Introduction to Columns

1
Types of Compression Members

Short compression blocks - pedestals

Short reinforced columns

Long or slender reinforced columns

2
Short Compression Block

Height less than three times least lateral

dimension

May be designed as unreinforced or plain

member

Maximum force is:

0.85 f c' Ag
  0.65

3
Short Reinforced Column

Stocky members

Material failure

Maximum load supported is controlled by

section dimensions and strength of
materials

4
Slender Reinforced Column

Bending deformations

Secondary moments

Instability or buckling

5
Secondary Moments

P is the axial force

M is the primary
moment

6
Types of Columns

Tied Columns

Spiral Columns

Composite columns

7
Tied Column

8
Spiral Column

9
Composite Columns

10
 Tied Columns

Ties increase column strength

Ties hold longitudinal bars in place during

construction
Ties prevent longitudinal bars from buckling
after cover spalls
Tied columns are usually, but not always,
rectangular in shape

11
Spiral Columns

Spiral columns are usually, but not always,

circular in shape

Helical spirals

Spirals are more effective than ties in

increasing column strength

Spirals are loaded in hoop tension when

compressive load is place on a column
12
Spiral Columns

Spiral columns are more expensive than tied

columns

Spiral columns are better for seismic

applications

13
Axial Load Capacity of Columns

Pn  0.85 f c'  Ag  Ast   f y Ast

Ag  gross column area
Ast  area of longitudinal steel

14
Failure of Columns

Tied columns – cover spalls and, unless ties

are closely space, longitudinal bars buckle

Spiral columns – cover spalls but longitudinal

bars and concrete core are confined by
spirals and remain intact

Spiral cage is designed to be have a strength

equal to the spalled cover

15
Strength of Spiral

Shell strength
0.85 f c'  Ag  Ac 
Ag  gross column area
Ac  area of concrete core

Spiral strength
2  s Ac f y
 s  percentage of spiral steel
16
 Strength of Spiral

0.85 f c'  Ag  Ac   2  s Ac f y

 s  0.425
 g c c
A  A f '
 Ag
 0.425 
 f c'
 1
Ac f y  Ac  fy

ACI Code Equation 10-5

 Ag  f c'
 s  0.45   1
 Ac  fy

17
Spiral Steel Percentage
volume of spiral in one loop
s 
volume of concrete core for a pitch of s
Vspiral
s 
Vcore
as  Dc  db  4as  Dc  db 
s  
 Dc s
2
sDc2
4
Dc  core diameter
db  bar diameter
18
Spiral Parameters

19
ACI Code Requirements for CIP
Columns
Percentage of longitudinal steel may not be
less than 1% nor more than 8%
At least four longitudinal bars must be used
within rectangular or circular ties
At least six longitudinal bars must be used
within spiral ties
The practical minimum column dimension is
about 8 to 10 in.
20
ACI Code Requirements for CIP
Columns
For tied columns with No 10 and smaller long-
itudinal bars, the minimum size tie is No 3
For tied columns with longitudinal bars larger
than No 10 , and for bundled bars, the
minimum size tie is No 4
For tied columns, the maximum ties spacing is
the smallest of:
48 tie bar diameters,
16 longitudinal bar diameters, or
the least lateral column dimension
21
ACI Code Requirements for CIP
Columns
For tied columns ,ties must be arranged so
that every corner and every alternate
longitudinal bar has lateral support
provided by a tie bent around the
longitudinal bar with an included angle not
o
greater than 135 . No longitudinal bar can
be located more than 6 in. from such a
laterally supported bar

22
Supported Bars

23
Supported Bars

24
Supported Bars

25
ACI Code Requirements for CIP
Columns
Spirals may not have diameters less than 3/8
in.
The clear spacing between spirals may not be
less than 1 in. or greater than 3 in.

