SLENDER COLUMNS

• Strength of short columns is governed entirely by the strength of the materials and
geometry of the cross section. Most column in present day practice are short column.
• Increasing use of high strength materials and improved method of dimensioning member
for a given axial load with or without simultaneous moment have made possible to design a
column with much smaller cross section.
• Hence rational and reliable design procedure for slender column has become increasingly
important.
• A column is said to be slender if its cross-sectional dimensions are small compared to its
length. The degree of slenderness is generally expressed in terms of the slenderness ratio
l/r. Where l is unsupported length and r is the radius of gyration of cross section {= √(I/A)}.
• For square or circular member r is same about either axis. For other shapes, the smaller r
about the minor axis should be used to determine slenderness ratio.
• When a stocky or short column (say l/r = 10) is loaded in axial compression, it will fail at load
given by following equation:

(Eqn. 8.3)
• If a member with same cross section has slenderness ratio l/r = 100, it may fail under an
axial load equal to one half or less than that given by Eqn. 8.3. In this case, collapse is
caused by buckling i.e. by sudden lateral displacement of the member between its ends,
with consequent overstressing of steel and concrete by the bending stresses that are
superimposed on the axial compression.
• Most column are subjected to bending moment as well as axial loads. These moments
produce lateral deflection of a member between its ends and may also result in relative
lateral displacement of joints. Associated with these displacements are secondary
moments that add to the primary moments and that may become very large for slender
columns, leading to failure.
• A practical definition of a slender column is one for which there is a significant reduction
in axial capacity because of these secondary moments. As per ACI Code, any reduction
greater than about 5 % is considered significant, requiring consideration of slenderness
effect.
• The ACI code contains detail provisions for designing slender column through use of
moment magnification factor i.e. column moment from analysis is increased by a factor
greater than one to account for slenderness.
• Additionally, ACI code endorses use of more fundamental approach, in which, the effect
of lateral displacement is accounted for directly in the frame analysis. Commercially
available software like ETABS include such analysis.
 CONCENTRICALLY LOADED COLUMN
• A concentrically loaded slender column will fail as per following formula developed by
Euler:

• It is seen that the buckling load decreases rapidly with increasing slenderness ratio kl/r .
 CONCENTRICALLY LOADED COLUMN….contn.

• If buckling stress Pc/A is below the proportional limit fp. Then Et is equal to Young’s Modulus.
If strain is larger than fp , buckling occurs in the inelastic range. In this case Et is the tangent
modulus. As stress increases, Et decreases. The column curve shows that reduction in
buckling strength with increasing slenderness.

• There is a limiting slenderness ration, (kl/r)min below which failure occurs by simple crushing
regardless of kl/r.
 CONCENTRICALLY LOADED COLUMN….contn.
• A column hinged at both ends and made of elastic material, Et becomes Young’s
Modulus, and kl is equal to the actual length l of the column. When compressive load
reaches that given by Eqn. 9.1, the originally straight member buckles into a half sine
wave, as shown in Fig. 9.1 a. In this bent configuration, bending moment Py act at any
point such as a; y is the deflection at that section. These deflection continue to increase
until the bending stress caused by the increasing moment, together with original
compressive stress, overstresses and fails the member.
• If the member is fixed against rotation at both ends, it buckles in the shape of Fig. 9.1 b
with inflection points as shown. The portion between the inflection points is in precisely
the same situation as the hinge-ended column of Fig. 9.1a and thus, the effective length
kl of the fixed-fixed column. Here kl=l/2, hence, from Eqn. 9.1 column fixed at both ends
will carry 4 times as much load as when hinged.
• In real structure, columns are rarely either hinged or fixed but have ends partially
restrained against rotation by abutting members ( Fig. 9.1 c ). For such member, effective
length kl, i.e. distance between inflection points is between l and l/2. The precise value
depends on end restraint, i.e. on the ratio of the stiffness EI/l of the columns to the sum
of stiffnesses EI/l of the restraining member at both ends.
FIG. 9.1
FIG. 9.1 ….. Contn.
 CONCENTRICALLY LOADED COLUMN….contn.

• If column is fixed at one end and entirely free at the other it buckles as shown in Fig. 9.1
d. Upper end moves laterally with respect to the lower. This kind of deformation is known
as sidesway. The inflection points, one at the end of actual column and other at the
imaginary extension of the sine wave are at distance 2l apart. Hence, effective length, kl=
2l.
• If the column is rotationally fixed at both ends but one end can move laterally with
respect to the other, it buckles as shown in Fig. 9.1e with effective length kl=l. Comparing
this column (fixed at both ends but free to sidesway) to fixed-fixed column braced against
sidesway, one sees that effective length of former is twice that of the latter i.e. buckling
strength (from Eqn. 9.1) of an elastic fixed-fixed column that is free to sidesway is only
one quarter of the same column when braced against sidesway.
• Hence, compression members free to sidesway mode are always considerably weaker
than when braced against sidesway.
 CONCENTRICALLY LOADED COLUMN….contn.

