Design of Reinforced Concrete Elements R. C.

Column

Structural Design 1

Design of Reinforced Concrete Column to Eurocode 2

Introduction & Examples

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Design of Reinforced Concrete Elements R. C. Column

Design of Reinforced Concrete Columns – Introduction

1 Columns

The provision for columns design to EC2 apply to vertical load-bearing

members whose greater cross-section dimension does not exceed four times its
smaller dimension. Compression members with a larger aspect ratio are
considered to be walls, and slightly different provisions apply. Columns may be
square, rectangle, circular, elliptical, cruciform or of other shapes. Initial
dimensions are normally determined by taking into account requirements for
durability and fire resistance (Table 3.11), and it is not practical to cast vertical
columns smaller than 200mm x 200mm. Normally columns should be short not
slender (see section 1.2) and this requirements may control the minimum cross-
section dimension.

1.1 Braced and Unbraced Columns

Reinforced concrete columns are classified as either braced or unbraced. The

difference relates to the manner in which the structure carries lateral loads, as
shown in Figure 3.24.
Most concrete buildings structures are designed with brace frames, and
unbraced frames are only used when there is a requirement for open
unobstructed floor areas.

Only braced columns are considered in this course.

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Design of Reinforced Concrete Elements R. C. Column

1.2 Short and Slender Columns

Columns may be short or slender, depending on the ratio of their effective

height to their lateral dimension. The effective height L 0 can be found by
multiplying the columns clear height (Figure 3.25) by a form factor from Table
3.28 which depends on the degree of fixity at the top and bottom of the columns
(Figure 3.26)

Reinforced concrete columns are classified as slender if their slenderness ratio

ƛ/L 0 (radius of gyration) is greater than a limiting value given by equation 5.13
N of EC2 Part 1-1:
ƛ lim = 20 ABC/√n. where n= N ED /(0.67 bhƒ ck ) = ratio of the axial columns load
to the strength of the concrete.

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Design of Reinforced Concrete Elements R. C. Column

For a rectangle section the radius of gyration is b/3.46, so the limit can be given
as
Limiting L 0 /b ratio = 5.78 ABC/√n

For braced columns conservative value of the parameters are A= 0.7, B = 1.1,
C = 1.7, which gives:
Limiting L 0 /b ratio= (5.78 x 0.7 x 1.1 x 1.7)/√(N ED /(0.67bhƒ CK ))
= 6.19√(bhƒ ck /N ED )

Note that the more complex calculation methods in EC2 may give a higher
limiting ratio.

When the actual L o /b ratio is not more than the limiting value, then the
column is short not slender. In practice, most reinforced columns are short not
slender, and this course does not cover the design of slender columns.

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Design of Reinforced Concrete Elements R. C. Column

Design of Reinforce Concrete Column - Examples

Example 1:

A rectangular column 300mm x 400mm in C30/37 concrete carries at ULS an axial load of
1100kN. If the column is braced and support 550mm deep beam, and floor-to-floor height is
3.5m. Determine whether the column is slender.

Solution:
Beam thickness 550mm

The column is slender if: clear floor – to -

Effective height / least column dimension, (Lo /b) > Limit Lo/b height floor 3.5m

LHS;

The clear height of the column = Column height – beam thickness

= 3500 – 550 = 2950mm

As the column is braced and the beams are deeper than the size of the column, then both ends
of the column have end condition 1.

Effective height, L o = 0.75 x clear height

= 0.75 x 2950 = 2213mm

Effective height / least column dimension, (Lo /b) = 2213 /300 = 7.4

RHS:

Limit L o /b ratio = 6.19 (√(𝑏𝑏ℎ𝑓𝑓𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 )/N) whereas, N = 1100 kN

Limit L o /b ratio = 6.19 √[(300 x 400 x 30)/(1100x103 )]

= 11.2

Since (Lim Lo/b = 11.2) > (Lo / b = 7.44)

Therefore the columns are short and not slender

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Design of Reinforced Concrete Elements R. C. Column

Example 2:

A braced rectangular column 250mm x 300mm in C30/37 concrete carries at ULS an axial
load of 1200kN. The column is not slender and (d 2 /h) = 0.25. Characteristic tensile strength
of reinforcement, class H, ƒ yk = 500N/mm2. Determine the longitudinal reinforcement
required.

Solution:

To obtain the area of the steel from table 3.31, we need to calculate the term (N/bhƒ ck ).