26
Capacity Reduction Factor

Failure of a column is more significant than

failure of a beam

For tied columns,  = 0.65

For spiral columns,  = 0.75

27
Eccentricity of Axial Load

Pu e  M u
Mu
e
Pu
To account for (accidental) eccentricity, the
ACI Code uses a factor a

a  0.80 for tied columns

a  0.85 for spiral columns

28
ACI Column Design Capacity
Equations

 Pn  a 0.85 f c'  Ag  Ast   f y Ast 

 Pn  0.75  0.85  0.85 f c'  Ag  Ast   f y Ast  (spiral)
 Pn  0.65  0.80   0.85 f c'  Ag  Ast   f y Ast  (tied)

ACI Code Equation 10-1 (spiral)

ACI Code Equation 10-2 (tied)

29
Column Design Examples

30
Example 9.1

Design a square tied column to support an

axial dead load o 130 k and an axial live
load of 180 k. Begin using approximately 2
percent longitudinal steel, a concrete
strength of 4,000 psi and Grade 60 steel.

31
Example 9.1

Determine the factored axial load

Pu  1.2 130 k   1.6 180 k   444 k

32
Example 9.1

Select the column dimensions

 Pn    0.80  0.85 f c'  Ag  Ast   f y Ast 

444 k 
 0.65 0.80  
0.85  4 ksi   Ag  0.02 Ag    60 ksi   0.02 Ag  
 
Ag  188.4 in 2 Use 14" x 14" column  Ag  196 in 2 

33
Example 9.1

Select the longitudinal steel

 Pn    0.80  0.85 f c'  Ag  Ast   f y Ast 

444 k 
 0.65 0.80  
0.85  4 ksi  196 in 2  Ast    60 ksi  Ast 
 
Ast  3.31 in 2 Use 6 No 7 bars  Ast  3.6 in 2 

34
Example 9.1

Design the ties

3 
48  in   18 in
8 
7 
16  in   14 in
8 
Least column dimension = 14 in
Use No 3 ties at 14 in

35
Example 9.1

Other ACI Code requirements

 7.6.1 Longitudinal bar clear spacing =
9 7
in  in  3.625 in  1 and  db
2 8
10.9.1 Steel percentage
3.6 in 2
0.01     0.01837  0.08
14 in 14 in 
10.9.2  Number of bars = 6  4
36
Example 9.1

Other ACI Code requirements

 7.10.5.1 Minimum tie size =

No 3 for No 7 longitudinal bars

37
Example 9.1

38
Example 9.2

Design a round spiral column to support an

axial dead load of 240 k and an axial live
load of 300 k. Begin using 2 percent
longitudinal steel, a concrete strength of
4,000 psi and Grade 60 steel.

39
Example 9.2

Determine the factored axial load

Pu  1.2  240 k   1.6  300 k   768 k

40
 Example 9.2
Select the column dimensions
 Pn    0.85  0.85 f c'  Ag  Ast   f y Ast 
768 k 
 0.75 0.85 
0.85  4 ksi   Ag  0.02 Ag    60 ksi   0.02 Ag  
 
Ag  266 in 2 Use 18" diameter column  Ag  255 in 2 
Since 255 < 266 in2, the reinforcing steel
percentage will be greater than 2%
41
 Example 9.2

Select  Pn    0.85  0.85 f c'  Ag  Ast   f y Ast 

the 768 k 
longitudinal  0.75 0.85 
steel
 0.85  4 ksi   255 in 2  Ast    60 ksi  Ast 
 
Ast  5.97 in 2 Try 6 No 9 bars  Ast  6.00 in 2 
6.00 in 2
 2
 0.0235  0.02
255 in
Use 6 No 9 bars  Ast  6.00 in 2 
42
Example 9.2

Design of the spiral ties

 15 in 2 
Ac   177 in 2
4
 Ag  f c'
Minimum  s  0.45   1 
 Ac  fy
 255 in 2  4 ksi
0.45  2
 1  0.0132
 177 in  60 ksi

43
Example 9.2

Design of Try a No 3 spiral

Spiral db  0.375 in
As  0.11 in 2
4as  Dc  db 
s 
sDc2
4  0.11 in 2  15 in  0.375 in 
0.0132 
s 15 in 
2

s  2.17 in; use s = 2 in

44
Example 9.2

6 No 9 bars

15”
18”

45