COLUMNS DESIGN
Failure Modes
We define:
N uz as the crushing load of a perfectly axially loaded column;
N crit as Euler’s buckling load for the column.
Figure 7.19 is typical and shows how for different slenderness ratios, different
forms of failure are possible:
From figure 7.19
• For l / h 15 the crushing capacity is much lower than the buckling capacity
and so the column crushes.
• For l / h 32 the buckling capacity is less than the crushing capacity and so
the column buckles.
• For l / h values in between, the failure mode is not clear and depends on
imperfections in the column and the way the load is applied.
Therefore, BS8110 defines:
• Short columns: l / h 15 for a braced column and l / h 10 for an un-
braced column. These ratios must be met for both axes.
• Slender columns: any column not meeting the criteria for short columns.
Figure7.19: Failure modes
Real Behavior of Columns
N
Consider a reinforced
concrete column
d'
subjected to axial load N.
The four longitudinal bars d'
As
are enclosed by lateral h 2
A A
ties or links (Fig. 7.2). d'
As
Considering the response 2
of the column as the load d' b
N is progressively increased
to ultimate value, the
following aspects need to Figure 7.2: Column details
be considered:
1. Elastic behavior
Elastic theory is applicable when the stresses in the concrete
and steel are sufficiently low. Then, from conditions of
equilibrium;
N f c Ac f s Asc (7.1)
Where:N
fc applied axial force
fs
compressive stress in the concrete
Ac
compressive stress in the reinforcement
Asc =
cross sectional area of concrete
cross-sectional area of the longitudinal reinforcement
Elastic behavior……..
Because of the bond between reinforcement and
concrete, the strains in the matrix and reinforcement
phases will be equal. Thus from conditions of
compatibility, the following is true.
c s
f c / Ec f s / Es (7.2)
Where: and
c ,and
s and
Ec areEthe
s strains and
modulus of elasticity of concrete and steel respectively.
Es
i.e. fs f c = e f c
Ec
From Equations (7.1) and (7.2)
Es
N f c Ac f c Asc
Ec
Es
N f c Ac Asc
Ec
N
fc
Es
A
c A sc
E c
N
fc (7.3)
Ac e Asc
c N
fs (7.4)
Ac e Asc
e fc f s (7.5)
Where: Eis the modular ratio
e s
Ec
2. Effects of creep and shrinkage – Long term
Effects of creep and shrinkage fmake the
s
determination of and very difficulty. In
f f
practice the steel stress is much large and the
s c
concrete stress is much less than given in Equations
(7.3) and (7.4). Creep and shrinkage of concrete
are time-dependant deformations with the
resultant effect that the effective modulus of
elasticity decreases while the effective modular
ratio increases.
E
c Long-term is lower and hence the
adoption of in BS 8110.
e 15
Example1
A 400 x 200 mm2 rectangular concrete column is reinforced
with mm bars. 6An
25 axial load of 1000kN is applied
and sustained for a long time. For the level of concrete
stresses in question the short-term modular ration is 7.5
and the effective modular ratio for long-term loading is
15. Determine:
(a)The concrete and steel stresses immediately upon
application of the load
(b)The long-term stresses.
(c)The residual stresses when sustained load is removed
Solution
Asc 2945mm 2
Ac 80000 2945 77000mm 2
e ( short term) 7.5; e (long term) 15
For short – term, Ac e Asc 77000 7.5 2945 99000mm 2
For long – term, Ac e Asc 77000 15 2945 121000mm2
(a) Short-term stresses
N 1000000
fc 10.1N / mm 2
Ac 99000
f s 7.5 10.1 75.8 N / mm 2
(b) Long-term stresses
N 1000000
fc 8.26 N / mm 2
Ac 121000
f s 15 8.26 124 N / mm 2
(c) Residual stresses
Immediate reduction in stresses upon unloading
correspond to in Equations
7.3
7.5 and 7.4.
e
Residual concrete stresses (tension)
8.26 –10.1 1.84 N / mm 2
Residual steel stresses (compression)
124 – 75.8 48.2 N / mm 2
3. Ultimate strength behavior
If load is increased to failure, the maximum load, viz
ultimate column strength, N, is practically independent of
the load history, creep or shrinkage effects. The ultimate
limit state of collapse is reached at a load given by:
N 0.67 f cu Ac f y Asc (7.6)
Where, is cube strength
f cu
N 0.85 f c ' Ac f y As (7.7)
Where, is cylinder strength
fc '
The typical failure modes are illustrated in the sketches of Figure 7.3
(a) (b)
Reinforcement Premature
buckling after the reinforcement
ultimate strength of buckling may
column is reached also occur if size
of the links is
Reinforcement inadequate.
buckling can be
delayed by close
spacing of links.
