Eccentrically loaded columns

According to the Position of the load on the cross-section Columns can be classified
as Concentrically loaded columns, which are subjected to axial force only, or
Eccentrically loaded columns, which are subjected to moment in addition to the
axial forces.
Axial load and moment can be replaced with an equal load P applied at eccentricity
𝑀
𝑒= , as in Fig. 1 (b)
𝑃

Fig. 1

Fig. 2 Column subject to eccentric compression:

(a) loaded column; (b) strain distribution at section a-a;
and (c) stresses and forces at nominal strength.
 Figure 2.a shows a column loaded parallel to its axis by a compressive force 𝑃𝑛 at
an eccentricity e measured from the centerline. The distribution of strains at a section
a-a along its length, at incipient failure, is shown in Fig. 2.b. The corresponding
stresses and forces are shown in Fig. 2c.
Equilibrium between external and internal axial forces shown in Fig. 2.c requires
that
𝑃𝑛 = 𝐶𝑐 + 𝐶𝑠 − 𝑇
𝐶𝑐 = 0.85𝑓𝑐′ . 𝑎. 𝑏 where 𝑎 = 𝛽1 . 𝑥,
𝐶𝑐 = 0.85𝑓𝑐′ . 𝛽1 . 𝑥. 𝑏
𝐶𝑠 = 𝐴̀𝑠 (𝑓𝑠′ − 0.85𝑓𝑐′ )
𝑇 = 𝐴𝑠 𝑓𝑠
𝑃𝑛 = 0.85𝑓𝑐′ . 𝛽1 . 𝑥. 𝑏 + 𝐴̀𝑠 (𝑓𝑠′ − 0.85𝑓𝑐′ ) − 𝐴𝑠 𝑓𝑦 (1)
𝑒 is measured from the plastic centroid, for symmetrical section the plastic centroid
is at the middle.
Take moment about the plastic centroid
ℎ 𝑎 ℎ ℎ
𝑀𝑛 = 𝑃𝑛 . 𝑒 = 𝐶𝑐 ( − ) + 𝐶𝑠 ( − 𝑑 ′ ) + 𝑇(𝑑 − )
2 2 2 2
ℎ 𝛽1 .𝑥 ℎ ℎ
𝑀𝑛 = 𝑃𝑛 . 𝑒 = 0.85𝑓𝑐′ . 𝛽1 . 𝑥. 𝑏 (2 − ) + 𝐴̀𝑠 (𝑓𝑠′ − 0.85𝑓𝑐′ ) (2 − 𝑑 ′ ) + 𝐴𝑠 𝑓𝑠 (𝑑 − 2) (2)
2

There are two methods to solve these two basic equilibrium relations for rectangular
eccentrically compressed members.
The solution for these two equilibrium equations results in construction of
interaction diagram that relate the nominal axial load 𝑃𝑛 to nominal bending moment
𝑀𝑛 .
For a given cross section there is an infinite number of strength combinations at
which 𝑃𝑛 and 𝑀𝑛 act together, Fig.3 shows typical 𝑷𝒏 – 𝑴𝒏 interaction diagram
 Fig. 3 Typical 𝑃𝑛 – 𝑀𝑛 interaction diagram
Method 1:
For any given eccentricity 𝑒 = 𝑀𝑛 /𝑃𝑛 , in both equations, express 𝑓𝑠′ , 𝑓𝑠 , and a in
terms of a single unknown 𝑥, the distance to the neutral axis.
This is easily done based on the geometry of the strain diagram, with 𝜖𝑢 taken equal
to 0.003 as usual, and using the stress-strain curve of the reinforcement. The result
is that the two equations contain only two unknowns, 𝑃𝑛 and 𝑥, and can be solved
for those values simultaneously.
Method 2:
1. Start with a selection of neutral axis distance, 𝑥 , then, for the tension steel
𝑑−𝑥
𝜖𝑠 = 0.003
𝑥
𝑑−𝑥
𝑓𝑠 = 0.003𝐸𝑠 ≤ 𝑓𝑦
𝑥

while for the compression steel

𝑥 − 𝑑′
𝜖𝑠′ = 0.003
𝑥
𝑥 − 𝑑′
𝑓𝑠′ = 0.003𝐸𝑠 ≤ 𝑓𝑦
𝑥
2. The concrete stress block has depth
 𝑎 = 𝛽1 𝑥 ≤ ℎ
then, the concrete compressive resultant is
𝐶𝑐 = 0.85𝑓𝑐′ . 𝛽1 . 𝑥. 𝑏

3. Calculate the nominal axial force 𝑃𝑛 and nominal moment 𝑀𝑛 corresponding

to the selected 𝑥 from Eq.(1) & (2)
4. Repeat the above procedure for successive choices of neutral axis 𝑥.

