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Reinforced Concrete Design

Design of Slender Column to BS 8110 –

Worked Example
June 1, 2024 Amuletola Rasheed Reinforced Concrete Design 6 min read

Table of Contents
■ Worked Example
■ Computation of Axial load
■ Steps in designing the column
■ Check the Slenderness of the column.
■ 1. Calculate the effective height of the column
■ 2. Compare the slenderness ratio against the limiting slenderness.
■ Check that the slenderness is within the slenderness limit.
■ Calculate the additional moment (Madd) due to slenderness effect
■ . Compute the design moment (M)
■ Use the design Chart to determine the area of longitudinal reinforcement required
■ Check minimum and maximum area of reinforcement requirement
■ Determine the link diameter and spacing
■ Detailing

A slender column is a column that is vulnerable to buckling which affects its maximum load bearing
capacity. Several codes of practice have devised diverse methods to analyse this type of column with
focus on stimulating its inherent instability, this enables the column to be designed and sized
appropriately for the most onerous case of load which it is likely to be subjected in its service life. BS 8110
achieves this by augmenting the moments from the general first-order analysis with additional moment
(Madd); this combination of moments together with the axial load gives the most unfavorable load regime
that can pratically act on the column.
Worked Example
The column that shall be designed is column BD that has already been analysed for moment as part of a
frame here. Since the column has already been evaluated to be subjected to a moment of 42.302KNm,
we are left to evaluate the axial force acting on the column.

According to clause 3.8.2.3 of BS 8110, the axial force of a column in a structural frame may be calculated
on the assumption that beams and slabs transmitting force into the particular column are simply
supported. By this, the reaction from the column can be calculated which in turn serves as the load on
the column. The axial force on the column BD is calculated below.

Computation of Axial load

For easy reference for axial load computation, the analyzed frame is reproduced below:

Third Floor Load take down

Characteristic permanent load on beam (gk) = 23KN/m

Characteristic variable load on beam (qk) = 36KN/m

Maximum ultimate Load acting on beam = 1.4(23) + 1.6(36) = 89.8KN/m

Load from third floor to column BD = (6/2 + 3.5/2) X 89.8 = 426.55

Second Floor and first floor Load take down

Characteristic permanent load on beam (gk) = 100KN/m

Characteristic variable load on beam (qk) = 40KN/m

Maximum ultimate Load acting on beam = 1.4(40) + 1.6(100) = 216KN/m

Load from second floor to column BD = (6/2 + 3.5/2) X 216 = 1026KN

Load from first floor to column BD = (6/2 + 3.5/2) X 216 = 1026KN

It should be noted that since we are computing for the axial load in this article, the maximum ultimate
load is used all through as this gives the unfavorable axial load possible.

Axial Load on Column BD

The total axial load on the column is the summation of axial load from third, second, and first floors. This
is done below:

Total Axial load on column BD = 426.55 + 1026 + 1026 = 2478.55KN

Steps in designing the column

Having calculated the axial load on the column, we can now proceed with the design of the column.
However, before embarking on the proper design, let us write down the loads and other design
parameters necessary for the column design.

Moment on the column (M) = 42.302KNm

Axial load on the column (N) = 2478.55KN

Length (l) = 5m

Breadth (b) = 250mm

Height (h) = 250mm

fck = 25N/mm2

cover = 25mm

Check the Slenderness of the column.

The slenderness ratio of the column shall be compared against the limiting slenderness, if the
slenderness ratio is greater than the limiting slenderness then the column is declared “slender”. The
column is declared “short” if otherwise. This is shown in the below steps

1. Calculate the effective height of the column

Since the column is braced, the Effective height (lo) is calculated thus:

le = β lo

a) Calculate the clear height (lo) of the column

In this example, we shall maintain the clear height to be the apparent height of the column which is 5m
b) Evaluate the relative stiffness at the column ends

β is a coefficient dependent on the end condition of the column. Its value can be obtained from table 3.19
and 3.20 of BS 8110-1:1997, however a rigorous approach will be adopted here according to clause 2.5 of
BS 8110-2: 1985.

According to BS 8110 part 2, for braced column B is adopted as the lesser of:

β = 0.7 + 0.05(αc1 + αc2)

β = 0.85 + 0.05αcmin

αc2 and αc1 are the relative flexibilities of the top and bottom ends respectively
ΣIc

αc2 = ΣEI
l

b
l

3
bh
12

l
3 3
bh bh
12 12
+
l l

3
250X250
12

5000

3 3
225X500 225X500
12 12
+
6000 3500

= 65104.2/(390625+ 669642.8)

= 0.06

We calculate for αc1

From clause 2.5.4 of BS 8110 part 2, the relative stiffness of a base designed to resist column moment is
1.0. This description above fits connection between the bottom end of the column and its base. Hence
αc1 = 1.0

β = 0.7 + 0.05(1.0 + 0.06) = 0.753

β = 0.85 + 0.05 x 1.0 = 0.853

Since 0.753 is lesser than 0.853, hence β = 0.753

c. Determine the effective height

l = β lo

l = 0.753 x 5000 = 3765.53mm

2. Compare the slenderness ratio against the limiting slenderness.

lex/h and ley/b < 15 – braced column

lex/h = 3765.53/250 = 15.06

ley/b = 3765.53/250 = 15.06

Since lex/h and ley/b are not less than 15 then the column is slender and additional moment due to
slenderness is required.