Figure 7.3: Failure modes
Design of axially loaded short Columns
Design of axially loaded short Columns
(BS 8110 cl. 3.8.4.4)
The design of this category of reinforced concrete columns
is based on the empirical Equations (7.6) or 7.7 given below.
The ultimate limit state of collapse is reached at a load
given by:
N 0.67 f cu Ac f y Asc (7.6)
Where, fis
cu
cube strength
OR
N 0.85 f c ' Ac f y As (7.7)
Where, f cis
' cylinder strength
For design purposes, equation (7.6) is modified by
incorporating appropriate partial safety factors and about
10% allowance for the minimum eccentricity of 0.05h; h
being the larger dimension of the column cross-section
(clause 3.8.4.3).
Thus equation 38 of BS 8110:1,
N 0.40 f cu Ac 0.75 f y Asc (7.8)
NOTE
Equation 38 is appropriate where the column supports a
rigid structure (water tank) or very deep beams.
The design ultimate axial load for a short column
(restrained in position at both ends) supporting an
approximately symmetrical arrangement of
beams is given by: Equation (39) of BS 8110
N 0.35 f A 0.67 f A
Where: cu c y sc (7.9)
• The beams are designed for uniformly
distributed imposed loads; and
• The beam spans do not differ by more than
15% of the longer – otherwise there is some
moment.
Considerations affecting design details (BS 8110)
Considerations affecting design details
(BS 8110)
Limits for main reinforcement as stipulated in BS 8110:
Clauses 3.12.5 and 3.12.6 include the following:
i. The minimum number of longitudinal bars should be
4 in a rectangular column and 6 in a circular column.
ii. The size of the longitudinal bar should not be less
than 12 mm.
iii. The total area, of the longitudinal bars should
not be less than (minimum) 0.4% of total concrete
area. As
Considerations affecting design details (BS 8110)…
iv. Thelongitudinal-bar area, should not exceed
(maximum):
– 6%, of gross cross-sectional area of the
concrete for vertically cast columns.
– 8% of gross cross-sectional area of
concrete, for horizontally- cast columns.
– 10% in laps of vertically or horizontally
cast column
Considerations affecting design details …..
Further considerations may include the following:
v. Tests have shown that where the steel ratio is tooAs / Ac
low equations (38) and (39) are not applicable.
vi. Reinforcement is required to resist bending
moments which may exist irrespective of whether
design calculations show that they don’t exist.
vii. Stress redistribution caused by shrinkage between
steel and concrete may cause the steel to yield even
under service loads.
• The lower limit of 0.4%bh protects the columns in
structural frames against failure in tension, e.g.
when the surrounding floors are unloaded above
but heavily loaded below, or when the frame is
subjected to unequal foundation settlement.
• The upper limits on the steel ratio are to avoid
congestion and hence unsatisfactory compaction.
Limits for lateral ties or links, include the following:
i. All longitudinal bars should be enclosed by links.
ii. For circular columns the longitudinal
reinforcement should be provided with circular
links passing rounding the bars.
iii. Links should have a minimum diameter of one-
quarter of the largest longitudinal bar diameter and
a maximum link spacing not exceeding
12x(diameter of the smallest bar)
of the bar (mm) 12 16 20 25 32
link spacing (mm) 144 190 240 300 360
Further consideration may include the
following
The primary purpose of links is to prevent
outward buckling of longitudinal bars. The
diameter and spacing of the links are thus related
to the diameter of longitudinal bars.
–Links provide lateral restraint (confinement)
to the concrete, resulting in
–an enhanced axial load capacity.
Example 2
Calculate the ultimate axial load of a short 300 mm
square column section having
6 20mm longitudinal bars if the concrete characteristic
strength is and thef cureinforcement
20 N / mm 2
characteristic strength is
f y 410 N / mm 2
Example 2….
Solution
In the absent of more information, use is made of
Equation (7.9) which is Equation (39) of BS
8110; thus,
N 0.35 f cu Ac 0.67 f y Asc
N 0.35 20 300 300 0.67 1885 410
N 1147 kN .
Example 3
Design a short braced reinforced concrete column
to support an ultimate axial load of 1900kN: given
f cu 20 N / mm 2
f
And y 410 N / mm 2
Solution
In the absence of more information use equation
(39) of BS 8110
N 0.35 f cu Ac 0.67 f y Asc
Assume 2% steel ratio, ie. Asc 0.02 Ac
Then,
1900 10 0.35 20 Ac 0.67 410 0.02 Ac
3
Ac 152073 390 390mm
Try 400mm square column. Therefore;
1900 103 0.35 20 400 2
Asc 2839.5mm 2
0.67 410
Provide 6T 25mm longitudinal bar and 10 mm
diameter links at 300mm centers.
