Column Design

Introduction
A column is a vertical structural member supporting axial compressive
loads. Column in a structure carry the loads from the beams and slabs
down to the foundations, and therefore they are primarily compression
members. Although they may also have to resist bending forces due to
the continuity of the structure.
 The cross-sectional dimensions of a column are generally considerably
less than its height.
 Columns support vertical loads from the floors and roof and transmit
these loads to the foundations.
 Compression members are members subjected to axial load and
bending, and are sometimes used to refer to columns and walls.
 A column is a special case of a compression member that is vertical.
• Columns are generally compression members supporting beams and
slabs in a structural system and having an effective length exceeding
three the times the least lateral dimension.
• Columns could either be braced or unbraced
• Braced columns: are define as those where the stability of the whole
structure in the plane considered is provided by bracing or walls
designed to resist all lateral forces.
• Unbraced columns: Where horizontal loads are resisted by the frame
action of rigidly connected columns, beams and slabs.
• A column may be considered as short when both the ratios of the
effective height to the width or depth of the cross-section in respect
of the axis under consideration are less than 15 (for braced) and 10
(for unbraced).
Effective height of a column:
The effective height, 𝒍ₑ = 𝜷𝒍ₒ Where values of 𝜷 are given in Table 3.19
and Table 3.20 of BS8110: Part 1 (1997) for braced and unbraced columns
respectively as a function of end conditions of the column.
𝒍ₒ 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠
 It should be noted that the effective height of a column in the two
plane direction may be different.
 For any unbraced column where one end is unrestrained, as in the case
of cantilever column, the clear height 𝑙ₒ.
𝟏𝟎𝟎𝒃²
𝒍ₒ = ≤ 𝟔𝟎 𝒃 𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔
𝒉
Note: In the equation above 𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 larger and
smaller dimension of the column.
b=width of a column (dimension of cross-section perpendicular to h)
h=depth of cross-section measured in the plane under consideration
 Columns act as vertical support to suspended members e.g. beams
and slab, and transmit the loading from these members to the
foundation.
 They are primarily compression members, though they sometimes
have to resist bending moments from beams.
 Column may be of square, circular or rectangular cross-sections, the
minimum numbers of longitudinal bars required being 4 and 6
respectively.
ℎ
 Please note: For columns, the ratio ≤ 4.
𝑏
Where 𝒉 > 𝟒𝒃, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒍
•

Rectangular Square

Circular
Columns may fail due to:
 Compression failure of the concrete/steel reinforcement:
This mode of failure is common with short stocky columns.

 Buckling: This is common with long and slender columns.

 Combination of buckling and compression failure – in between 1

and 2
When is a Column Short
• From Section 3.8.1.3 of BS 8110 Classifies a column as being short
when:
𝑙𝑒𝑥 𝑙𝑒𝑥
Both < 15 𝑎𝑛𝑑 < 15 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛𝑠
ℎ 𝑏
𝑙𝑒𝑥 𝑙𝑒𝑥
< 10 𝑎𝑛𝑑 < 10 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑢𝑛𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛𝑠
ℎ 𝑏
Otherwise, it should be considered as a slender columns.
Where:
𝑙𝑒𝑥 − 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑎𝑗𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 𝑖. 𝑒 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠
𝑙𝑒𝑦 − 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 𝑖. 𝑒 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠
𝑏 − 𝑊𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛 𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
ℎ − 𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑚𝑛 𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
Effective Height of A Column
Effective height of a column in the plane of bending (𝑙𝑒)is given as:
𝑙𝑒 = 𝛽𝑙𝑜
Where: 𝑙𝑜 = 𝐶𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠
𝛽 = 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
 Table 3.19 gives values of 𝛽 for braced columns and Table 3.20 for
unbraced columns.
 Clause 3.8.1.6.2 defines the end conditions (See code-BS8110)
End conditions
 The four conditions are as follows:
a) Condition 1: The end of the column is connected monolithically to beams
on either side which are at least as deep as the overall dimension of the
column in the plane considered. Where the column is connected to a
foundation structure, this should be of a form specifically designed to carry
moments.
b) Condition 2: The end of the column is connected monolithically to beams
or slabs on either side which are shallower than the overall dimension of the
column in the plane considered.
c) Condition 3: The end of the column is connected to members which,
while not specifically designed to provide restraint to rotation of the column
will, nevertheless, provided some nominal restraint.
d) Condition 4: The end of the column is unrestrained against both lateral
movement and rotation (e.g. the free end of a cantilever column in an
unbraced structure).
Braced and Unbraced Columns