Check that the slenderness is within the slenderness limit.

The slenderness limit is that:

Lo ≤ 60b or 100b²/h, whichever is less

5000 ≤ 60 x 250

5000 ≤ 15000

Since lo is less 60b then the slenderness limit is satisfied

Calculate the additional moment (Madd) due to slenderness

effect
Since the column is slender, additional moment due to slenderness is necessary.

Additional moment (Madd) = N X au

Calculate deflection due to slenderness

au= Ba KH

Ba = 1/2000 x (le/b)²

= 1/2000 x (3765.53/250)² = 0.113

K can be conservatively taken to be 1 (see clause 3.8.3.1 of the code)

au = 0.113 x 1 x 250 = 28.356

Madd = N X au

= 2478.55 x 28.356/1000 = 70.28KNm

. Compute the design moment (M)

The design moment is the greatest of:

1. M2

2. Mi+ Madd
 3. M1.+ Madd/2

We have excluded moment due to minimum eccentricity as this cannot be critical in a slender column. At
least, the deflection due to slenderness is expected to be higher than the minimum eccentricity.

where: Mi = 0.4 M02 + 0.6 M01 = 25.38KNm

M2 = 42.302KN

Mi + Madd = 25.38 + 70.28 = 95.66KNm

M1 + Madd/2 = 0 + 70.28/2 = 35.14KNm

The design moment is 95.66KNm

Use the design Chart to determine the area of longitudinal

reinforcement required
In order to use the design chart, few parameters have to be calculated

a. Determine N/bh

N/bh = 2478.55 x 10^3 /250 X 250 = 39.65

b. Determine M/bh²

M/bh² = 95.66 X 10^6/250 X 250² = 6.1

c. Calculate d/h

d/h determines the exact graph that shall be used to determine the reinforcement area.

d = h- c + ϕ/2 + ϕ

= 250 – 25 – 16/2 – 10 = 207mm

d/h = 207/250 = 0.8

The design chart with parameters which conforms with d/h = 0.9, fcu = 25N/mm2, and fy = 460N/mm2 is
used. Chart No 22 in BS 8110 Part 3 matches this. The chart is reproduced below.
From the design chart, the intersection of M/bh² = 6.1 and N/bh = 39.6 falls outside the boundary of the
curve. This means the load and moment acting on the column exceeds its capacity. To circumvent this,
we shall increase the height of the column (h) to 350mm. By this the column cross-section becomes 250
x 350mm.

We re-determine the parameters

1. Determine N/bh

N/bh = 2478.55 x 10^3 /250 x 350 = 28.3

1. Determine M/bh²

M/bh² = 95.66 x 10^6/250 x 350² = 1.4

1. Calculate d/h

d/h determines the exact graph that shall be used to determine the reinforcement area.

d = h – c – d – d/2

= 350 -25 – 10 – 16/2 = 307

d/h = 307/350 = 0.87

d/h is approximated to 0.9. This time around Chart No 24 is used. the intersection of M/bh² = 1.4 and
N/bh = 28.3 falls on the 5.0 mark, this is shown with the red lines drawn on the chart as displayed below:
Hence from the design chart:

100Asc/bh = 5.0

Asc = 5.0 x 250 x 350/100

Asc= 4375mm²

Provide 9Y25 (4393mm²) as longitudinal bars.

Check minimum and maximum area of reinforcement

requirement

From the design chart it is obvious the minimum and maximum area of reinforcement requirement are
satisfied as the percentage area of reinforcement (100Asc/bh) is higher than the lower boundary 0.4 and
lower than the upper boundary 6.0

(Note: The 8.0 limit on the design chart is meant for horizontally cast columns which is not what we have
in this example)

ie: 0.4 ≤ 100Asc/bh ≤ 6.0

Determine the link diameter and spacing

1. Link diameter

The link diameter is the greater of;

¼ x maximum diameter of longitudinal bar

 6mm

¼ x maximum diameter of longitudinal bar = ¼ x 25 = 6.25mm

Hence use 10mm as the link diameter.

2. Link Spacing

The link spacing should be;

12 x minimum diameter of longitudinal bar

12 x minimum diameter of longitudinal bar = 12 x 25 = 300mm

Provide 10mm links at 250mm spacing.

Detailing

NB: For symmetry of the reinforcement, 10Y25 is provided rather than 9Y25 enumerated in the design.

Amuletola Rasheed

Author: Amuletola Rasheed

You can reach Amuletola Rasheed via [email protected]

View all posts by Amuletola Rasheed >

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about a week ago

Design of half turn staircase to BS 8110

This article presents a worked example on
the design of half-turn staircase to BS
8110-1:1997 The staircase to be designed
connects the ground floor and the first floor
of a building. The flights of the staircase
span a horizontal distance of 1.8m while
the first landing supported by end beam
span a distance of 1.115m. The final
landing connecting to the first floor spans a
distance of 1.138m. The layout of the
staircase is shown below.
Click the link in the comment below to read
the article

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