Working stress method

Lecture 7: Design of axially loaded column

Column
• Compression member-A structural member, which carries axial
compressive force
• Column- a vertical member which is predominantly under axial
compression.
• Column is a compression member
• The safe load on a column (B.3)
P=(area of concrete)x(permissible direct compressive stress in concrete)
+(area of compression steel)x(permissible compressive stress in steel)
=Acxσcc+Ascxσsc [σsc-Table 21, σcc – Table 22]
(The effect of minimum eccentricity is incorporated in the above equation)

Long column: -B3.3 : effective length/least lateral dimension > 12

leff/b> 12
In such case, buckling will occur at much lower safe load
The safe load for a long column will be reduced by a reduction factor
Cr=1.25-leff/(48 b)
Note for leff/b=12 , Cr=1.25-12/48=1.0, Hence, for short column for which
slenderness ration leff/b< 12 buckling will not occur and no reduction of safe load
will take place.
Unsupported
length/unbraced length
A reinforced concrete column is to support a load of 1000 kN inclusive of
s/w. The column is effectively held in position at both ends and
restrained against rotation at one of the ends. The unsupported length
of the column is 6 m. Using M25 concrete and Fe 415 steel, design and
detail the column. Consider a square section of side not exceeding 350
mm.

leff=0.8x6000=4800 mm, leff/b =4800/350=13.7>12

Hence, it is a long column
• Reduction factor, Cr=1.25-leff/(48 b)=1.25-13.71/48=0.964
Safe load will be reduced by a factor 0.964.
Let us take conservatively Cr=0.95, as the size may be less than 350 mm
• Assuming 1% steel, if A is the gross area of the column
P=Acxσcc+Ascxσsc = (0.99Ax6+0.01Ax190)x0.95=1000x103 N
 A=134264.2 mm2
• Adopting square column, side of square= sqrt(134264.2)=366.4 mm
But, side should not exceed 350 mm,
Hence, adopt square column of side 350 mm (b=350 mm)
[ For rectangular section, if there is no side restriction, say b=300 mm,
Other side will be =134264.2/300=447.5 mm
We can adopt then b=300 mm x D=450 mm]
• Now, in our case, adopting a square column section of b=D=350
mm, let us calculate the steel:

P=Acxσcc+Ascxσsc

0.964x((3502-Asc)x6+Ascx190)=1000x103 N

Asc=1643.2 mm2

Provide 4-16T and 4-18T, Asc=4xpi/4x162+4xpi/4x182=1822.12 mm2

• Minimum steel-0.8% of cross-sectional area required to transmit the
load (A, required)=0.8/100x3502=980 mm2

(more than this steel we have provided), Hence, OK.

• Maximum steel: 6% of gross area (preferably within 4%)

• Minimum bar diameter: 12 mm

• Minimum number of bars= 4 bars rectangular section and 6 for

circular section
Lateral tie

• Used to tie the longitudinal bars

1. so that they behave like a single unit,
2. lateral buckling (outward movement) of longitudinal bars can be
prevented
3. Under the action of lateral force, moment and shear forces will be
induced in the column. These tie will then resist the shear force.
4. Improves ductile behaviour of the column
• Slenderness limit check: l= 6000 < 60 xb =60x350 =21000 mm
Hence OK
• Diameter of tie should be more than ¼(diameter of largest
longitudinal bar)=1/4( 18 mm) =4.5 mm
and should be more than 6 mm
Let us adopt dimeter of lateral tie as 6 mm
• Spacing of the tie should not be more than
i) least lateral dimension, b =350 mm
ii) 16 times diameter of the main bar=16x16=256 mm
iii) 48 times diameter of the tie = 48x6= 288 mm
iv) 300 mm

Hence spacing of the tie should not be more than 256 mm

Let us adopt 6 (φ) mm MS tie @ 250 c/c
See SP 34