Balanced condition:
Balanced condition produces at ultimate strength, simultaneously, a strain 0.003 in
external fiber of concrete and the strain 𝜖𝑦 of the tension steel
𝑥𝑏 0.003
= 𝑓𝑦 𝐸𝑠 = 200 × 103 N/mm2
𝑑 +0.003
𝐸𝑠

600
𝑥𝑏 = 𝑑
600 + 𝑓𝑦
Equilibrium of Forces:
𝑃𝑏 = 𝐶𝑐 + 𝐶𝑠 − 𝑇
𝐶𝑐 = 0.85𝑓𝑐′ . 𝑎. 𝑏
𝐶𝑐 = 0.85𝑓𝑐′ . 𝛽1 . 𝑥𝑏 . 𝑏
Assuming compression steel yield at balanced condition
𝐶𝑠 = 𝐴̀𝑠 (𝑓𝑦 − 0.85𝑓𝑐′ )
𝑇 = 𝐴𝑠 𝑓𝑦

𝑃𝑏 = 0.85𝑓𝑐′ . 𝛽1 . 𝑥𝑏 . 𝑏 + 𝐴̀𝑠 (𝑓𝑦 − 0.85𝑓𝑐′ ) − 𝐴𝑠 𝑓𝑦

𝑒𝑏 is measured from the plastic centroid, for symmetrical section the plastic
centroid is at the middle.
Take moment about the plastic centroid
ℎ 𝑎 ℎ ℎ
𝑃𝑏 . 𝑒𝑏 = 𝐶𝑐 ( − ) + 𝐶𝑠 ( − 𝑑 ′ ) + 𝑇(𝑑 − )
2 2 2 2
 Example (1):
Determine the eccentric compressive strength 𝑃𝑛 = 𝑃𝑏 and the eccentricity 𝑒𝑏 for
balanced strain condition on the section shown below. Use 𝑓𝑐′ = 21 𝑀𝑝𝑎, 𝑓𝑦 =
350 𝑀𝑝𝑎 and the ACI Code.
Solution:
If 𝐸𝑠 = 200 × 103 𝑁/𝑚𝑚2
600
𝑥𝑏 = (540) = 341.1 𝑚𝑚
600+350

𝑎𝑏 = 𝛽1 . 𝑥𝑏 = 0.85 × 341.1 =
289.9 𝑚𝑚
𝐶𝑐 = 0.85𝑓𝑐′ . 𝑏. 𝑎𝑏
= 0.85 × 21 × 375
× 289.9
= 1940.52 𝑘𝑁
𝑇 = 𝐴𝑠 𝑓𝑦 = 1472.6 × 350
= 515.42 𝑘𝑁
0.003(341.1 − 60)
∈′𝑠 =
341.1
𝑓𝑦
= 0.00247 >
𝐸𝑠
350
=
200 × 103
= 0.00175
∴ The compression steel has been yielded.
𝐶𝑠 = 𝐴̀𝑠 (𝑓𝑦 − 0.85𝑓𝑐′ ) = 1472.6(350 − 0.85 × 21) = 489.12 𝑘𝑁
𝑃𝑏 = 𝐶𝑐 + 𝐶𝑠 − 𝑇 = 1914.22
ℎ 𝑎 ℎ ℎ
𝑃𝑏 . 𝑒𝑏 = 𝐶𝑐 ( − ) + 𝐶𝑠 ( − 𝑑 ′ ) + 𝑇( − 𝑑 ′ )
2 2 2 2
289.9
= 1940.52 (300 − ) + 489.12(300 − 60) + 515.42(300 − 60)
2

