DESIGN OF COLUMNS

CATEGORIES OF COLUMNS
1. Short compression blocks or pedestals
 The height of the column is less than 3 times its least dimension
 Pedestals may be designed without reinforcement with a maximum permissible
compressive strength of 0.85f’c, where  = 0.65
2. Short reinforced concrete columns
 If the compressive strength is greater than 0.85f’c, then the pedestal have to be
designed as a reinforced concrete short column
 Short columns fail due to initial material failure (crushing of concrete).
3. Long or slender reinforced concrete columns
 Bending deformations increases which results to secondary moments
 Secondary moments significantly reduce the axial load capacity of the column
 Fail by lateral buckling
 M is called the primary
moments
 In long columns, the axis will
deflect laterally due to
application of the primary
moments.
 This will result to additional
moment called the secondary
or P moment
TYPES OF COLUMNS
1. Plain concrete column
 Can support very little load
2. Reinforced concrete columns
 Tied columns
• use ties for lateral bracing or for holding longitudinal bars in place
• Either square or rectangular

 Spiral Columns
• Use continuous helical spiral made from bars or heavy wire wrapped around the
longitudinal bars
• Normally round

3. Composite column
 Reinforced longitudinally by structural steel shapes, or maybe steel tube filled with
concrete
TYPES OF
COLUMNS
AXIAL LOAD
CAPACITY OF
COLUMNS
(NSCP 422.4)
FAILURE OF TIED AND SPIRAL COLUMNS

 Tied Columns
• If a short tied column could be loaded until it fails, parts of the shell or covering
concrete will spall off and, unless the ties are quite closely spaced, the
longitudinal bars will buckle almost immediately
• Such failure may often be quite sudden and may occur during earthquakes
 Spiral columns
• When spiral columns are loaded to failure, the covering concrete or shell will spall
off, but the core will continue to stand
• If the spiral is closely spaced, the core will be able to resist an appreciable amount
of additional load beyond the load that caused spalling
FAILURE OF TIED AND SPIRAL COLUMNS

 Spiral columns
• Spiral is designed so that it is just a little stronger that the shell that is assumed to
spall off
• The shell strength is given by
𝑆ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ = 0.85𝑓′𝑐 𝐴𝑔 − 𝐴𝑐
𝐴𝑔 is the gross area of concrete and 𝐴𝑐 is the area of the core.
• The spiral strength is given by
𝑆𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ = 2𝜌𝑠 𝐴𝑐 𝑓𝑦𝑡
𝜌𝑠 is the percentage of spiral steel
The minimum percentage of spiral required is given by
𝐴𝑔 𝑓′𝑐
𝜌𝑠 = 0.45 −1 (NSCP 425.7.3.3)
𝐴𝑐 𝑓𝑦𝑡
FAILURE OF TIED AND SPIRAL COLUMNS

 Spiral columns
• Once the required percentage of spiral
steel is determined, the spiral may be
selected using the equation:
4𝑎𝑠 𝐷𝑐 − 𝑑𝑏
𝜌𝑠 =
𝑠𝐷𝑐2
𝑎𝑠 is the cross sectional area of the
spiral bar and 𝑑𝑏 is the diameter of the spiral
bar
CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR CAST-IN-
PLACE COLUMNS
1. The area of longitudinal reinforcement shall be at least 0.01𝐴𝑔 but not to
exceed 0.08𝐴𝑔 . (NSCP 410.6.1.1)
2. For composite columns with a structural steel core, area of longitudinal bars
located within the transverse reinforcement shall be at least 0.01 𝐴𝑔 − 𝐴𝑠𝑥
but shall not exceed 0.08 𝐴𝑔 − 𝐴𝑠𝑥 . (NSCP 410.6.1.2)
3. The minimum number of longitudinal bars permissible for compression
members are as follows: (NSCP 410.7.3.1)
a. Three within triangular ties
b. Four within rectangular or circular ties
c. Six enclosed by spirals or for columns of special moment frames enclosed by
circular hoops.
4. Minimum spacing of longitudinal reinforcement (NSCP 425.2.3) is at least the
4
greatest of 40 mm, 1.5𝑑𝑏 and 𝑑𝑎𝑔𝑔 .
3
CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR CAST-IN-
PLACE COLUMNS
4. Spacing of ties (NSCP 425.7.2.1)
4
a. Clear spacing of at least 𝑑𝑎𝑔𝑔
3