(N/bhƒ ck ) = (1200 x 103)/(250 x 300 x 30)

= 0.53

From table 3.31, by interpolation;

As / bhƒ ck = 0.27 x 10-3

Therefore

A [Link] = 0.27 x 10-3 x (bhƒ ck )

= 0.27 X 10-3 X 250 X 300 X 30

A [Link] = 608mm2

From table 3.29; Area of longitudinal reinforcement should not be less than:

(0.12N / ƒ yk ) = (0.12 x 1200 x 103)/ (500) = 288mm2

Or 0.002bh = 0.002 x 250 x 300 = 150mm2

and not more than;

0.04bh = 0.04 x 250 x 300 = 3000mm2

Therefore use 4H16 bars. A [Link] = 804mm2 (Table 3.5)

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Design of Reinforced Concrete Elements R. C. Column

Example 3:

A braced rectangular column 300mm x 400mm in C30/37 concrete carries at ULS an axial
load of 1100kN and maximum bending moment of 185kNm in the direction of the 400mm
dimension. The column has an effective length of 2213mm and is not slender.

The main bars are H25, the ties are H8 and the cover to all reinforcement is 30mm.
Characteristic tensile strength of reinforcement, class H, ƒ yk = 500N/mm2.

Determine the longitudinal reinforcement required.

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Design of Reinforced Concrete Elements R. C. Column

Solution:

Total bending moment = given moment + moment due to the axial force

Moment due to the axial force = N x e

Eccentricity, e, is the greatest of;

h/30 = 400/30 = 13mm

L o /400 = 2213/400 = 5.5mm

Or 20mm

Therefore adopt, e =20mm

Moment due to axial force = N x e

= 1100 x 0.02

= 22kNm

Total bending moment, M = 185 + 22

= 207 kNm

To obtain the area of the reinforcement, we need the ratio d 2 /h.

d 2 = cover + link diameter + half the main reinforcement

d 2 = 30 + 8 + (25/2) = 50.5mm

d 2 /h = 50.5 / 400 = 0.13

Therefore use the chart for (d 2 /h) = 0.15

For use in design chart:

M/ (bh2ƒ ck ) = (207x106)/ (300x4002x30) = 0.144

N/ (bhƒ ck ) = (1100x103)/ (300x400x30) = 0.306

From the chart (d 2 /h) = 0.15, figure 3.30, by reading into the curved lines;

(A s ƒ yk )/ (bhƒ ck ) = 0.30

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Design of Reinforced Concrete Elements R. C. Column

Therefore A s = (0.3bhƒ ck )/ (ƒ yk )

= (0.3x300x400x30)/ (500) = 2160mm2

Note; the k values are related to the position of the neutral axis and not required for this
examples.

From table 3.29; Area of longitudinal reinforcement should not be less than:

(0.12N / ƒ yk ) = (0.12 x 1100 x 103)/ (500) = 264mm2

Or 0.002bh = 0.002 x 300 x 400 = 240mm2

And not more than;

0.04bh = 0.04 x 300 x 400 = 4800mm2

Therefore use 4H25 and 2H12 bars. A [Link] = 2189mm2 (Table 3.5)

Cross-Section of column:

H25 H12

H8 tie

300mm H12

400mm

Note the additional H12 side bars, shown as open circle. These are not required for strength
but are provided so that the maximum spacing between longitudinal bars does not exceed
150mm.

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Design of Reinforced Concrete Elements R. C. Column

Example 4:

A multi-storey reinforced building frame shown in figure E4a. The braced column is 300mm
square and the concrete grade is C35/45. Figure E4b also shown are three load patterns which
may be critical for the design of columns. A structural Analysis of the frame under the
different load patterns gave the axial loads and bending moments shown in table E4 below.
(Given d 2 /h = 0.15)

Vertical Load from upper floors Vertical Load from upper floors Vertical Load from upper floors

Beam depth 650mm

Floor-
to- floor
height
3.4m

Column A Column B

Figure E4a – Column and beam configuration

1.35G k +1.5Q k 1.35G k +1.5Q k 1.35G k +1.5Q k 1.00G k 1.00G k 1.35G k +1.5Q k

A 1.35G k +1.5Q k B 1.35G k +1.5Q k A 1.00G k B 1.35G k +1.5Q k A 1.35G k +1.5Q k B 1.00G k

Load pattern 1 Load pattern 2 Load pattern 3

Figure E4b – Configuration and Load patterns for figure E4a

Load Pattern 1 Load Pattern 2 Load Pattern 3

Axial force Max. BM Axial force Max. BM Axial force Max. BM
Column A 708kN 98.2kNm 712kN 87.5kNm 604kN 54.4kNm
Column B 1476kN 7.6kNm 1352kN 38.7kNm 1353kN 33.1kNm

Table E4 - Axial forces and bending moments from structural analysis of the frame in figures
E4a and figure E4b.

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Design of Reinforced Concrete Elements R. C. Column

Solution:

a) Determine whether the column is slender and calculate the eccentricity, e, value:

As we do not know which load case may be critical for each column, we must check all of
them.