• Columns in actual structure are rarely either hinged, fixed or free but are usually
restrained against abutting members. If sidesway is not prevented buckling occurs as
shown if Fig. 9.1f. Effective length depends on degree of restraint. If cross beams are very
rigid compared to column, the case of Fig. 9.1e approaches and kl is only slightly larger
than l. If restraining members are very flexible, a hinged condition approaches at both
ends which is unstable for a column which is free to sidesway and k practically becomes
∞.
 CONCENTRICALLY LOADED COLUMN….contn.

Two frames are compared where columns are dimensionally identical, one is braced against
sidesway and other is free to sidesway. For frame braced against sidesway, kl is smaller than
l (buckled shape similar to Fig. 9.1c) . Whereas, for the frame free to sidesway, kl exceeds 2l
that depends on the degree of restraints (buckled shape similar to Fig. 9.1d upside down).
Even though these frames are identical, the unbraced frame will buckle at radically smaller
load than the braced frame.
CONCENTRICALLY LOADED COLUMN….contn.
COMPRESSION PLUS BENDING

Fig. 9.4
 COMPRESSION PLUS BENDING….contn.
• Fig.9.4 a: A column subjected to axial load and bent by equal end moments M0.
• If there were no axial load, the moment would be constant and equal to M0 throughout
(Fig. 9.4 b). For this moment the deflection would be as shown by dashed line (Fig. 9.4a)
where D0 is deflection at midspan for bending moment only.
• When axial load P is applied, the moment at any point increases by an amount to equal
to P times its lever arm. Increased moment cause additional deflection. Deflection curve
under the simultaneous action of P and M0 is the solid curve of Fig. 9.4a. At any point
moment is:

• This is simple illustration of P-∆ effect.

Fig. 9.5
COMPRESSION PLUS BENDING….contn.

Fig. 9.7
 COMPRESSION PLUS BENDING….contn.

• Direct addition of the maximum moment caused by P to the maximum moment caused by
the transverse load or end moment does not result for all types of deformation.
• Fig.9.7 a: A column subjected to axial load and bent by equal and opposite end moments
M0.
• Fig. 9.7 b shows moment diagram due to end moments M0.
• Fig. 9.7c shows deflection pattern due to existing moment. This moment is again magnified
when axial load P is applied by an amount Py.
• The total moment M= M0+Py are distributed as shown in either Fig. 9.7 d or 9.7 e.
• For Fig. 9.7 d maximum moment continue to act at the end and is equal to Me. i.e. presence
of axial load does not increase the moment.
• For Fig. 9.7 e the maximum moment is at some distance from the end. At that location M0.
is significantly smaller than its maximum value of Me. So magnification is small.
 COMPRESSION PLUS BENDING….contn.
• For the case of opposite end moment, deflections under simultaneous bending and
compression can be approximated by:

• Compared to Eq. 9.3, the deflection magnification for this case is much smaller.
COMPRESSION PLUS BENDING….contn.
COMPRESSION PLUS BENDING….contn.
 COMPRESSION PLUS BENDING….contn.

