Civil Engineering Programme

Concrete and Concrete

Structures
CIVL 0019

Department of Civil Engineering

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Chapter 3: Design of columns
Columns are part of a civil engineering structure that carry loads from slabs and
beams and transfer them to the foundations.
Chapter 3: Design of columns
In braced structures axial forces and moments in columns are caused by permanent
and variable actions only. However, in unbraced structures lateral loads should also
be considered. Both braced and unbraced structures can be further classified as
sway and non-sway. In sway structures, sidesway is likely to increase the
magnitude of the bending moments in columns. In non-sway structures, this effect
is not significant.
The increase of moments due to sway referred to as “second order effect” is not
considered significant if there is less than 10% increase in the normal (first order)
design moments as a result of the sidesway displacement of the structure.
Substantially, braced structures can normally be considered to be non-sway.
Chapter 3: Design of columns
For a braced structure, the critical arrangement of the ultimate load is usually that
which causes the largest moment in the column, together with the largest axial load.
Classification of columns
Columns are classified based on their slenderness ratio (λ)

𝑙𝑜 𝐼
λ= and i =
𝑖 𝐴

where,
lo = effective length of the column
i = radius of gyration about the axis considered
I = second moment of area of the section about the axis
A = cross-sectional area of the column
Chapter 3: Design of columns
Moreover, EC 2 provides the following formulas to calculate the effective
column height.
For braced frames, K1 and k2 are relative flexibilities of
the rotational restraints at points 1 &
2, respectively.
 k1  k2 
l o  0.5l 1  1  
 0.45  k1  0.45  k 2  𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠
k=
𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠
And for unbraced frames, the effective height is the larger of 𝐼
𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛
= 𝐿
𝐼
2 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚
k1 * k 2  k1  k2  𝐿
l o  l 1  10 and l o  l 1  1  
k1  k 2  1  k1  1  k 2 
Chapter 3: Design of columns
It is assumed that any column above or below the column under consideration does
not contribute anything to the rotational restraint of the joint and that the stiffness of
each connecting beam is taken as 2EI/l to allow for cracking effects in the beam.
Note also that EC2 specifies the minimum value of k1 and k2 to be 0.1
Limiting slenderness ratio (λlim)
EC2 places an upper limit on the slenderness ratio of a single member below which
second order effects may be ignored. This limit is given by:
λ𝑙𝑖𝑚 = 20 ∗ 𝐴 ∗ 𝐵 ∗ 𝐶/ 𝑛
The variables are defined below
Where

𝑁𝐸𝑑
n=
𝐴𝑐 𝑓𝑐𝑑
NEd = the design ultimate axial load in the column
rm = M01/M02 (if rm not known then C in preceding page can be taken as 0.7)
M01, M02 are the first order moments at the ends of the column with |M02| ≥ |M01|
Whilst use of the default values for A and B are unlikely to introduce major errors, C
may have a large effect and should be calculated wherever possible.
The following conditions apply to the value of C:
If the actual slenderness ratio (λ) is less than the calculated value of (λlim) then the
column can be treated as short. Otherwise the column must be treated as slender and
second order effects must be accounted for in the design of the column.
a) Design of columns subjected to combined axial load (N) and uniaxial bending (M)
Three methods
a) Using moment-axial load (i.e. M-N) interaction diagram
b) Basic design equation solutions
c) Approximate method
The M-N interaction diagram method is dealt with in details hereafter. Readers are
encourage to refer to relevant books for the other two methods mentioned above.
The M-N method of column design
Refer to the figure below in driving the design equations
The M-N method of column design
Applying equilibrium equations
Σ Forces = 0, and
Σ Moments about the geometric centroid of the column = 0

zone
The M-N method of column design

N  0.567 f ck * b * s  f sc As ' f s As

h s h   h
M  0.567 f ck * b * s    f sc As '   d '   f s As  d  
2 2 2   2

Direct solution of these equations for the design of reinforcement would be tedious. In practice,
moment-axial force (M-N) interaction diagrams are provided as follows.

