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Column Loads and Size of Column
Column Loads and Size of Column
(i) Normally the positions of the columns are shown by Architect in his
plans .
(iv) While fixing the columns orientation care should be taken that it does
not change architectural elevation. This can be achieved by keeping
the column orientations and side restrictions as proposed in plans by
the Architect .
(viii) When the locations of two columns are near to each other (for e.g. the
corner of the building and intersection of the walls), then as for as
possible only one column should be provided .
(ix) As far as possible, column should not be closer than 2m.c/c to avoid
stripped /combined /continuous footings. Generally the maximum
distance between two column should not be more than 8m.c/c.
(x) Columns should be normally provided around staircases and lift wells.
(xi) Preferably overhead water tank should rest on the columns as shown
in the Architect’s plan. The height of water tank should be up to 2.0m.
(xii) Twin columns of equal size are desirable at expansion joints from
aesthetic point of view .
(xv) When columns along with connecting beams from a frame, the
columns should be so orientated that as far as possible the larger
dimension of the column is perpendicular to the major axis of bending.
By this arrangement column section and the reinforcement are utilized
to the best structural advantage.
B) Live Load :
It depends upon the Nature of the Structure, and it values for different structural
nature are given in the concerned Code of Practice, like in India these are given
in I.S.: 875-Part II.
For Residential Buildings it is generally considered @ 2KN/m 2 = 2000 N/m2
Now after correct calculation of above loads the Total Load is Calculated by,
Total Load on each floor = Dead Load + Live Load
Now this the actual load which will be acting on column for each floor, now if the
building say 5 storied, then just multiply the value with the nos. of floors, like for
five storied building multiply the Total Load on each story with 5.
Now thus the Total load acting on column at Column Base is Obtained and it is
denoted with ‘P’.
Hence P= Total Load on each Floor X Nos. of Stories = (Dead Load + Live Load)
X Nos. of Stories.
Now we shall move to the actual Designing to determine suitable Column
sections and its Reinforcements so that the above load is safely resisted by the
column Designed.
STEP 3 :- Finding The Gross Cross-Sectional Area Required For The
Column :
This is the one of the most important and main step of the Design of Column.
First in the Limit State Method of Design we must increase the load acting on the
column with a Load Factor so that if there will be any accidental increase of loads
the column will be still safe to resist the load without a failure. The Factor of
Safety for Dead Load + Live Load Combination is 1.5, hence we must multiply
the load action on column (P) with the 1.5 to obtain the Ultimate Load that is the
Factored Load of the Column that is Pu.
Hence Factored Load, Pu = 1.5 X P
For Design we will work with this value of load.
The Ultimate Load of a Column is given by,
Now the column consists of Concrete and as well as Steel in the form of
Reinforcements hence the Total Cross-Sectional Area of Column is made of Area
of Concrete and Area of Steel.
The Total Cross-Sectional area of Column can be also termed as Gross Cross-
Sectional Area of Column and it’s denoted by Ag.
Hence, Gross Cross-Sectional Area of Column = C/S Area of Concrete + C/S
Area of Steel
Therefore, Ag = Ac + Asc
And hence, Ac = Ag - Asc
Now putting the above obtained value in the original equation (Equation I) we
get,
Pu = 0.4.fck.(Ag-Asc) + 0.67.fy.Asc [Equation II]
Now Assume the Percentage of Steel you want to use ranging anywhere from
0.8% to 6% with Respect to Gross Cross-Sectional Area of the Column (Ag). Say
Assuming Steel as 1% of Ag it means Area of Steel Asc = 1% of Ag = 0.01Ag
The higher will be the percentage of steel used the lower will be Ag and thus
lesser will be the cross-sectional dimension of the column. But as the Price of
Steel is very high as compared to the Concrete hence it is desirable to use as
less as steel possible to make the structure economical, again if the percentage
of steel is lowered then the Ag will increase at higher rate, about 30% with
decrease of just 1% of steel and so each lateral dimension of the column will
increase and will cause a gigantic section to be provided to resist the load.
Therefore both the factors are to be considered depending upon the amount of
loadings.
It is suggested to use the following Percentage of steel for the Design, Which
will found to be effective and to produce economical and safe section of
Column.