• One braced against sidesway and unbraced frames are shown in Fig. 9.8 and 9.9.
• The unbraced frame is subjected to lateral load H, such as wind or earthquake and
compression forces P such as gravity load.
• The moments M0 caused by H alone in the absence of P are shown in Fig. 9.8b;
corresponding deformation by dashed line.
• When P added, horizontal moment are caused that result in magnified deformation as
solid line.
• Maximum values of both M0 and maximum values of Mp both occurs at same location. So
magnification is large.
• For braced frame (Fig. 9.9), maximum moments from two different loading system occurs
at different location. So, magnification is small.
COMPRESSION PLUS BENDING….contn.
ACI CRITERION FOR NEGLECTING OF SLENDERNESS EFFECTS
 ACI CRITERION FOR NON SWAY VERSUS SWAY FRAMES
• A compression member can be assumed braced if it is located in a story in which the
bracing elements (shear walls, etc.) have a stiffness substantial enough to limit lateral
deflection to the extent that the column strength is not substantially affected.
• Two alternative criteria for determining if column and stories are treated as sway and
nonsway:
ACI CRITERION FOR NON SWAY VERSUS SWAY FRAMES…..contn.
ACI CRITERION FOR NON SWAY VERSUS SWAY FRAMES…..contn.
ACI CRITERION FOR NON SWAY VERSUS SWAY FRAMES…..contn.
ACI CRITERION FOR NON SWAY VERSUS SWAY FRAMES…..contn.
 ACI MOMENT MAGNIFIER METHOD FOR NONSWAY FRAMES
• For a column bent in single curvature with equal eccentricities at both ends the strength of
stocky column cross section is given by Point A. Here, Strength= Pn, stocky under simultaneous
moment Mn, stocky = e0 Pn, stocky .
• If this column is sufficiently slender, significant moment magnification will occur with
increasing P. Moment at the most highly stressed section would be as given by Eqn. 9.8
with Cm=1 because of equal end eccentricities.
• Solid curve in Fig. 9.10 shows the nonlinear increase of Mmax as P increases. The point
where this curve intersects the interaction curve i.e. point B, defines the member strength
Pn, slender combined with the end moments Mo = e0 Pn, slender .
• ACI code specifies that axial loads and end moments in columns must be determined by a
conventional elastic frame analysis using reduced section properties.
• The member is then designed for that axial load and a simultaneous magnified column
moment.
.
ACI MOMENT MAGNIFIER METHOD FOR NONSWAY FRAMES ….contn.
ACI MOMENT MAGNIFIER METHOD FOR NONSWAY FRAMES….contn.
ACI MOMENT MAGNIFIER METHOD FOR NONSWAY FRAMES….contn.

Fig. 9.11
 ACI MOMENT MAGNIFIER METHOD FOR NONSWAY FRAMES….contn.
• Factored moment M2 in Eqn. 9.13 should not be taken less than :

Concrete is nonhomogeneous since they consist both steel and concrete. Also concrete is
not elastic and is subjected to creep and cracking if tension occurs. Hence ACI Code suggests
that EI be determined either by:
ACI MOMENT MAGNIFIER METHOD FOR NONSWAY FRAMES….contn.
ACI MOMENT MAGNIFIER METHOD FOR NONSWAY FRAMES….contn.
Determination of Factor k:
ACI MOMENT MAGNIFIER METHOD FOR NONSWAY FRAMES….contn.
ACI MOMENT MAGNIFIER METHOD FOR NONSWAY FRAMES….contn.
ACI MOMENT MAGNIFIER METHOD FOR NONSWAY FRAMES….contn.
 ACI MOMENT MAGNIFIER METHOD FOR SWAY FRAMES
• The critical load for a column Pc depends on the effective length klu. For braced column
effective length factor k falls between 0.5 and 1.0. But for unbraced column, k falls between
1.0 and ∞. Consequently, an unbraced column will buckle at a much smaller load than will a
braced column that is otherwise identical.
• Columns subjected to sidesway do not normally stand alone but are part of a structural
system including floors and roof. A floor or roof is normally very stiff and all columns at a
given story level in a structure are subjected to identical sway displacement. Sidesway in a
particular story can occur only by simultaneous lateral motion of all columns of that story.
Hence, all columns at a given story must be considered together in evaluation slenderness
effects relative to sidesway.
• A single column in a sway frame may buckle individually under gravity load. This possibility,
resulting in magnification of nonsway moments due to gravity loads must also be
considered in the analysis and design of slender column in unbraced frames.
• For ACI moment magnifier approach to be used for frames subject to sidesway, it is
necessary to separate the loads acting on a structure into two categories: loads that result
in the no appreciable sidesway and loads that result in appreciable sidesways.
 ACI MOMENT MAGNIFIER METHOD FOR SWAY FRAMES…….contn.
• In general, gravity loads acting on reasonably symmetrical frames produce little sway and
the effect of gravity load may be placed as nonsway loads.
• The maximum magnified moments caused by sway loading occur at the ends of the
column, but those due to gravity loads may occur somewhere in the mid-height of the
column, the exact location of the latter varying depending on the end moments. Because
magnified gravity moments and magnified sway moments do not occur at the same
location, it may be argued that, no magnification should be applied to the nonsway
moments when sway moments are considered.
• Considering these, for cases involving sidesway, Eq. (9.13) is replaced by:
ACI MOMENT MAGNIFIER METHOD FOR SWAY FRAMES…….contn.
ACI MOMENT MAGNIFIER METHOD FOR SWAY FRAMES…….contn.
ACI MOMENT MAGNIFIER METHOD FOR SWAY FRAMES…….contn.
ACI MOMENT MAGNIFIER METHOD FOR SWAY FRAMES…….contn.
ACI MOMENT MAGNIFIER METHOD FOR NONSWAY FRAMES….contn.