Setting compression steel is equal to tension steel (i.e. each area is half total area of steel, As) for
symmetrical reinforcement and rearranging,

N 0.567 * s f sc As f As
   s
bhfck h bhfck bhfck

M 0.567 * s  s  f sc As  d  f s As  d 
  0.5      0.5     0.5 
bh 2 f ck h  2h  f ck bh  h  f ck bh  h 
The M-N method of column design
Thus, (N/bhfck) and (M/bh2fck) can be calculated for specified ratios of (As/bh)
and (d/h). In these equations the steel strains, and hence the stresses fsc and fs,
vary with the depth of the neutral axis (x).
A typical of which is shown below for a rectangular column and (d’/h = 0.2).

Fig. Design interaction diagrams

for d’/h = 0.2
Example #1
A column A-B in a braced frame supports a first order moment of 100 kNm at B
and a zero moment at A as shown in figure below. An axial load of 2000 kN is
also applied at B. Determine the area of reinforcement required.
Solution
Width of column (b): 300 mm
Depth of column (h): 375 mm
Clear height of column (L): 3 m
Material properties: C35 and fyk = 500 N/mm2
a) Assume nominal cover: 35 mm (based on exposure conditions)
b) Calculate stiffness of the restraints
Column stiffness
Icol = 300 * 3753/12 = 1318.4 x 106 mm4
Stiffness (K) – resistance to bending
Kcol = Icol/Lcol = 439.47 x 103 mm3
For beams
Ibeam = 200 x 3503/12 = 714.6 x 106 mm4
Check As,min ≤ As,provided ≤ As,max
Example #2
A frame made of short columns is shown below for which the central column is
to be designed. The frames, 4 m center to center (see Figure), are braced against
lateral forces, and support the following floor loads:
Permanent actions (gk) = 10 kN/m2
Variable actions (qk) = 15 kN/m2
Characteristic material strength are fck = 25 N/mm2; fyk = 500 N/mm2
Assume cover of 50 mm
The effective height of the ground floor column has been estimated to be 2.34 m
and for the first and second floor columns to be 1.80 m.

Col. Self-weight = 14 kN (say)

Example #2
Example #2
Max. ultimate load at each floor = 1.35 gk + 1.5qk = 1.35*10 + 1.5*15 = 36 kN/m2
Minimum ultimate load at each floor = 1.35gk = 1.35(10) = 13.5 kN/m2

Design moment allowing for geometric imperfection

MEd = M + NEdemin where emin = lo/400 > h/30 > 20 mm
d’/h = (cover+link+φ/2) /h = 0.18

The following solution

table could be prepared
Max. As = 0.08Ac
0.08 * 300 * 400 = 9600 mm2
Design of the links
Diameter of the links is the larger of
a) 6 mm
b) One-fourth of main reinforcement diameter
Links spacing should not exceed the lesser of
a) 20 * main steel diameter
b) Least dimension of the column
c) 400 mm
Therefore, provide H8 at 300 (i.e. H8 links at 300 mm c/c spacing) as shown below.
Design of short columns subjected to axial load and bi-axial bending
The loading pattern necessary to cause biaxial bending in internal columns and edge
columns does not cause significant bending in both direction. Corner columns may have
to resist large biaxial bending moments; however the axial load on this columns is
usually small so the design for edge columns is generally adequate. However, if the
following condition is not satisfied, the column should be designed taking in to account
the effect of biaxial bending.
where ey and ez are the first-order eccentricities in the direction of the section
dimensions b and h respectively.
The column should be designed for an increased moment according to the
following condition.

b’ and h’ are defined in the preceding figure

Table: Values of β for biaxial bending

Example
The column section shown below is to be designed to resist an ultimate axial load of
1200 kN plus moments of Mz = 75 kNm and My = 80 kN m. The characteristic material
strengths are fck = 25 N/mm2 and fyk = 500 N/mm2.
Therefore, the increased single axis bending moment is given by:

This gives β = 0.54

Design of slender columns
A column is classified as slender if the slenderness ratio (λ) about either axis
exceeds the limit, λlim. Though there are several methods of slender column
design, the nominal curvature method, where the second-order moments are
determined from the column curvature estimation, is discussed here. According
to this method, the second-order moment is added to the first order moment to
give the design column moment.
Mt = 𝑁𝐸𝑑 ∗ 𝑒𝑡𝑜𝑡
where, etot = eo+ea+e2
e0 is the equivalent first order eccentricity
ea = accidental eccentricity that accounts for geometric imperfection in column
e2 = second order eccentricity
The equivalent first order eccentricity is given by
e0 = 0.6e02 + e01 or 0.4e02, whichever is greater. e01 and e02 are the eccentricities at
the two ends of the column, with the condition |e02| > |e01|.
𝑙𝑜
The accidental eccentricity 𝑒𝑎 = where lo is column effective height.
400