And so on, with increase of each 250,000 N increasing the Percentage of Steel as
0.5%.
Now input the value of the Asc in the form of Ag in the Equation I. For example
suppose 1% Steel is used then the equation will be like the one below :-
Pu = 0.4.fck.(Ag-0.01Ag) + 0.67.fy.0.01Ag
Therefore, if we know the Grade of Concrete and Grade of Steel to be used and
Factored Load coming on the Column and Assuming the Percentage of steel
required appropriately then we can Very Easily Calculate the Gross-Sectional
Area (Ag) of the Column required from the above form of the equation.
Now as the Ag is obtained thus the Lateral Dimensions of the Column that are
the sides of the column can be easily determined.
The Ag or Gross-Sectional Area of the Column means that it is the product of the
two lateral sides of a column [i.e. Breadth (b) X Depth (D)], hence reversely
knowing the Ag we can determine the Lateral Dimensions.
For making a Square Section just Determine the Root Value of the A g. Like if the
Value of Ag is 62500 mm2 Then considering square section of a column we can
get each side
Also Rectangular Column Sections Can be made by using different proportion say
b : D = 1 : 2 , Hence D=2b , Therefore, Ag = b X D = b X 2b = 2b2 or b=
Depending upon the ratio of Effective Length to the Least Lateral Dimension of a
column, a column may be classified as Long Column and Short Column. If the
value of this ratio is less than 12 then it’s called as a short column and if the
value is more than 12 then it’s called as a Long Column. A short column mainly
fails by direct compression and has a lesser chance of failure by buckling. And in
the case of a long column the failure mainly occurs due to the buckling alone.
Long column being slender, that is being thin like stick as compared with its
length it grows a tendency to get bended by deviating from its verticality under
the action of loads. Due to this tendency of long column to get buckled (bended)
a long column of all same properties and dimensions that of a short column will
be able to carry much lesser load safely than that of the short column. Suppose
a 400mmx400mm short column can take a load of 1000KN , then a long column
of 400mmx400mm having same grade of concrete, same amount of
reinforcement and same workmanship will be able to carry a lesser load like say
about 800KN only, hence we get a loss of 200KN which is 20% loss of load
carrying capacity. So the above formula used in Step 3 holds good only for the
Short Column. For using it in long column a little modification is needed. For now
let us concentrate on Short Column. First of all we need to find out the effective
length of a column, which can be obtained by multiplying a factor with the actual
unsupported length of the column. The factor depends upon the end condition of
the column. In most general cases we use a Both End Fixed Column for which
The Factor is 0.65.
Therefore, Effective Length = Effective Length Factor (0.65) x Unsupported
Length (l). suppose a column has a unsupported length of 2.7m = 2700mm,
hence the effective length will be lef = 0.65x2700 = 1755mm. Least lateral
dimension means the shorter of the two dimensions of column that is length and
breadth. But in case of a circular column as there is only diameter, hence we will
use the diameter.
Suppose a column is of 400mmx200mm section and has an unsupported length
of 2700mm, then the Ration of Effective length t the Least Lateral Dimension will
be as follows :-
(Effective Length/Least Lateral Dimension) = (lef/b) = (1755/200) = 8.775 which
is less than 12 and hence is a Short Column.
Hence the Area of Steel Provided is Greater than Area Of Steel Required, Hence
the Structure will be Safe.
The Diameter of the Ties shall not be lesser than the Greatest of the following
two values
1. 6mm
2. 1/4th of the Diameter of the Largest Diameter Bar
For an example if a Column has 16mm and 20mm both types of bar as
Longitudinal Bars or main Reinforcement then 1/4th of 20mm = 5mm
Hence we shall provide 6mm diameter Ties. Maximum dia :16 mm
The Spacing of Ties shall not exceed the least of the followings three values
1. Least Lateral Dimension
2. 16 Times of the Diameter of the Smallest Diameter Longitudinal Bar
3. 300 mm
[In this case our objective is to minimize the value to reduce the spacing and to
make the structure more stable, hence we shall take least value and suitably in a
multiple of 25mm]
Practical Methods :
1. Estimation of Load on column by thumb rule:
Method 1: (Approximate method)
Load on column =No. of floors xTributary area of column x
Load/m2/Floor.
Residential
building Office/commercial
Column Position
building