, inputs for the beam size of that beam shall be
zero, and input for that beam span shall be 1E8. If the Column C is fixed at any end, all inputs for beam size and span at that end shall be zero.

Details of Beams:
Beam Concrete Beam Size Beam Flexural Stiffness
Moment of Inertia(m4)
Mk Grade, M Breadth(m)Depth(m) Span (m) Kb
BtX1 25 3 0.300 0.450 4.000E+00 0.002278 7119.15
BtX2 25 3 0.000 0.000 1.000E+08 0.000000 0.00
BbX1 30 4 0.300 0.450 4.000E+00 0.002278 7798.63
BbX2 30 4 0.000 0.000 1.000E+08 0.000000 0.00
BtY1 25 3 0.250 0.500 3.500E+00 0.002604 27901.79
BtY2 25 3 0.000 0.000 1.000E+08 0.000000 0.00
BbY1 30 4 0.300 0.500 3.500E+00 0.003125 36677.85
BbY2 30 4 0.300 0.500 4.500E+00 0.003125 28527.22

Frame along X-X axis - No Sway Frame

Factor β1x:

K c−yy +K uc−yy = (7031.25+7232.15) / (7031.25+7232.15+7119.15+0)

K c−yy +K uc−yy + ∑ K btx
= 0.6671

Factor β2x:

K c − yy +K lc− yy
K c− yy +K lc − yy + ∑ K bbx = (7031.25+38716.23) / (7031.25+38716.23+7798.63+0)

= 0.8544

Eff. Length Factor, Kx = 0.83096

Effective Length of Column C7 along X-X axis = 0.83096 x 3.55 = 2.95 m

See Charts for Effective Length Factors

Company's Name: ABC Consultants Job No.: ABC/1001
101, Known Street, Known Area, Known City, Pin …. Design by: UVW
Client: Very Important Industries Ltd, Well Known City Date: 25-Apr-20
Project: XYZ Building Page No. C/103

Frame along Y-Y axis - Sway Frame

Factor β1y:

K c− xx + K uc−xx
= (19531.25+16272.33) / (19531.25+16272.33+27901.79+0)
K c−xx + K uc−xx + ∑ K bty
= 0.5620

Factor β2y:

K c −xx + K lc −xx
= (19531.25+38716.23) / (19531.25+38716.23+36677.85+28527.22)
K c−xx + K lc −xx + ∑ K bby
= 0.4718

Eff. Length Factor, Ky = 1.4899

Effective Length of Column C7 along Y-Y axis = 1.4899 x 3.5 = 5.215 m

See Charts for Effective Length Factors

 ColEffLength.xls
Tables for Effective Length Ratios for a Column in a Frame

Ref: 1. Figures 26 and 27 of IS:456-2000.

2. These Figures in IS:456-2000, (also in IS:800-1984 and BS:5950) are based on the Paper
by Dr. R.H. Wood titled "Effective lengths of columns in multi-storey buildings", published
in July 1974 issue of The Structural Engineer, Journal of the Institution of Structural
Engineers, London.
3. Charts have been prepared using Paper titled "Approximate formulae for determining
the effective length of steel columns to BS5950" by A.G. Smyrell, Published in March 1993
issue of The Structural Engineer, Journal of the Institution of Structural Engineers, London.

Case: Column in a Frame with No Sway

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
0 0.4987 0.5136 0.5304 0.5488 0.5685 0.5893 0.6109 0.6331 0.6556 0.678 0.7002
0.1 0.5136 0.528 0.5445 0.5627 0.5825 0.6035 0.6256 0.6483 0.6715 0.6948 0.718
0.2 0.5304 0.5445 0.5608 0.5791 0.5991 0.6205 0.6431 0.6666 0.6906 0.715 0.7394
0.3 0.5488 0.5627 0.5791 0.5976 0.618 0.64 0.6633 0.6876 0.7127 0.7383 0.764
0.4 0.5685 0.5825 0.5991 0.618 0.6389 0.6616 0.6858 0.7112 0.7375 0.7644 0.7915
0.5 0.5893 0.6035 0.6205 0.64 0.6616 0.6852 0.7104 0.737 0.7646 0.7929 0.8216
0.6 0.6109 0.6256 0.6431 0.6633 0.6858 0.7104 0.7369 0.7648 0.7938 0.8236 0.8539
0.7 0.6331 0.6483 0.6666 0.6876 0.7112 0.737 0.7648 0.7941 0.8246 0.856 0.8879
0.8 0.6556 0.6715 0.6906 0.7127 0.7375 0.7646 0.7938 0.8246 0.8567 0.8897 0.9232
0.9 0.678 0.6948 0.715 0.7383 0.7644 0.7929 0.8236 0.856 0.8897 0.9244 0.9594
1 0.7002 0.718 0.7394 0.764 0.7915 0.8216 0.8539 0.8879 0.9232 0.9594 0.9959

