CE-805

Advanced Concrete Design

Columns
Dr. Junaid Ahmad
Email: [email protected]
 Columns

 Columns are the main supporting elements of a building

structure.
 Just like a trunk in a tree
 Any damage to columns may result in catastrophic
failure of at least part of the building.
 Columns mainly carry loads in compression, although
they also may be subjected to bending moments
transferred by the beams and girders connected to them.
 Types of compression members

 Pedestals
 If the height is less than three times its least lateral
dimension
 Columns
 Types of Columns

 There are many different classification of columns on

different basis
 Columns can be classified by the type of their
reinforcement (main and lateral), by their shape, by the
type of loads that they will resist, by the type of
structural system of which they are part, and by their
length.
 Based on reinforcement

 Tied Columns
 Spirally reinforced Columns
 Composite Columns
 Based on shape

 Square Columns
 Circular Columns
 Rectangular Columns
 Other shapes columns
 Based on loading

 Axially loaded columns (small eccentricity)

 Eccentrically loaded columns (large eccentricity)
 Based on Structural system

 Braced columns
 Unbraced columns
 Based on Structural system…
 Braced frames
 In a braced frame, lateral loads are resisted by shear walls,
elevator or stairwell shafts, diagonal braces, or a
combination thereof. The large stiffness of these elements
prevents the columns of such a frame from undergoing
large lateral motion or sidesway, and from experiencing
significant moments due to lateral loads.
 Unbraced frames
 In an unbraced frame, on the other hand, the columns
(unbraced columns) are subject to large bending moments
due to the lateral loads and have to withstand large lateral
motions. These columns generally have large
eccentricities.
 Based on Length

 Short columns
 Short columns are columns whose slenderness ratio is
low enough that their failure occurs from excessive
stress levels rather than by buckling.
 Slender (long) columns
 Slender columns, on the other hand, may buckle when
subjected to large axial loads.
Behavior of short columns with small eccentricity under
load (Tied)
 Behavior of short columns with small eccentricity under
load (Tied)

 When a short tied column is subjected to increasing axial

loads, the column fails suddenly.
 First the longitudinal reinforcing reaches yield and then the
concrete fails when the ultimate strain is reached. The
failure is usually accompanied by plastic buckling of the
longitudinal bars.
Behavior of short columns with small eccentricity under
load (Spiral)
 Behavior of short columns with small eccentricity under
load (Spiral)

 A spiral column, on the other hand, does not fail suddenly

because the closely spaced spirals keep the core confined
while the column shell spalls
 This confinement does increase the column’s deformability
significantly.
 The outer concrete shell is not confined, thus it falls away
readily. The inner core, however, is still able to carry loads,
even after the concrete has been crushed by large
compressive stresses.
Behavior of short columns with small eccentricity under
load
 General ACI code requirements for Columns

 There are many general ACI code requirements for columns

and are discussed in next few slides
 Limit on the amount of Longitudinal reinforcement

 Column steel ratio, ρg, is defined as the ratio of the area of

the longitudinal reinforcement (Ast) to the gross area of the
column (Ag):

 The ACI Code (Section 10.6.1.1) limits the area of the

longitudinal reinforcement, Ast, in columns between 0.01
Ag to 0.08 Ag. This means that the steel ratio, ρg, can
average as shown in Equation
 Limit on the amount of Longitudinal reinforcement

 The minimum steel ratio of 0.01 provides resistance to

bending, which may exist whether or not calculations show
the column is subjected to bending moments.
 In addition, a minimum amount of steel reduces creep and
shrinkage of the concrete under sustained compression
loads.
 Although the maximum steel ratio is 0.08, in practice it is
very difficult to use such a high amount of steel in the
column as it may result in overcrowding of reinforcement
 Limit on the number of bars
 According to the ACI Code (Section 10.7.3.1), the
minimum number of main longitudinal bars is four for
rectangular or circular tied columns, three for triangular tied
columns, and six for spiral columns
 Limit on the clear cover
 According to the ACI Code (Section 20.6.1.3.1), the
minimum clear cover for columns is 1.5 in., measured from
the edge of the column to the transverse reinforcement. This
cover is for interior columns that are not exposed to weather
or in contact with the ground.
 The clear cover is 2 in. for formed surfaces exposed to
weather or in contact with the ground.
 If the concrete is cast directly against the earth without
forming (as in drilled piles), the cover must be increased to
3 in.
 Limit on tie spacing
 The ACI Code (Sections 10.7.6.1.2 and 25.7.2.2) requires
that at least #3 ties be used for #10 or smaller longitudinal
bars, and at least #4 ties be used for #11, #14, and #18 and
bundled bars.
 the ACI Code (Sections 10.7.6.1.2 and 25.7.2.1) requires
that the vertical center-to-center spacing of ties (s) be
limited to:
 Limit on tie spacing
 According to the ACI Code (Sections 10.7.6.1.2 and
25.7.2.3), a bar is adequately supported laterally if it is
located at a corner of a tie, with an enclosed angle not
exceeding 135 degrees, or if it is located between laterally
supported bars with a clear spacing of 6 in. or less.
 Limit on longitudinal bar spacing
 Sections 10.7.2.1 and 25.2.3 of the ACI Code requires that
the clear distance between longitudinal bars be at least
equal to the greatest of 1.5 times the bar diameter (db), 1.5
in. or 4/3 of maximum aggregate size (d agg), to allow
concrete to flow between the reinforcements.
 Limit on spacing and amount of spiral reinforcement.