= 541.97 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚
∴ 𝑒𝑏 = 283.13 𝑚𝑚
Example (2):
Determine the nominal compressive strength 𝑃𝑛 for the column shown in the
previous example for an eccentricity e =200 mm, using the method of statics for
𝑓𝑐′ = 21 𝑀𝑝𝑎 , 𝑓𝑦 = 350 𝑀𝑝𝑎 , 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐴𝐶𝐼 𝐶𝑜𝑑𝑒.
Solution:
As previous example
From balanced condition 𝑃𝑏 =
1914.22 𝑘𝑁 , 𝑒𝑏 = 283.12 𝑚𝑚
For 𝑒 = 200 < 𝑒𝑏 ∴
𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑙
Position of the N.A is not known
𝑥?
𝐶𝑠 = 𝐴̀𝑠 (𝑓𝑦 − 0.85𝑓𝑐′ ) =
489.12 𝑘𝑁
𝐶𝑐 = 0.85𝑓𝑐′ . 𝑏. (0.85𝑥) =
5689.7𝑥 𝑁 = 5.69𝑥 𝑘𝑁

𝑇 = 𝐴𝑠 𝑓𝑠 = 1472.6 × 200 ×
540−𝑥
103 × 0.003 ( )=
𝑥
540−𝑥
883.56 ( ) 𝑘𝑁
𝑥
Taking moment about 𝑃𝑛
0.85𝑥 540−𝑥
0 = 489.12(100 − 60) − 5.69𝑥 ( − 100) + 883.56 ( ) (540 − 100)
2 𝑥

= 𝑥 3 − 235.1𝑥 2 + 152.7 × 103 𝑥 − 86.8 × 106

𝑥 = 398.63 𝑚𝑚
𝐶𝑠 = 489.12 𝑘𝑁
𝐶𝑐 = 5.69(398.63) = 2268.07 𝑘𝑁
540−398.63
𝑇 = 883.56 ( ) = 313.36 𝑘𝑁
398.63
𝑃𝑛 = 489.12 + 2268.07 − 313.36 = 2443.84 𝑘𝑁
200
𝑀𝑛 = 𝑃𝑛 . 𝑒 = 2443.84 ( ) = 488.8 kN.m
1000
Example (3):
Determine the nominal compressive strength 𝑃𝑛 for the column shown in the
previous example for an eccentricity e =500 mm, using the method of statics for
𝑓𝑐′ = 21 𝑀𝑝𝑎 , 𝑓𝑦 = 350 𝑀𝑝𝑎 , 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐴𝐶𝐼 𝐶𝑜𝑑𝑒.
Solution:
𝑒 = 500 > 𝑒𝑏
∴ Tension control
𝑇 = 𝐴𝑠 𝑓𝑦 = 1472.6 × 350 ×
10−3 = 515.41 𝑘𝑁
𝐶𝑐 = 0.85𝑓𝑐′ . 𝑏. 𝑎 = 5.69𝑥 kN
𝐶𝑠 = 𝐴̀𝑠 (𝑓𝑦 − 0.85𝑓𝑐′ ) =
489.12 𝑘𝑁
𝑃𝑛 = 𝐶𝑐 + 𝐶𝑠 − 𝑇 = 5.69𝑥 −
26.30 kN

Taking moment about T

𝑑−𝑑 ′ 𝑎
𝑃𝑛 (𝑒 +
2
) = 𝐶𝑐 (𝑑 − 2) + 𝐶𝑠 (𝑑 − 𝑑 ′ )
540−60 0.85𝑥
(5.69𝑥 − 26.3) (500 + ) = 5.69𝑥 (540 − ) + 489.12(540 − 60)
2 2
𝑥 2 + 470.6𝑥 − 105133.7 = 0
2
−470.6± √470.62 −4(−105133.7)
𝑥=
2
−470.6+801.3
𝑥= = 165.3 𝑚𝑚
2
𝑃𝑛 = 5.69(165.3) − 26.30 = 914.3 𝑘𝑁
500
𝑀𝑛 = 𝑃𝑛 . 𝑒 = 914.3 ( ) = 457.2 kN.m
1000
𝑥−𝑑 ′ 165.3−60
Check for ∈′𝑠 = 0.003 ( ) = 0.003 ( ) = 0.0019 > 𝜖𝑦 = 0.00175 OK
𝑥 165.3
Fig. Interaction Diagram, Example 1,2 & 3