• A column may be considered braced if the lateral loads, due to wind

for example, are resisted by shear walls or bracing or buttressing
rather than by column itself. Otherwise, it should be considered
unbraced
Principles of Design of Column
Design of columns is governed by the ultimate limit state, deflections
and cracking during service conditions are handled by correct provision
and detailing of the reinforcement and adequate cover.
 The columns in a structure carry loads from the beams and slabs down
to the foundations, making them primary compression members,
although they may also have to resist bending forces due to the
continuity of the structure.
 The axial forces due to the vertical loading may be calculated as if the
beams and slabs are simply supported.
 Section 3.8 of BS8110: Part 1 (1997) deals extensively with design of all
types of columns.
a)Short column subjected to axial forces and nominal
moments
Where the structure precludes any possibility of the columns being
subjected to significant moments, the ultimate axial load is given by:
𝑵 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝒇𝒄𝒖𝑨𝒄 + 𝟎. 𝟖𝒇𝒚𝑨𝒔𝒄
 The expression is derived from the strength of a section under axial
pure axial load, reduced slightly to cater for an eccentricity to allow for
constructional tolerances.
 The design ultimate of a section when subjected to pure axial load only
Nᵤ𝗓 =𝟎. 𝟒𝟓𝒇𝙘ᵤ𝑨𝒄 + 𝟎. 𝟗𝟓𝒇𝒚𝑨𝒔𝒄
 It should be understood that the partial safety factors for materials are
taken into account in the numerical factors provided.
b) Short braced columns supporting an
approximately symmetrical arrangement of beams
• Where a column support an approximately symmetrical arrangement
of beam, the design ultimate axial load for a short column of this type
is:
𝑵 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟓𝒇𝒄𝒖𝑨𝒄 + 𝟎. 𝟕𝒇𝒚𝑨𝒔𝒄
 Under the arrangement, two criteria must be met under clause 3.8.4.4
of BS8110: Part 1 (1997).
i) The support beams are designed for uniformly distributed imposed
loads; and
ii) The beam spans do not differ by more than 15 percent of the longer.
• Unbraced short columns supporting a symmetrical arrangement of
loading should be designed to withstand the given ultimate axial
ℎ
loading acting at a nominal eccentricity of , although BS8110 also
20
specifies that this eccentricity need not exceed a maximum of 20mm.
•
c) Short columns under bending and direct forces:
Limit-state method
• For cases where a short column is subjected to a direct ultimate load N and
ultimate bending moment(s) 𝑀𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 /𝑜𝑟𝑀𝑦 acting about the major and minor
principal axis respectively.
• BS8110 provides expressions that convert the acting moment into a single
equivalent increased moment acting about one axis only and thus enabling the
aids already described to be used to design the section with the aids of design
chart given in BS8110: Part 3.
𝑀𝑥 𝑀𝑦 ℎ′
𝐹𝑜𝑟 ≥ , 𝑀𝑥 ′ = 𝑀𝑥 + 𝛽 My
ℎ′ 𝑏′ 𝑏′
𝑀𝑥 𝑀𝑦 ℎ′
𝐹𝑜𝑟 < , 𝑀𝑦 ′ = 𝑀𝑦 + 𝛽 Mx
ℎ′ 𝑏′ 𝑏′
Where: ℎ′ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏 ′ 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡 the distances from the compressed face to the
centre line of the tension steel (i.e equivalent to the effective depth of a beam
section) measured about the major and minor axes respectively.
 7𝑁
•𝛽= 1 − < 0.3
6𝑏ℎ𝑓𝑐𝑢
𝑁
For all values of , 0.3 ≤ 𝛽 ≤ 1.0
𝑏ℎ𝑓𝑐𝑢
When the expression for 𝑀′ 𝑥 controls, the section must then be design
to resist axial load N with 𝑀′𝑦 dominates, design for N plus My acting
about the minor axis.
 Chart Number 21-50 of BS8110: Part 3: 1985 are used to determine
𝑁 𝑀
the areas of compression reinforcement as a function of and
𝑏ℎ 𝑏ℎ²
subject to:
𝑑
0.75 ≤ ≤ 0.95
ℎ
25𝑁/𝑚𝑚² ≤ 𝑓𝑐𝑢 ≤ 50𝑁/𝑚𝑚²
𝑓𝑦 = 460𝑁/𝑚𝑚²
Slender Columns
• A column is said to be “long” or slender if the ratio of the effective
length to its least radius of gyration exceeds about 50.
• The safe load that such column will support is less than that carried by
a similar short column.
• According to BS8110, column of normal weight concrete where the
ratio of the effective height to the corresponding overall “depth” of
section about either principal axis exceeds 15 or 10 for braced and
unbraced columns respectively are said to be slender.
• The same design methods for short columns subjected to axial load
and uniaxial or biaxial bending are employed but the moment in slender
column is increased to take account to any possible deflection of the
column.
 𝑙𝑒
• and for columns bending about the major axis where the ratio of does not exceed
ℎ
20; the total moment to be resisted at the point of maximum additional moment is:
𝑀𝑡 = 𝑀𝑖 + 𝑀𝑎𝑑𝑑
𝑀𝑎𝑑𝑑
− 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛 𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛
𝑀𝑎𝑑𝑑 = 𝑁𝑎𝑢 = 𝑁𝛽ₐ𝑘ℎ
Where:
1 𝑙𝑒
𝛽ₐ = ²
2000 𝑏′
𝐾 − 𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑦 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑠 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦
𝑏 ′ − 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑁 − 𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒
𝑁𝑢𝑧 − 𝑁
𝐾= ≤ 1.0
𝑁𝑢𝑧 − 𝑁𝑏𝑎𝑙
• Mi =Initial moment due to normal ultimate load calculated by simple
elastic analysis.
• H= Overall depth of the cross-section in the plane of bending
• For braced columns, BS8110 states that:
𝑀𝑖 = 0.4𝑀𝑖 + 0.6𝑀₂ ≥ 0.4𝑀₂
Where: M₁ and M₂ are the lesser and greater initial end moments
acting on the column.
The point of maximum additional moment is near the mid-height of
the column, and at the ends only one-half of this additional moment
need to be considered.
• Thus, the maximum uniaxial moment that need be taken into
consideration when designing a slender column is the greatest of the
following:
a) M₂
b) 𝑀𝑖 + 𝑀𝑎𝑑𝑑
c) 𝑀𝑖 + 𝑀𝑎𝑑𝑑/2