b. Center to center spacing shall not exceed the least of 16𝑑𝑏 of longitudinal bar,
48𝑑𝑏 of tie bar, and smallest dimension of member.
5. Diameter of tie bar or wire (NSCP 425.7.2.2)
a. 10 mm  enclosing 32 mm  or smaller longitudinal bars
b. 12 mm  enclosing 36 mm  or larger longitudinal bars or bundled longitudinal
bars.
6. Arrangement of ties (NSCP 425.7.2.3)
a. Every corner and alternate longitudinal bar shall have lateral support provided by
the corner of a tie with an included angle of not more than 135 degrees.
b. No unsupported bar shall be further than 150 mm clear on each side along the tie
from a laterally supported bar.
CODE
REQUIREMENTS FOR
CAST-IN-PLACE
COLUMNS
CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR CAST-IN-
PLACE COLUMNS
7. Ties should not be placed more than one-half a spacing above the top of a
footing or slab and not more that one-half a spacing below the lowest
reinforcing in a slab or drop panel.
8. Spacing of spirals (NSCP 425.7.3.1)
4
a. At least greater of 25 mm and 𝑑𝑎𝑔𝑔
3

b. Not greater than 75 mm

9. Diameter of Spirals (NSCP 425.7.3.2)
For cast-in-place construction, spiral bar or wire diameter shall be at least
10 mm.
DESIGN OF AXIALLY LOADED COLUMNS
PROBLEM 1: Design an axially loaded short square tied column for Pu = 2600 kN
if f’c = 28 MPa and fy = 350 MPa. Initially assume ρ = 0.02.
SOLUTION:
Selecting column dimensions (NSCP 422.4.2)
𝑃𝑛 = 0.80𝑃𝑜 = 0.80 0.85𝑓′𝑐 𝐴𝑔 − 𝐴𝑠𝑡 + 𝑓𝑦 𝐴𝑠𝑡
𝑃𝑢 = 𝑃𝑛 ;  = 0.65 ; 𝐴𝑠𝑡 = 𝜌𝐴𝑔
2600 𝑥 103 = 0.65 0.80 0.85(28)(𝐴𝑔 − 0.02𝐴𝑔 ) + 350(0.02𝐴𝑔 )
𝐴𝑔 = 164 886 𝑚𝑚2
Use 400 mm x 400 mm (𝐴𝑔 =160 000 𝑚𝑚2 )
Select longitudinal bars
2600 𝑥 103 = 0.65 0.80 0.85(28)(160000 − 𝐴𝑠𝑡 + 350(𝐴𝑠𝑡 )
𝐴𝑠𝑡 = 3654 𝑚𝑚2
Use 6 – 28 mm  bars (3694 𝑚𝑚2 )
Design of ties
Use 10 mm  ties
Required spacing
𝑠 = 16 𝑥 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑠 = 16 28 = 448 𝑚𝑚
𝑠 = 48 𝑥 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠 = 48 10 = 480 𝑚𝑚
𝑠 = 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 400 𝑚𝑚
Use 10 mm  @ 400 mm
Check code requirements
3694
1. Steel percentage: 0.01 < 𝜌𝑠 = = 0.023 < 0.08 𝑜𝑘
400𝑥400

