SRC343 Topic 5

Topic 5: Columns
(Notes have been adapted from: Reinforced Concrete Design: A Practical Approach, Updated Edition, Svetlana
Brzev, John Pao, Pearson, 2009)

5. 1 General
 Columns are vertical members that transmit floor/beam loads to lower levels then to
foundations
 Columns are mainly subject to axial compression but also experience bending due to
eccentric loads, lateral loads and applied loads end moments. Most practical
columns are designed for combined axial load and flexure.
 Types of columns include:
 Tied columns (most common) – with longitudinal bars and lateral ties -
typically for square/rectangular. (We will examine the design of this type of
column)
 Spiral columns - with longitudinal bars and spiral reinforcement - typically for
circular columns
 Composite columns

 Main components of reinforced concrete columns:

 Longitudinal reinforcement (with adequate transverse reinforcement – ties)
- Increases column compression capacity
- Provides flexural capacity (similar to a beam)
- Longitudinal reinforcement is supported laterally by ties at regular
intervals (tie spacing) to prevent lateral buckling of the bars
 Transverse reinforcement
- Ties (rectangular, square or circular)
- Spirals

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- The main purpose of the transverse reinforcement is to prevent

buckling of longitudinal bars but they also increase compressive
strength, hold longitudinal reinforcement in place during construction,
resist shear/torsion when required.
- Transverse reinforcement confines the concrete “core” and significantly
enhance the strength and ductility of the compression member.
 Concrete Core
- This provides the compressive resistance of the concrete.
- Steel reinforcement is provided to prevent brittle failure and ensure
ductile failure.
- The concrete core is “confined” by the longitudinal and transverse bars.

5.2 Column Loads and Behaviours

 Concentrically loaded columns
- axial loads applied along the longitudinal column axis
- load causes uniform compressive strain in the cross section
- maximum axial load capacity, Pro, is based on the concrete contribution
and steel contribution. The maximum axial load capacity of the column
is reached when the compressive strain reaches εcmax = 0.0035
- concentrically loaded column fails after the longitudinal reinforcement
yields ( in compression)
- Failure may be concrete controlled depending on the type of transverse
reinforcement
 Eccentrically loaded (small eccentricity)
- If the load is applied at a small distance e from the centroid (CG) then
the strain distribution is no longer uniform.
- Maximum compressive strains will be reached a load lower that
obtained by Pro (a concentrically loaded column). That is P<Pro .
- Axial load capacity is reduced with a small eccentricity in comparison
with concentrically loaded columns.
- The decrease in load capacity depends on the magnitude of the
eccentricity – the larger the eccentricity, the smaller the load capacity.
 Eccentricity (large eccentricity)
- When the eccentricity is large, the and the effect of the bending
moment becomes significant the column behaves like a beam in flexure
- When the eccentricity becomes infinitely large, the column is loaded in
flexure and behaves like a beam
- In an axially loaded column where the eccentricity is large, an increase
in axial load will improve the moment resistance.

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SRC343 Topic 5

Column behaviour is best described by an interaction diagram – these are diagrams that
show the relationship between axial load and bending moment.

Image from: Reinforced Concrete Design: A practical Approach, Updated Edition,

Svetlana Brzev, John Pao, Pearson Custom Publishing, 2009

If axial load is small, the magnitude of the moment resistance increases with an increase in
axial load level. This relationship is continued until the axial load is sufficiently large such
that the combined effects of axial load and flexure initiate a crushing failure of at the
compression face of the column.

