Types of Columns & Design Procedures

Reinforced concrete columns are categorized into five main types;

rectangular tied column, rectangular spiral column, round tied column, round
spiral column, and columns of other geometry (Hexagonal, L-shaped, TShaped, etc).
Columns have horizontal ties to enclose and hold in place longitudinal bars.
Ties are commonly No. 3 or No.4 steel bars. Tie spacing should be calculated
with ACI Code.
Spiral columns have reinforced longitudinal bars that are enclosed by
continuous steel spiral. The spiral is made up of either large diameter steel
wire or steel rod and formed in the shape of helix. The spiral columns are
slightly stronger than tied columns.

The columns are also categorized into three types by the applied load types;
The column with small eccentricity, the column with large eccentricity (also
called eccentric column) and biaxial bending column. Fig
shows the
different column types depending on applied load.

Eccentricity is usually defined by location:

Interior columns usually have
Exterior columns usually have large eccentricity
Corner column usually has biaxial eccentricity.
But eccentricity is not always decided by location of columns. Even interior
columns can be subjected by biaxial bending moment under some load
conditions. The figure above shows some examples of eccentric load
conditions

Design Procedures
1. Establish the material strength and steel area.
2. Compute the factored axial load.
3. Compute the required gross column area.
4. Establish the column dimensions.
5. Compute the load on the concrete area.
6. Compute the load to be carried by the steel.
7. Compute the required steel area.
8. Design the lateral reinforcing (ties or spiral).
9. Sketch the design.

Short Columns with large eccentricities

1. Establish the material strength and steel area.
2. Compute the factored axial load (Pu) and moment (Mu).
3. Determine the eccentricity (e).
4. Estimate the required column size based on the axial load and 10%
eccentricity.
5. Compute the required gross column area.
6. Establish the column dimensions.
7. Compute the ratio of eccentricity to column dimension perpendicular to
the bending axis