Behaviour and design of

members subjected to axial

loads
Quantifying member effective length
Contents
• What is the difference between a short and slender column – what
are second order effects.
• How do we determine the effective length of isolated columns and
columns that make up part of a frame.
• How to classify columns as being either short or slender.
Short and slender columns
• In the design of columns, the member
slenderness, which is often given in terms of a P P e1 P e1
slenderness ratio (Le/r) controls if secondary M1
V V
bending moments (also known as second x
V

order effects) need to be considered. M1=Pe 1

• Short columns are defined as those in which

secondary bending moments can be taken as (x)
V
M(x) = Pe+P 
zero (M=Pe) – lateral deflections are small so P
can be ignored. (x)

• Slender columns are defined as all columns M2 =Pe2

that do not meet the requirement of short V V

M2 e2
columns (M=Pe+Pδ) – lateral deflections are
P
not small and so cannot be ignored. P
Column slenderness requirements
The slenderness ratio of a column can be defined as Le/r
Where Le is the effective length of the column and r is the radius of
gyration
Where the forces and moment have been obtained from a linear elastic
analysis AS3600 10.5.2 allows the radius of gyration to be taken as 0.3D
for a rectangular section, where D is the overall dimension of the
section in which the stability is being considered.
AS3600 10.5.1 also places an upper limit on the maximum slenderness
ratio (120) after which rigorous analysis is required.
Quantifying member effective length
• In order to quantify the slenderness of a
column (and therefore what analysis needs to
be undertaken) we first need to quantify the
effective length (Le) which can be taken as
𝐿𝑒 = 𝑘𝐿𝑢
Where,
k is the effective length factor, and
Lu is the unsupported height of the column –
taken as the distance between faces of
members capable of providing lateral support.
• For simple restraints AS3600 10.5.3 provides P P
simple definitions of the effective length
factor.

braced frame: unbraced frame:

small lateral large lateral
translation translation
 Quantifying member effective length
• In order to quantify the slenderness of a
column (and therefore what analysis needs to
In bereinforced concrete
undertaken) we first need these idealisations
to quantify the do not exist in practice
effective length (Le) which can be taken as
– it is not possible 𝐿𝑒 = 𝑘𝐿 to𝑢 construct a perfect hinge or to fully fix a
connection.
Where, These are idealisations which simplify analysis in
k is the effective length factor, and
order to determine design actions.
Lu is the unsupported height of the column –
Intaken as thewe
reality distance between
always facessome
have of
members capable of providing lateral support. degree of rotational restraint.
• For simple restraints AS3600 10.5.3 provides P P
simple definitions of the effective length
factor.

braced frame: unbraced frame:

small lateral large lateral
translation translation
Quantifying member effective length
• More generally AS3600 10.5.3 provides charts to quantify the effective length
based on restraint coefficients (γ1 and γ2) – these coefficients represent the
rotational stiffness of the supports.
Quantifying end restraint coefficients
• For rectangular framed structures AS3600 10.5.4 allows γ1 and γ2 to be estimated as:
Σ 𝐼 Τ𝐿 𝑐
Σ 𝛽 𝐼 Τ𝐿 𝑏
Where,
Σ 𝐼 Τ𝐿 𝑐 is the stiffness in the plane of bending of all the columns meeting at and rigidly connected to the end
of the column under consideration – as an approximation Ic = 0.8Ig of the column.
Σ 𝛽 𝐼 Τ𝐿 𝑏 is the stiffness in the plane of bending of all the beams or slabs, or both, meeting at and rigidly
connected to the end of the column under consideration – as an approximation Ib = 0.4Ig of the beam.
𝛽 is a fixity factor for each beam or slab, or both, at the end opposite to that connected to the column under
consideration.

