Cyprus International University

CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

REINFORCED CONCRETE
DESIGN:
Column Analysis and Design

Collection of several books

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Introduction
• The main vertical load-carrying members in buildings are called columns.
• The ACI Code defines a column as a member used primarily to support axial compressive loads and
with a height at least three times its least lateral dimension.
• The code definition for columns will be extended to include members subjected to combined axial
compression and bending moment (in other words, eccentrically applied compressive loads),
because, for all practical purposes, no column is truly axially loaded.
• The three basic types of reinforced concrete columns are shown in Figure below:

• Tied columns are generally square, rectangular or circular, whereas spiral columns are normally
circular.
• This is not a hard-and-fast rule, however, as square, spirally reinforced columns, and circular tied
columns do exist, as do other shapes, such as octagonal and L-shaped columns.
• We initially discuss the analysis and design of columns that are short.
• A column is said to be short when its length is such that lateral buckling need not be considered.
• It is recognized that as length increases, the usable strength of a given cross section is decreased
because of the buckling problem.
• By their very nature, concrete columns are more massive and therefore stiffer than their structural
steel counterparts.
• For this reason, slenderness is less of a problem in reinforced concrete columns.
• It has been estimated that more than 90% of typical reinforced concrete columns existing in braced
frame buildings may be classified as short columns, and slenderness effects may be neglected.

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Strength of Reinforced Concrete

Columns: Small Eccentricity
• If a compressive load P is applied coincident with the longitudinal axis of a
symmetrical column, it theoretically induces a uniform compressive stress
over the cross-sectional area.
• If the compressive load is applied a small distance e away from the
longitudinal axis, however, there is a tendency for the column to bend due
to the moment M = Pe. This distance e is called the eccentricity.
• Unlike the zero-eccentricity condition, the compressive stress is not
uniformly distributed over the cross section but is greater on one side than
the other.
• We consider an axial load to be a load that acts parallel to the longitudinal
axis of a member but need not be applied at any particular point on the
cross section, such as a centroid or a geometric center.
• The column that is loaded with a compressive axial load at zero
eccentricity is probably nonexistent, and even the axial load/small
eccentricity (axial load/small moment) combination is relatively rare.
• Nevertheless, we first consider the case of columns that are loaded with
compressive axial loads at small eccentricities, further defining this
situation as that in which the induced moments, although they are present,
are so small that they are of little significance.
• Earlier codes have defined small eccentricity as follows:
• For spirally reinforced columns: e/h ≤ 0.05
• For tied columns: e/h ≤ 0.10
• where h is the column dimension perpendicular to the axis of bending.
• The fundamental assumptions for the calculation of column axial load
strength (small eccentricities) are at nominal strength the concrete is
stressed to 0.85f'c and the steel is stressed to fy.
• the nominal axial load strength at small eccentricity is a straightforward
sum of the forces existing in the concrete and longitudinal steel when each
of the materials is stressed to its maximum. The following ACI notation will
be used:
Ag = gross area of the column section (mm2)
Ast = total area of longitudinal reinforcement (mm2)
P0 = nominal, or theoretical, axial load strength at zero eccentricity
Pn = nominal, or theoretical, axial load strength at given eccentricity
Pu = factored applied axial load at given eccentricity

• For convenience, we will use the following longitudinal steel reinforcement ratio:
ρg = ratio of total longitudinal reinforcement area to cross-sectional area of column
(Ast/Ag)
• The nominal, or theoretical, axial load strength for the special case of zero eccentricity may be
written as:

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

• This theoretical strength must be further reduced to a maximum usable axial load strength using two
different strength reduction factors.
• The code directs that the basic load–strength relationship be:

• where Pn is the nominal axial load strength at a given eccentricity and ΦPn is designated as the
design axial load strength. Logically, for the case of zero eccentricity, if it could exist, Pn would
equal P0.
• The ACI Code recognizes that no practical column can be loaded with zero eccentricity, however.
• Therefore, in addition to imposing the strength reduction factor Φ, the code directs that the nominal
strengths be further reduced by factors of 0.80 and 0.85 for tied and spiral columns, respectively.
• This results in the following expressions for usable axial load strengths.