Case: Column in a Frame without Restraint against Sway

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
0 0.9963 1.026 1.0617 1.105 1.1578 1.2227 1.3039 1.4075 1.5434 1.7292 2.000
0.1 1.026 1.055 1.0902 1.1332 1.1858 1.251 1.3332 1.4388 1.5787 1.7727 2.0605
0.2 1.0617 1.0902 1.1251 1.1677 1.2204 1.2862 1.3696 1.4776 1.6223 1.8253 2.1323
0.3 1.105 1.1332 1.1677 1.2104 1.2635 1.3302 1.4154 1.5267 1.6773 1.8914 2.2217
0.4 1.1578 1.1858 1.2204 1.2635 1.3174 1.3857 1.4737 1.5897 1.7483 1.9771 2.3382
0.5 1.2227 1.251 1.2862 1.3302 1.3857 1.4567 1.5488 1.6716 1.8418 2.0918 2.4973
0.6 1.3039 1.3332 1.3696 1.4154 1.4737 1.5488 1.6475 1.7807 1.9682 2.2503 2.7256
0.7 1.4075 1.4388 1.4776 1.5267 1.5897 1.6716 1.7807 1.9304 2.1457 2.4804 3.0772
0.8 1.5434 1.5787 1.6223 1.6773 1.7483 1.8418 1.9682 2.1457 2.4094 2.8402 3.6866
0.9 1.7292 1.7727 1.8253 1.8914 1.9771 2.0918 2.2503 2.4804 2.8402 3.4834 5.0371
1 2 2.0605 2.1323 2.2217 2.3382 2.4973 2.7256 3.0772 3.6866 5.0371 12.675

No Sway Chart
0 0.1720 0.3095 0.4345 0.5525 0.6665 0.7780 0.8895 1.0000
0.1 0.0840 0.2345 0.3660 0.4865 0.6005 0.7100 0.8180 0.9250
0.2 -0.039 0.1390 0.2815 0.4070 0.5230 0.6325 0.7380 0.8415 1.0475
0.3 0.0140 0.1795 0.3150 0.4355 0.5465 0.6515 0.7525 0.9485
0.4 -0.180 0.0530 0.2085 0.3375 0.4525 0.5585 0.6590 0.8495 1.0315
0.5 -0.127 0.0810 0.2275 0.3505 0.4605 0.5620 0.7500 0.9275 1.0965
0.6 -0.089 0.1005 0.2390 0.3560 0.4615 0.6505 0.8235 0.9900
0.7 -0.060 0.1140 0.2450 0.3565 0.5505 0.7225 0.8835 1.0345
0.8 -0.036 0.1235 0.2470 0.4500 0.6230 0.7820 0.9335 1.0755
0.9 -0.016 0.1310 0.3490 0.5260 0.6845 0.8325 0.9760 0.6671 1.5000
1 0.0030 0.2475 0.4315 0.5910 0.7370 0.8765 0.8544 1.5000

Sway Chart
0.0000 0.1720 0.2915 0.3885 0.4690 0.5970 0.6945 0.7720 0.8350 0.8870 0.9310 0.9685 1.0000
0.1000 0.0870 0.2270 0.3365 0.4255 0.5640 0.6675 0.7485 0.8135 0.8670 0.9120 0.9500 0.9825
0.2000 -0.044 0.1330 0.2635 0.3660 0.5200 0.6320 0.7185 0.7875 0.8435 0.8900 0.9295 0.9630
0.3000 -0.016 0.1545 0.2800 0.4595 0.5850 0.6795 0.7535 0.8135 0.8625 0.9040 0.9390
0.4000 -0.027 0.1470 0.3720 0.5195 0.6265 0.7085 0.7735 0.8270 0.8710 0.9085
0.5000 -0.094 0.2365 0.4240 0.5520 0.6465 0.7200 0.7795 0.8280 0.8685 1.0005
0.6000 -0.011 0.2715 0.4400 0.5570 0.6445 0.7130 0.7685 0.8145 0.9600 1.0371
0.7000 -0.022 0.2515 0.4160 0.5305 0.6160 0.6830 0.7375 0.9050 0.9905
0.8000 -0.146 0.155 0.3370 0.4605 0.5515 0.6215 0.8265 0.9260 1.0219 1.0668
0.9000 -0.356 -0.072 0.158 0.3135 0.4240 0.7075 0.8320 0.9465 0.9985 1.5000 0.5620
1.0000 -0.357 -0.179 0.004 0.5025 0.6825 0.8330 0.8985 1.5000 0.4718