Second-order eccentricity
ℇ𝑦𝑑 𝑙𝑜2
𝑒2 = 𝐾1𝐾2
0.45𝑑 𝜋2

𝑓𝑐𝑘 λ
K1= 1 + 0.35 + − ϕ𝑒𝑓 ≥ 1.0
200 150

ϕef = effective creep ratio

For most practical purposes
𝑓𝑦𝑘 𝑙𝑜2
𝑒2 = 𝐾1𝐾2
103,500𝑑 𝜋2

The coefficient K2 is a reduction factor to maintain minimal deflection when a

large proportion of column is under compression.
𝑁𝑢𝑑 −𝑁𝐸𝑑
𝐾2 =
𝑁𝑢𝑑 −𝑁𝑏𝑎𝑙

𝑁𝑢𝑑 = 0.567𝑓𝑐𝑘𝐴𝑐 + 0.87𝑓𝑦𝑘𝐴𝑠𝑐

Nbal is the axial load that causes a balanced failure
𝑁𝑏𝑎𝑙 = 0.29𝑓𝑐𝑘𝐴𝑐
In order to get the value K2, area of reinforcement must be known, which
necessitates trial and error, with the initial conservative value of K2 = 1.0
Example
A multi-story braced column is shown below. The loads and the center to center
spacing are as indicated. Using the design data given, determine the suitable
reinforcement for the internal column A-B. Assume the columns at bases are fixed
(ignore column self-weight).
Data:
Columns: 250 mm wide x 250 mm deep
Beams: 275 mm wide x 500 mm deep
fck = 40 N/mm2; fyk = 500 N/mm2
Solution
Note: Critical load arrangement is one that induces maximum bending moment in
the column
a) Determine the design load (NEd)

b) Calculate the stiffness values (k’s)

Calculate the 2nd moment of inertia (I) values
For columns
Example
k values
For columns
For the beams
In sub-frame analysis, beam stiffness values are taken to be half of the actual values

Total stiffness (ktot) = (0.093 + 0.068 + 0.286+0.409)*106 mm3 = 0.856*106 mm3

Solution
c) Calculate the distribution factors (DFs)

d) Calculate the fixed end moments in beams BD & BE

Carry over moments

always half of far end
(I/L)col. = 325.52 x 106/4800 = 67.62 x 103 mm3

K1 or k2 = (I/L)col/(Ʃ2I/L)beams
 𝑙𝑜2 𝑓𝑦𝑘
𝑒2 = 𝐾1 𝐾2
𝜋2 (103,500𝑑)

𝑓𝑐𝑘 λ
K1= 1 + 0.35 + − ϕef
200 150

ϕef = 2.14 (given)

Substituting K1 = 1.65
The effective column depth (d) = h – (nominal cover + links dia. + half main bar
dia.)
This gives d = 250 – (40 mm +8 mm + 25/2 mm) = 189.5 mm
Inserting for e2
e2 = 29.73K2 mm
Assume K2 = 1.0 for the initial iteration
Then etot = 6.44 + 6.725 + 29.73 = 43 mm
So, the total moment (the design moment) is
MEd = NEd*etot = 1608.5 kN*43*10-3 m = 69.2 kN.m
Column design interaction diagram
Summary Table

Col.1 Col.2 Col.3 Col.4

K2 NEd/bhfck Mt/bh2fck K2 (graph)

1.0 (initial assumption) 0.64 0.11 0.42
0.42 0.64 0.07 0.38

As K2 in column 4 are approximately equal, iteration can be stopped or one more attempt can be
made.
Asfyk/bhfck = 0.43 (from interaction diagram)
As = 2150 mm2
Provide 5H25 (As,provided = 2453 mm2)
k) Design of the links (According to EC 2)
The larger of
Reference
McKenzie, WMC (2013). Design of Structural Elements to Eurocodes, Palgrave Macmill
Mosley W.H, Bungey J.H., and Hulse R. (2012) Reinforced Concrete Design to Eurocode 2,
7th edition, Palgrave Mcmillan
Thank You!