Code Requirements Concerning Column

Details
• Main (longitudinal) reinforcing should have a cross-sectional area so that ρg will be between
0.01 and 0.08. (ρg = Ast/Ag)
• The minimum number of longitudinal bars is four within rectangular or circular ties, three
within triangular ties, and six for bars enclosed by spirals.
• Minimum bar recommended to be equal or greater than Φ16.
• The clear distance between longitudinal bars must not be less than 1.5 times the nominal bar
diameter nor 40 mm.
• Cover shall be 40 mm. minimum over primary reinforcement, ties, or spirals.
• The center-to-center spacing of ties should not exceed the smaller of 16 longitudinal bar
diameters, 48 tie-bar diameters, or the least column dimension.
• Furthermore, rectilinear ties shall be arranged so that every corner and alternate longitudinal
bar will have lateral support provided by the corner of a tie having an included angle of not
more than 135°, and no bar shall be farther than 150 mm. clear on each side from such a
laterally supported bar.
Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM
Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

150mm 150mm

150mm 150mm

• The minimum spiral size is 10 mm diameter for cast-in-place construction (16 mm. is usually
maximum).
• Clear space between spirals must not exceed 75 mm. or be less than 25 mm.
• The spiral steel ratio ρs must not be less than the value given by:

where
ρs =volume of spiral steel in one turn / volume of column core in height
s = center-to-center spacing of spiral (mm) (sometimes called the pitch)
Ag = gross cross-sectional area of the column (mm2)
Ach = cross-sectional area of the core (mm2) (out-to-out of spiral)
fyt = spiral steel yield point (Mpa)
f'c = compressive strength of concrete (Mpa)

• An approximate formula for the calculated spiral steel ratio in terms of physical properties of
the column cross section may be derived from the preceding definition of ρs.
• In Figure, we denote the overall core diameter (out-to-out of spiral) as Dch and the spiral
diameter (center to center) as Ds.

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

• The cross-sectional area of the spiral bar or wire is

denoted Asp.
• From the definition of ρs: (If the small difference
between Dch and Ds is neglected, then in terms of
Dch)

The Load–Moment Relationship

• The equivalency between an eccentrically applied load and an axial load–moment
combination is shown in Figure bellow.
• Assume that a force Pu is applied to a cross section at a Distance e (eccentricity) from the
centroid, as shown in Figure bellow a and b.
• Add equal and opposite forces Pu at the centroid of the cross section shown in figure part c.
The original eccentric force Pu may now be combined with the upward force Pu to form a
couple, Pue, that is a pure moment.
• This will leave remaining one force, Pu, acting downward at the centroid of the cross section.
• It can therefore be seen that if a force Pu is applied with an eccentricity e, the situation that
results is identical to the case where an axial load of Pu at the centroid and a moment of Pue
are simultaneously applied as shown in figure part d.
• If we define Mu as the factored moment to be applied on a compression member along with
a factored axial load of Pu at the centroid, the relationship between the two is:

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Columns Subjected to Axial Load: At large

Eccentricity
• At one time the ACI Code stipulated that compression members be designed for an
eccentricity e of not less than 0.05h for spirally reinforced columns or 0.10h for tied columns,
but at least 25 mm. in any case.
• The occurrence of columns subjected to eccentricities sufficiently large so that moment must
be a design consideration is common.
• Even interior columns supporting beams of equal spans will receive unequal loads from the
beams due to applied live load patterns. These unequal loads could mean that the column
must carry both load and moment, as shown in Figure bellow:

ɸ Factor Considerations
• Columns discussed so far have had strength-reduction factors applied in a straightforward
manner.
• That is, ɸ = 0.75 for spiral columns, and ɸ = 0.65 for tied columns.
• These ɸ factors correspond to the compression-controlled strain limit or a net tensile strain in
the extreme tension reinforcement, ɛt ≤ 0.002.
• Eccentrically loaded columns, however, carry both axial load and moment. For values of ɛt
larger than 0.002, the ɸ equations from ACI Code will be used:

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Analysis and Design of Column by using

interaction diagram
• The calculations involved with column loads at large eccentricities are involved and tedious.
• The previous examples were analysis examples.
• Design of a cross section using the calculation approach would be a trial-and-error method
and would become exceedingly tedious.
• Therefore, design and analysis aids have been developed that shorten the process to a great
extent.
• These aids may be found in the form of tables and charts. A chart approach is developed in
ACI Publication SP-17, ACI Design Handbook.
• The design aids are based on the assumptions of ACI 318-95 and on the principles of static
equilibrium.
• Eight interaction diagrams are included in Appendix.
• Referring to one of the diagrams, the following definitions will be useful:
o h = column dimension perpendicular to the bending axis
o γ = ratio of distance between centroids of outer rows of bars and column dimension
perpendicular to the bending axis
o Curves are shown for the range of allowable ρg values from 0.01 to 0.08.
o A line near the horizontal axis labeled ɛt = 0.0050 indicates the limit for tension-controlled
sections. Columns with load–moment–strength combinations below this line are tension-
controlled (Φ = 0.90).
o The line labeled fs/fy = 1.0 indicates the balanced condition. Columns with load–moment–
strength combinations above this line are compression-controlled (Φ = 0.65 for tied columns;
0.75 for spiral columns).
o Columns with load–moment–strength combinations between these two lines are in the
transition zone.
o The line labeled Kmax indicates the maximum allowable nominal load strength [ΦPn(max)]
for columns loaded with small eccentricities.

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Example 1
Using the interaction diagrams, find the axial load strength ΦPn and the moment strength ΦMn for
the column cross section with six Φ29 bars, as shown in Figure bellow. Eccentricity e = 125 mm.,
and use f ‘c = 28 Mpa and fy = 413 Mpa. Compare the results with Example 1 case b.

350 mm

350 mm

500 mm

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Example 4:

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Example 2:
Design a tied square column for Pu=2500 kN and Mu=450 kN.m, take f’c=28 Mpa, fy=413 Mpa.

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

BIAXIAL BENDING
The methods discussed in the preceding sections permit rectangular or square columns to be
designed if bending is present about only one of the principal axes. There are situations, by no
means exceptional, in which axial compression is accompanied by simultaneous bending about both
principal axes of the section. Such is the case, for instance, in corner columns of buildings where
beams and girders frame into the col-umns in the directions of both walls and transfer their end
moments into the columns in two perpendicular planes. Similar loading may occur at interior
columns, particu-larly if the column layout is irregular.
The situation with respect to strength of biaxially loaded columns is shown in Fig. below. Let X and
Y denote the directions of the principal axes of the cross section. In Fig. (a), the section is shown
subject to bending about the Y axis only, with load eccentricity ex measured in the X direction. The
corresponding strength inter-action curve is shown as case (a) in the three-dimensional sketch in
Fig. (d) and is drawn in the plane defined by the axes Pn and Mny. Such a curve can be established
by the usual methods for uniaxial bending. Similarly, Fig. (b) shows bending about the X axis only,
with eccentricity ey measured in the Y direction. The corresponding interaction curve is shown as
case (b) in the plane of Pn and Mnx in Fig. (d). For case (c), which combines X and Y axis bending,
the orientation of the resultant eccentricity is defined by the angle λ:

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Constructing such an interaction surface for a given column would appear to be an obvious
extension of uniaxial bending analysis. In Fig. (c), for a selected value of θ, successive choices of
neutral axis distance c could be taken. For each, using strain compatibility and stress-strain relations
to establish bar forces and the concrete compressive resultant, then using the equilibrium equations
to find Pn, Mnx, and Mny, one can determine a single point on the interaction surface. Repetitive
calculations, easily done by computer, then establish sufficient points to define the surface. The
triangular or trapezoidal compression zone, as shown in Fig. (c), is a complication, and in general
the strain in each reinforcing bar will be different, but these features can be incorporated.

BRESLER RECIPROCAL METHOD

Square or rectangular columns with unequal bending moments about their major axes will require a
different amount of reinforcement in each direction. An approximate method of analysis of such
sections was developed by Boris Bresler and is called the Bresler reciprocal method. According to
this method, the load capacity of the column under biaxial bending can be determined by using the
following expression (Bresler equation):

The uniaxial load strengths Pnx, Pny, and Pn0 can be calculated according to the equations and
method given earlier in this chapter. After that, they are substituted into the above Bresler equation
to calculate Pn .

Example 3:
Design a tied rectangular column for Pu=800 kN, Muy=200 and Mux=150 kN.m, take f’c=28 Mpa (4
ksi), and fy=413 Mpa (60 ksi).

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM

Cyprus International University
CVLE471

Faculty of Engineering REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Civil Engineering Department BASED ON ACI318-19

Fall 22-23 Shihab IBRAHIM