25
No Sway 15 25 25 No Sway
Sway 20 30 30 Sway
25 25 30
30 25
35 25
40 30
45 30
50
Company's Name: ABC Consultants Job No.: ABC/1001
101, Known Street, Known Area, Known City, Pin …. Design by: UVW
Client: Very Important Industries Ltd, Well Known City Date: 25-Apr-20
Project: XYZ Building Page No. C/104

CALCULATIONS FOR EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF COLUMN C7

Column in a Frame without Restraint against Sway

HINGED
1.0 5.0
4.0
3.0
0.9
2.0
1.9 2.5
0.8 1.8
Kx = See Chart-No Sway
1.7
Ky = 1.4899
0.7 1.6
1.5
0.6 1.4
β1
0.5 1.3

0.4 1.2
1.15
0.3 1.10
0.2 1.05

0.1 1.0
FIXED
0.0
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
β2
HINGED
FIXED

Column C7

Along X-X axis

β1x = See Chart-No Sway
β2x = See Chart-No Sway
Kx = See Chart-No Sway

Along Y-Y axis

β1y = 0.5620
β2y = 0.4718
Ky = 1.4899
Company's Name: ABC Consultants Job No.: ABC/1001
101, Known Street, Known Area, Known City, Pin …. Design by: UVW
Client: Very Important Industries Ltd, Well Known City Date: 25-Apr-20
Project: XYZ Building Page No. C/105

CALCULATIONS FOR EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF COLUMN C7

Column in a Frame with No Sway

HINGED 1.0 1.00
0.95
0.9 0.90
0.85
Kx = 0.8310
0.8 0.80
0.70 0.75
0.7
0.675
0.6
0.65
β1 0.5 0.625

0.4 0.60
0.575
0.3
0.55
0.2
0.525
0.1
FIXED 0.5
0.0
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
HINGED
FIXED

β2

Column C7

Along X-X axis

β1x = 0.6671
β2x = 0.8544
Kx = 0.8310

Along Y-Y axis

β1y = See Chart-Sway
β2y = See Chart-Sway
Ky = See Chart-Sway
 NOTES ON ColEffLength.xls

This Spreadsheet is intended to be used by qualified Civil and Structural Engineers who are
familiar with the provisions of IS:456-2000, and those who will evaluate the significance and
limitations of its contents and take responsibility for its use and application.

DISCLAIMER

No liability is accepted by the author of the Spreadsheets for any direct, indirect, consequential or
incidental loss or damage arising out of the usage of Spreadsheets or any mistakes and
negligence
in developing the Spreadsheets. The organisation or person using the Spreadsheets bears all risks
and responsibility for the quality and performance of the Spreadsheets.

Notes for Input:

1. Column shape can be either Rectangular or Circular. Input shall be 'N/A" where it is
not applicable.
2. To determine whether a column in a frame is a 'No Sway' or a 'Sway' column,
stability index Q may be computed as per Annex E of IS:456-2000. If Q < or = 0.04
column in the frame can be taken as 'No Sway' column, otherwise as a 'Sway' column.
Columns in a Frame with strong shear walls or with diagonal bracings in the vertical plane
may be considered as a 'No Sway' column. ( 'Braced' column means 'No Sway' column)
3. Beam stiffness in 'No Sway' frames = EI/2L. For 'Sway' frames, beam stiffness = 1.5EI/L.
(Ref.: Appendix D, SP:24-1983, Explanatory Handbook on IS:456-1978)
4. Where upper column LC or lower column UC is not there, all inputs for that column shall be zero.
5. Beams considered are of rectangular shape only. If a beam is not there at the end considered,
inputs for the beam size of that beam shall be zero, and input for that beam length shall be 1E8.
If the Column C is fixed at any end, all inputs for beam size and span at that end shall be zero.
6. See Charts for Effective Length Factors.

N. PRABHAKAR
BE CEng(I) MIStructE (UK) MIE (Ind)
Chartered Structural Engineer
Structural Consultant
Flat E-8 Star Residency
Location: Evershine City
Vasai (E) Pin 401 208
Thane Dist, Maharashtra, India

Ph: (0250) 2463447

Revision History of ColEffLength
20.7.2004 Date Revision
1.10.2004 Minor Revisions, Format updated
9.8.2005 Column fixed/hinged input conditions added