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SRC343 Topic 5

5.3 Axial and Flexural Load Resistance of Reinforced Concrete Short

Columns

5.3.1 Column Design Assumptions:

 Plane sections remain plane
 Strain compatibility between concrete and steel
 Equivalent rectangular stress block is used for concrete stress distributions
 Concrete tensile strength is neglected in design
 Maximum compressive strain is 0.0035

5.3.2 Axial Load Resistance of Concentrically Loaded Short Columns (Clause

10.10.4)
Pro  Prco  Prso
Pro  factored axial load resistance
Prco  factored axial load resistance provided by the concrete
Prco  1c fc  Ag  Ast 
Ag  gross cross-sectional area
Ast  total area of longitudinal reinforcement
Prso  factored axial load resistance provided by the steel
Prso  s fy Ast

Clause 10.10.4 accounts for accidental moments in concentrically loaded short

columns:
Pr max  (0.2  0.002h)Pro  0.80Pro for tied columns; where h is the smallest column dimension
Pr max  0.90Pro for spirally reinforced columns
Pr max  maximum axial load resistance of a concentrically loaded concrete column (non presetressed)

Total behaviour of axially loaded tied and spiral columns depend on the amount of
confinement provided by the spirals or ties. In general, columns with spiral
reinforcement or closely spaced ties are able to sustain larger deformations.

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SRC343 Topic 5

Example 5.1: Analysis of a Concrete Column (concentrically loaded)

A typical cross-section of a concentrically loaded tied short column is shown in the figure
below. The column is reinforced with 30M longitudinal bars and 10M ties. Use a clear
cover of 40mm to the ties and 20mm is the maximum aggregate size. Determine the
maximum factored axial load, Pf that can be applied to this column. (Adapted from Brevz &
& Pao, 2009).

fc’ = 25 MPa
fy = 400 MPa
b = 500 mm
h = 500 mm 10M@300
h

8-30M

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SRC343 Topic 5

5.3.3 Axial Load Resistance of Eccentrically Loaded Short Columns

Long hand calculations for eccentrically loaded columns involve examination of column
cross-section strains, stresses and resultant forces and force equilibrium. Iterative
calculations are often required and although it is a useful exercise it will not be part of the
scope of this course. Instead, we will use the interaction diagrams that have been
prepared. These interaction Diagrams are available to download/print (see link on
Blackboard – Design Aids for Short Column Design)

Interaction Curves (See Design Aids for Short Column Design).

“Normalized curves”

Pr M
is the vertical axis and r is the horizontal axis
Ag Ag h
h-2  cover+tie diameter   db
  a fraction of h 
h
Ast total area of steel
t  
Ag gross area of the cross section
Interaction tables for particular fc , fy , t ,  , pattern of reinforcement
Note:

Pg 7-3

Tied rectangular column cross sections include those with equal amounts of reinforcement
in each of the four faces (Tables 7.10.1 to 7.10.20); equal amounts of reinforcement in the
wo faces parallel to the axis of bending (Tables 7.11.1 to 7.11.20); and columns with equal
amounts of reinforcement in the two side faces perpendicular to the axis of bending (Tables
7.12.1 to 7.12.20). Tables 7.11.1 to 7.11.20 should be used for columns with 4 bars since
all 4 bars are located the same distance from the axis of the column.

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Example 5.2: Analysis of an Eccentrically Loaded Column

A typical cross-section of an eccentrically loaded short column is shown in the figure below.
The column is reinforced with 30M longitudinal bars and 10M ties. Use a clear cover of
40mm to the ties and 20mm is the maximum aggregate size. A factored axial load of
Pf = 2500kN is applied to the column. Determine the maximum factored moment Mf that
can be resisted by this column. (Note: a “twist” to this question is if you were asked to find
the maximum eccentricity at which the load Pf can act. You’ll have to understand the
following relationship: e=Mf/Pf).