The column is slender if:

[Effective height / least column dimension, (L o /b) ˃ Limit Lo/b ratio = 6.19 (√(𝐛𝐛𝐛𝐛𝐟𝐟𝐜𝐜𝐜𝐜 )/𝐍𝐍)]

The clear height of the column = (Column height, floor to floor) – beam thickness

= 3400 – 650 = 2750mm

As the columns are braced and the beams are deeper than the size of the column, then both
ends of the column have end condition 1. Beam thickness 650mm

From table 3.28 300mm

Effective height, L o = 0.75 x clear height

= 0.75 x 2750 = 2063mm

Effective height / least column dimension, L o /b = (2063/300) = 6.88

But Limit L o /b ratio = 6.19 (√(𝑏𝑏ℎ𝑓𝑓𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 )/N) whereas, N = 1476 kN

Limit L o /b ratio = 6.19 (√(300 x 300 x 35)/1476x103 )

= 9.04 > (Lo / b = 6.88)

Therefore the columns are short and not slender

Nominal eccentricity, e;

e is the greatest of;

(least column dimension, b) / 30 = 300 / 30 = 10
(effective height, L o ) / 400 = 2063 / 400 = 5.1
Or 20mm

Therefore use e = 20 mm

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Design of Reinforced Concrete Elements R. C. Column

b) Determine the reinforcement required in column A, (d 2 /h = 0.15):

Longitudinal Reinforcement, A s ;-

Load Pattern 1 Load Pattern 2 Load Pattern 3

Axial Load N 708 kN 712 kN 604 kN
Additional BM = Ne = N x 0.02 14.2 kNm 14.2 kNm 12.1 kNm
BM from Structural Analysis M o 98.2 kNm 87.2 kNm 54.4 kNm
Total Bending Moment = Mo + 112.4 kNm 101.7 kNm 66.5 kNm
Ne

For use in the design chart

M/bh2ƒ ck = (Mx106)/(300x3002x35) 0.119 0.108 0.070

N/bhƒ ck = (Nx103)/(300x300x35) 0.225 0.226 0.192

From the chart for d 2 /h = 0.15 Fig 3.3

by interpolation between the curved lines

(A s ƒ yk )/(bhƒ ck ) 0.18 0.14 0.02

Therefore use the larger value of (A s ƒ yk )/(bhƒ ck ) = 0.18

Therefore A [Link] = (0.18bhƒ ck ) / (ƒ yk ) = (0.18x300x300x35)/(500)

= 1134mm2

Longitudinal reinforcement should not be less than, table 3.29

(0.12N / ƒ yk ) = (0.12x712x103)/ (500) = 171mm2 which is less than 1134mm2

0.002bh = 0.002 x 300 x 300 = 180mm2 which is less than 1134mm2

Max allowed area, 4%bh = 0.04bh

= 0.04x300x300 = 3600mm2 which is greater than 1134mm2

Use 4H20 bars A [Link] = 1257mm2 (Table 3.5)

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Design of Reinforced Concrete Elements R. C. Column

At Laps:

At laps the area of reinforcement = 2 x 1257 = 2514mm2

From table 3.29

Max allowed area = 8%bh = 0.08bh

= 0.08 x 300 x 300 = 7200mm2 > 2514mm2

Therefore steel area is O.K

c) Determine the link, ties, diameter and spacing generally and at laps:

Along the Column - generally: Table 3.30

Minimum link diameter = (Longitudinal Link diameter / 4)

= (20/4) = 5mm
use 6mm diameter bar

Link spacing generally not more than:

20 x bar diameter = 20 x 20 = 400 mm

Least column dimension = 300mm

Or 400mm

use H6 at 300mm

At Laps:

Links spacing at laps or within 300mm of beams – Not more than:

12 x bar diameter = 12 x 20 = 240mm

0.6 x least column dimension = 0.6 x 300 = 180mm

Or 240mm

Use H6 at 180mm spacing

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Design of Reinforced Concrete Elements R. C. Column

Design of Reinforced Concrete Column – EC2

Tutorial

A short reinforced concrete column is to support the following axial load:

Characteristic permanent, dead, load = 758kN

Characteristic variable, live, load = 630kN

If the column is to measure 300mmx300mm and the concrete characteristic strength

is 30N/mm2.

a) Determine the design load. (1968.3kN)

b) Determine the required size of the reinforced bars. (4H20mm bars, A sc = 1256mm2)

Use;- N = 0.57ƒ ck A c + 0.7 ƒ yk A sc

c) Determine the steel percentage. (0.2% <1.36% < 4%)

d) Specify the diameter and spacing of the links. (6mm diameter links @ 400mm spacing)

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