Fixity conditions at far end of the beam or Fixity factor (β)

slab
Beam or slab, or both, in a braced Beam or slab, or both, in an unbraced frame
frame
Pinned 1.5 0.5

Rigidly connected to a column 1.0 1.0

Fixed 2.0 0.67

Quantifying end restraint coefficients
• For all other types of structures (non-rectangular) AS3600 10.5.5 does
not provide specific guidance on how to calculate the end restraint
coefficients but requires that the sum of the stiffnesses of all the
members meeting at the end of the column must be under
consideration.
• According to AS3600 10.5.6, where a column meets a footing, and the
footing provides negligible restraint, the rotation at the end of the
column is theoretically infinite, but may be taken as 10.
• Where the footing is specifically designed to prevent rotation β is
theoretically 0, but should be taken as 1.0.
Classifying columns as slender or short
• AS3600 10.3.1 provides an approach to classifying columns as slender or short: M2 M2
• For columns which form part of a braced frame, a column is deemed to be short if:
𝐿𝑒 /𝑟 ≤ 25 or
𝐿𝑒 /𝑟 ≤ 𝛼𝑐 38 − 𝑓𝑐 /15 1 + 𝑀1∗ /𝑀2∗
Where the maximum limit is taken.
And,
𝛼𝑐 = 2.25 − 2.5𝑁 ∗ /𝜙𝑁𝑢𝑜 for 𝑁 ∗ /𝜙𝑁𝑢𝑜 ≥ 0.15
𝛼𝑐 = 1/ 3.5𝑁 ∗ /𝜙𝑁𝑢𝑜 for 𝑁 ∗ /𝜙𝑁𝑢𝑜 < 0.15
In which
r is the radius of gyration
𝑀1∗ /𝑀2∗ is the ratio of the smaller to larger design bending moments at the ends of the
columns. The ratio is taken as negative when the column is bent into∗ single curvature and M1 M1
positive when the column is bent into double curvature. Where |𝑀2 | ≤0.05DN* then 𝑀2∗ =-
1.0 single curvature double curvature
Le is the effective length (-1 ≤ M1/M2 ≤ 0) (0 ≤ M1/M2 ≤ 1)
𝜙 = 0.65 short column slender column
Classifying columns as slender or short
• AS3600 10.3.1 provides an approach to M2 M2

classifying columns as slender or short:

• For columns which form part of an unbraced
frame, a column is deemed to be short if:
𝐿𝑒 /𝑟 ≤ 22

M1 M1
single curvature double curvature
(-1 ≤ M1/M2 ≤ 0) (0 ≤ M1/M2 ≤ 1)
short column slender column
 Example 2: calculating member slenderness
ratio
1100 kN Using table 10.5.3(A), Solution approach:
250 kNm
classify the column 1. Determine the effective
which as either short length factor (k) based on
table 10.5.3(A).
or slender. The column
is braced. Take the 2. Calculate the effective
length: 𝐿𝑒 = 𝑘𝐿𝑢
cross section to be the
3300 mm same as that of 3. Calculate the radius of
500 mm gyration (r)
example 1. Assume
4. Calculate the slenderness
the rotation is fixed at ratio (Le/r) and hence
the top and bottom of classify the column
350 kNm
the column.
2000 kN
 Example 3: calculating member slenderness
ratio
Classify the column which forms part of an RC frame as Solution approach:
either slender or short. The column forms part of an
unbraced frame. Take the cross section to be the same 1. Calculate restraint coefficients
as that for example 1 and assume the slabs are pinned (γ1 and γ2) and fixity factor β
at either end and the width of the column strip is 1000
mm. 2. Determine the effective length
800 kN 1100 kN 1100 kN 1100 kN 1100 kN 800 kN factor (k)
200 mm
250 kNm 3. Calculate the effective length:
550 mm
𝐿𝑒 = 𝑘𝐿𝑢
4. Calculate the radius of gyration
(r)
3300 mm
500 mm 5. Calculate the slenderness ratio
6000 mm
(Le/r) and hence classify the
column
350 kNm

1200 kN 2000 kN 2000 kN 2000 kN 2000 kN 1200 kN

What you should know
• What the difference between a short and slender column is.
• How do we determine the effective length of isolated columns and
columns that make up part of a frame.
• How to classify columns as being either short or slender.