2. Number of longitudinal bars: 6 bars > 4 bars (minimum) (ok)

3. Longitudinal bar clear spacing
260
𝑠= − 28 = 102 𝑚𝑚 > 40 mm or 1.5 (28) = 42 mm (ok)
2

4. Minimum tie size: 10 mm  for 32 mm  bars or smaller (ok)

5. Spacing of ties (ok)
6. Arrangement of ties (ok)
DESIGN OF AXIALLY LOADED COLUMN
PROBLEM 2: Design a round spiral column using the following data:𝑃𝐷 =
500 𝑘𝑁; 𝑃𝐿 = 650 𝑘𝑁, 𝑓′𝑐 = 35 𝑀𝑃𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑦 = 420 𝑀𝑃𝑎. Initially assume 𝜌𝑠 = 0.03.
SOLUTION:
𝑃𝑈 = 1.2 500 + 1.6 650 = 1640 𝑘𝑁
Select column dimension
𝑃𝑛 = 0.85𝑃𝑜 = 0.85 0.85𝑓′𝑐 𝐴𝑔 − 𝐴𝑠𝑡 + 𝑓𝑦 𝐴𝑠𝑡
𝑃𝑢 = 𝑃𝑛 ;  = 0.75 ; 𝐴𝑠𝑡 = 𝜌𝐴𝑔 10 mm  @ 40 mm

1640 𝑥 103 = 0.75 0.85 0.85(35)(𝐴𝑔 − 0.03𝐴𝑔 ) + 420(0.03𝐴𝑔 )

𝐴𝑔 = 62 053 𝑚𝑚2
6- 22 mm 

∴Use 280 mm  (61 575.22 𝑚𝑚2)

Select longitudinal bars
1640 𝑥 103 = 0.75 0.85 0.85(35)(61575.22 − 𝐴𝑠𝑡 ) + 420(𝐴𝑠𝑡 )
𝐴𝑠𝑡 = 2035 𝑚𝑚2 40 mm Dc=200 mm 40 mm

Use 22 mm  (2280.8 𝑚𝑚2 ) 280 mm

Design the spiral
𝜋 𝜋
𝐴𝑐 = 200 = 10000𝜋 𝑚𝑚 𝑎𝑛𝑑𝐴𝑔 = 2802 = 19600𝜋𝑚𝑚2
2 2
4 4
Minimum spiral ratio:
𝐴𝑔 𝑓′𝑐 19600𝜋 35
𝜌𝑠 = 0.45 −1 = 0.45 −1
𝐴𝑐 𝑓𝑦𝑡 10000𝜋 420
𝜌𝑠 = 0.036
𝜋
Assume 10 mm  spiral; 𝑎𝑠 = 102 = 25𝜋 𝑚𝑚2
4
4𝑎𝑠 𝐷𝑐 − 𝑑𝑏 4(25𝜋) 200 − 10
𝜌𝑠 = = = 0.036
𝑠𝐷𝑐2 𝑠 200 2
𝑠 = 41 𝑚𝑚
Use s = 40 mm
Check code requirements
2280.8
1. Steel percentage: 0.01 < 𝜌𝑠 = 𝜋 = 0.037 < 0.08 𝑜𝑘
𝑥2802
4

2. Number of longitudinal bars: 6 bars = 6 bars (minimum) (ok)

3. Diameter of spiral: 10 mm (ok)
4. Spacing of spiral: 25 𝑚𝑚 < 𝑠 = 40 𝑚𝑚 < 75 𝑚𝑚 (ok)
PROBLEMS:
Solve the following problems. To be submitted on Monday, April 22.
DIRECTION: Design columns for axial load only for the conditions described.
Include the design of ties or spirals and a sketch of the cross sections selected,
including bar arrangements. All columns are assumed to be short and not exposed
to the weather. Form sizes are in 50 mm increment.
1. Square tied column: 𝑃𝐷 = 600 𝑘𝑁; 𝑃𝐿 = 800 𝑘𝑁; 𝑓′𝑐 = 24 𝑀𝑃𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑦 =
420 𝑀𝑃𝑎. Initially assume 𝜌𝑔 = 0.02.
2. Smallest possible square tied column: 𝑃𝐷 = 700 𝑘𝑁; 𝑃𝐿 = 300 𝑘𝑁; 𝑓′𝑐 =
28 𝑀𝑃𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑦 = 300 𝑀𝑃𝑎.
3. Round spiral column: 𝑃𝐷 = 600 𝑘𝑁; 𝑃𝐿 = 800 𝑘𝑁; 𝑓′𝑐 = 24 𝑀𝑃𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑦 =
420 𝑀𝑃𝑎. Initially assume 𝜌𝑔 = 0.04.