 Spirals are often made of smooth bars rather than deformed

bars; and the spacing and amount of spirals need to be such
that they confine the column core. For these reasons, the
ACI Code (Sections 10.7.6.1.2 and 25.7.3.1) requires that
clear spacing between spirals (sclear) be at least equal to 4/3
dagg and between 1 and 3 in.
 In cast-in-place construction spirals must be at least 3/8 in.
in diameter.
 Limit on spacing and amount of spiral reinforcement.

 Spiral steel ratio is defined as:

 Limit on spacing and amount of spiral reinforcement.

 The ACI Code requires a minimum spiral steel ratio to

ensure ductility and toughness. According to Equation
(25.7.3.3) in Section 25.7.3.3 of the ACI Code, the
minimum spiral steel ratio (ρs,min) is:
 Analysis of Short Columns with Small Eccentricity.

 Most reinforced concrete columns are categorized as short

columns. This means that they will fail in compression
under large loads rather than undergo elastic buckling.
 In this topic we will study the load carrying capacity and
the design of short columns with small eccentricity.
 Analysis of Short Columns with Small Eccentricity.

 The axial load capacity (Po) of the column consist of the

contribution from concrete and steel reinforcement.
 Analysis of Short Columns with Small Eccentricity.

 In reality, however, the loads acting on columns always

have an eccentricity (e.g., due to vertical misalignment of
the form). The ACI Code accounts for “accidental
eccentricity” by requiring that the theoretical capacity be
reduced by 20 % for tied columns and 15 % for spirally
reinforced columns.
 The nominal load capacity of the column is
 Analysis of Short Columns with Small Eccentricity.

 To find the design resisting load, Pr, we must reduce Pn by

the strength reduction factor, ϕ:

 According to the ACI Code (Sections 10.5.1.2 and 21.2.2),

columns with small eccentricity have the following strength
reduction factors
 Analysis of Short Columns with Small Eccentricity.

 The values of ϕ for pure compression are less than those used for
beams in bending (0.90). The main reasons that the strength
reduction factors are considerably lower are the following:
 A column failure is a much more severe event than the local failure
of a beam, because a column supports larger areas of a building.
 The quality of concrete used in columns is less reliable than that
used in beams and slabs. The difficulty of consolidating the
concrete in narrow column forms and between the longitudinal and
lateral reinforcements often leads to honeycombs that are difficult
to repair
 The strength of the concrete has a much greater role in the ultimate
strength of a column than it does in beams and slabs, where the
reinforcing has the most influence on the ultimate strength.
 Analysis of Short Columns with Small Eccentricity.

 The design resisting load or the strength of an axially loaded

column is as follows
Analysis of Short Columns with Small Eccentricity –
Flow chart
Analysis of Short Columns with Small Eccentricity –
Flow chart
Computation of applied load
combination
Computation of applied load
combination
 For cases where structural member is carrying only dead and live
load

 For cases where structural member is carrying only dead and roof
live load
Computation of applied load
combination
 For cases where structural member is carrying both live load and
roof live load
 Analysis of Short Columns with Small Eccentricity –
Example
 Determine the maximum factored axial load that a short tied
column with the cross section shown below can resist. There is no
moment on the column. Determine whether the ties are
appropriate. The compressive strength of the concrete is 4,000
psi, and the reinforcement is grade 60 steel.
Solution
Solution
Solution
Solution
Solution
 Analysis of Short Columns with Small Eccentricity –
Example
 The circular spiral column shown below is subjected to a dead
load of 200 kip and a roof live load of 225 kip. The eccentricity
of the loads is small. The compressive strength of the concrete is
4,000 psi, and the reinforcement is A615 grade 60 steel. Check
the adequacy of the column including the spirals.
Solution
Solution
Solution
Solution
Solution
Solution
Thanks