fc’ = 25 MPa
fy = 400 MPa
b = 500 mm
h = 500 mm
10M
h

8-30M

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SRC343 Topic 5

5.4 Column Design

5.4.1 A23.3 Design Requirements

 Longitudinal reinforcement ratio, ρt: Clause 10.9
A
t  st
Ag
t  longitudinal reinforcement ratio
Ag  gross area of concrete section (Ag  bh)
Ast  total area of longitudinal reinforcement within a column cross-section
1%  t  4% (4% upper limit considering reinforcement lap splices)
 Minimum Longitudinal Reinforcement: Clause 10.9.1
- Lower limit of 0.01Ag which corresponds to ρt = 1%
- To ensure some flexural resistance even in members where no moment is
applied in calculations
- To ensure that creep and shrinkage stresses do not lead to yielding of
reinforcement under service loads
- Note, ρt may be less than 1% if the Pr,max value is adjusted (see Clause
10.10.5)
 Maximum Reinforcement: Clause 10.9.2
- Limit of 0.08Ag which corresponds to ρt = 8%
- Practical maximum for economy and proper placement of bars. This also
applies to regions where there is a lap splice.
- Columns are usually designed with no more that 4% reinforcement. More than
4% of reinforcement in a column outside the region of a lap splice can involve
serious practical difficulties in placing and compacting concrete and placing
the reinforcement for beam column joints.
 Minimum number of bars: Clause 10.9.3
- 4 for columns with rectangular ties
- 3 for columns with triangular ties
- 6 for columns with spirals
 Minimum bar spacing (same as bars for beams): Clause 6.6.5.2
- See Table 2.6
 Maximum bar spacing: Clause 7.4.1.3
- 500mm clear distance between adjacent longitudinal bars.
 Ties: Clause 7.6.5
- longitudinal bars must be enclosed with transverse reinforcement
 Tie size: Clause 7.6.5.1
- Diameter of tie must be at least 30% of the largest longitudinal bar diameter
(typically 10M bar is ok for bar sizes up to 30M). 10M or larger for
longitudinal bars over 30M.

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 Tie spacing: Clause 7.6.5.2

16 times the diameter of the smallest longitudinal bar

48 times the tie diameter

s
least lateral dimension of column
300mm (bundled bars)

 Tie arrangement (see additional handout)

 Concrete cover: same requirements as beams (see Table 2.6 in Handbook)

5.4.2 Practical Design Guidelines:

 Column dimensions – use multiple of 50 mm (example 400, 450, 500 mm… etc)
 Column size – smallest dimension should not be less than 250mm (for
rectangular/square). Circular columns no smaller than 300mm in diameter.
 For multistory buildings keep column sizes the same but vary reinforcement so that
the formwork can be reused from one storey to the next.
 Smallest longitudinal bar size: 20M. Typically use 25M, 30M, 35M
 45M and 55M require mechanical splicing or welded splices (expensive) and also
require longer development lengths

Summary Concrete Design According to A23.3

Step Description Reference

1 Estimate column size
Pf
Ag 
0.50 fc '
- This will give you an estimate of the gross cross
sectional size of a column of square cross section. It is
based only on the axial load resistance of the concrete
portion (reinforcement contribution is neglected)
2 Establish reinforcement ratio, ρt 10.9.1, 10.9.2
Note that: 1%≤ ρt≤4%
Initially guess 1%
3 Determine required area of steel:
Ast = ρtAg
Select the number and size of bars, consider typical bar
configurations
4 Consult the Column Interaction Curves and other Design Aids for
Design Aids if applicable. Short Column
Calculate values required to use the column curves or Design
axial load limit diagrams
5 Check if number and spacing of longitudinal bars are 10.9.3, 7.4.1.3,
within limits prescribed by the Standard. Table 2.6
6 Design Transverse Reinforcement 7.6.5.1, 7.6.5.2,
- size, spacing, arrangement 7.6.5.5, 10.9.4
7 Provide a Design Summary

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Example 5.3. Design of a Short Concrete Column. A tied short column of square
cross-section is subjected to a factored axial load of 1500kN acting at an eccentricity of
100mm. Use a 40mm clear cover to the ties and a 20mm maximum aggregate size.
Initially assume that the column is reinforced with four longitudinal bars. Design the
column cross- sectional dimensions, longitudinal and transverse reinforcement. (Adapted
from Brevz & & Pao, 2009).

fc’ = 25 MPa
fy = 400 MPa

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