Where:
N= Ultimate axial load for which the load is being designed
𝑁𝑢𝑧= The resistance of the trial section designed initial to resist N and
Mt under pure load only.
• 𝑁𝑏𝑎𝑙 = The axial load at which for the section being considered, a
maximum compressive strain of 0.0035 in the concrete and a tensile
strain of 0.0020 in the outermost later of tension reinforcement are
attained simultaneously.
• For simplicity, BS8110 Part 1(1997)
• 𝑁𝑏𝑎𝑙 = 0.25 𝑓𝑐𝑢𝑏𝑑
• 𝑁𝑢𝑧 = 0.45𝑓𝑐𝑢𝐴𝑐 + 0.95𝑓𝑦𝐴𝑠𝑐
• Table 3.25 and clause 3.12.6.2 of BS 8110: Part 1 (1997) give the
rules or specifications for the minimum and maximum percentages of
reinforcements in a load bearing column as:
A) Longitudinal
i) A minimum of 4 bars is required in a rectangular column and 6 bars
in a circular column
ii) Minimum area of steel reinforcement in columns is Asc = 0.4%Ac
iii) Maximum are of steel reinforcement in column are:
a) For vertically cast columns, Asc = 6.0% Ac
b) For horizontally cast column, Asc = 8.0% Ac
c) At laps (and beam-column, or beam-slab joint) Asc = 10.0% Ac
Where:
Asc = Total area of longitudinal steel
Ac = Cross-sectional area of the column without removing area of steel
B) Links

i) Minimum size is one-quarter the largest compression bars but not

less than 6 mm
ii) Maximum spacing is 12 times the size of the smallest compression
bar
iii) In circular column a circular link passing around a circular
arrangement of longitudinal bars is adequate.
Summary of Design Procedure for slender columns
i) Choose a column section: b, h, and b’, h’
𝑙𝑒
ii) Determine 𝛽 for appropriate ratio of
𝑏′
1 𝑙𝑒
β= ²
2000 𝑏′
iii) Calculate Mt=Mi + K𝛽𝑁ℎ, Where
Mi = actual ultimate moment acting on the section
iv) Design trial section to resist Mt (For which K is set to 1.0) and N, and
determine Nuz and Nbal
Where: Nuz = 0.45𝑓𝑐𝑢𝐴𝑐 + 0.95𝑓𝑦𝐴𝑠𝑐
𝑁𝑏𝑎𝑙 = 0.25𝑓𝑐𝑢𝑏𝑑
Determine the new value of K from
 𝑁𝑢𝑧−𝑁
• 𝐾= or read off from column chart No. 21 -50 in BS8110:
𝑁𝑢𝑧−𝑁𝑏𝑎𝑙
Part 3 (1985)
iv) Recalculate Mt=Mi + K𝛽𝑁ℎ
Repeat steps 4 and 5 until adjustment become negligible
EXAMPLES IN COLUMN DESIGN

Example 1
Design the longitudinal reinforcement for a 300mm square column, which supports an
axial load of 1700kN, 𝑓𝑐𝑢 = 30N/𝑚𝑚2 and 𝑓𝑦 = 460N/𝑚𝑚2 .

Solution
For a rectangular/ square column with axial load only.
Ultimate load 𝑁𝑢𝑧 = 0.45𝑓𝑐𝑢 𝐴𝑐 + 0.95𝑓𝑦 𝐴𝑠𝑐
Note: This formula includes allowance for area of concrete displaced by the
reinforcement.
Therefore 1700 x 103 = 0.45 x 30 x 3002 + 0.95 x 460 𝐴𝑠𝑐
1700,000 - 1215,000 = 437 𝐴𝑠𝑐
485,000
Therefore, 𝐴𝑠𝑐 = = 1110 𝑚𝑚2
437
From steel table, provide 4T20 (As = 1260 𝑚𝑚2 )
i.e. four high tensile steel each of diameter 20 mm.
For links, the diameter required is the greater of
• ¼ of diameter of largest bar or
• 6 mm
¼ of 20 = 5mm. Use 8mm links.
For spacing of link, use the smaller of
• 12 times diameter of smaller bar (12 x 20) = 240mm or
• The smallest cross-section dimension of column i.e. 300.
Thus, use 225mm spacing i.e. provide R8 – 225mm centres.