Introduction to Columns

Acknowledgement
This Powerpoint presentation was
prepared by Dr. Terry Weigel,
University of Louisville. This work
and other contributions to the text
by Dr. Weigel are gratefully
acknowledged.

Types of Compression Members

Short compression blocks - pedestals
Short reinforced columns
Long or slender reinforced columns

Short Compression Block

Height less than three times least lateral
dimension
May be designed as unreinforced or plain
member
Maximum force is:

0.85 f c' Ag

0.65
4

Short Reinforced Column

Stocky members
Material failure
Maximum load supported is controlled by
section dimensions and strength of
materials
5

Slender Reinforced Column

Bending deformations
Secondary moments
Instability or buckling

Secondary Moments
P is the axial force
M is the primary
moment

Types of Columns
Tied Columns
Spiral Columns
Composite columns

Tied Column

Spiral Column

10

Composite Columns

11

Tied Columns
Ties increase column strength
Ties hold longitudinal bars in place during
construction
Ties prevent longitudinal bars from buckling
after cover spalls
Tied columns are usually, but not always,
rectangular in shape
12

Spiral Columns
Spiral columns are usually, but not always,
circular in shape
Helical spirals
Spirals are more effective than ties in
increasing column strength
Spirals are loaded in hoop tension when
compressive load is place on a column
13

Spiral Columns
Spiral columns are more expensive than tied
columns
Spiral columns are better for seismic
applications

14

Axial Load Capacity of Columns

Pn 0.85 f c' Ag Ast f y Ast
Ag gross column area
Ast area of longitudinal steel

15

Failure of Columns
Tied columns cover spalls and, unless ties
are closely space, longitudinal bars buckle
Spiral columns cover spalls but longitudinal
bars and concrete core are confined by
spirals and remain intact
Spiral cage is designed to be have a strength
equal to the spalled cover
16

Strength of Spiral
Shell strength
0.85 f c' Ag Ac
Ag gross column area
Ac area of concrete core

Spiral strength
2 s Ac f y

s percentage of spiral steel

17

Strength of Spiral
0.85 f c' Ag Ac 2 s Ac f y

s 0.425

'
A

A
f
g c c

Ac f y

Ag f c'
0.425
1
Ac f y

ACI Code Equation 10-5

Ag f c'
s 0.45
1
Ac f y
18

Spiral Steel Percentage

volume of spiral in one loop
s
volume of concrete core for a pitch of s
Vspiral
s
Vcore
as Dc db 4as Dc d b
s

2
Dc s
sDc2
4
Dc core diameter
db bar diameter
19

Spiral Parameters

20

ACI Code Requirements for CIP

Columns
Percentage of longitudinal steel may not be
less than 1% nor more than 8%
At least four longitudinal bars must be used
within rectangular or circular ties
At least six longitudinal bars must be used
within spiral ties
The practical minimum column dimension is
about 8 to 10 in.
21

ACI Code Requirements for CIP

Columns

For tied columns with No 10 and smaller longitudinal bars, the minimum size tie is No 3
For tied columns with longitudinal bars larger
than No 10 , and for bundled bars, the
minimum size tie is No 4
For tied columns, the maximum ties spacing is
the smallest of:
48 tie bar diameters,
16 longitudinal bar diameters, or
the least lateral column dimension
22

ACI Code Requirements for CIP

Columns
For tied columns ,ties must be arranged so
that every corner and every alternate
longitudinal bar has lateral support
provided by a tie bent around the
longitudinal bar with an included angle not
o
greater than 135 . No longitudinal bar can
be located more than 6 in. from such a
laterally supported bar
23

Supported Bars

24

Supported Bars

25

Supported Bars

26

ACI Code Requirements for CIP

Columns
Spirals may not have diameters less than 3/8
in.
The clear spacing between spirals may not be
less than 1 in. or greater than 3 in.

27

Capacity Reduction Factor

Failure of a column is more significant than
failure of a beam
For tied columns, = 0.65
For spiral columns, = 0.75

28

Eccentricity of Axial Load

Pu e M u
Mu
e
Pu

To account for (accidental) eccentricity, the

ACI Code uses a factor
0.80 for tied columns
0.85 for spiral columns
29

ACI Column Design Capacity

Equations
Pn 0.85 f c' Ag Ast f y Ast

Pn 0.75 0.85 0.85 f c' Ag Ast f y Ast (spiral)

Pn 0.65 0.80 0.85 f c' Ag Ast f y Ast

(tied)

ACI Code Equation 10-1 (spiral)

ACI Code Equation 10-2 (tied)
30

Column Design Examples

31

Example 9.1
Design a square tied column to support an
axial dead load o 130 k and an axial live
load of 180 k. Begin using approximately 2
percent longitudinal steel, a concrete
strength of 4,000 psi and Grade 60 steel.

32

Example 9.1
Determine the factored axial load
Pu 1.2 130 k 1.6 180 k 444 k

33

Example 9.1
Select the column dimensions
Pn 0.80 0.85 f c' Ag Ast f y Ast
444 k

0.65 0.80
0.85 4 ksi Ag 0.02 Ag 60 ksi 0.02 Ag

Ag 188.4 in 2 Use 14" x 14" column Ag 196 in 2

34

Example 9.1
Select the longitudinal steel
Pn 0.80 0.85 f c' Ag Ast f y Ast
444 k

0.65 0.80
0.85 4 ksi 196 in 2 Ast 60 ksi Ast

Ast 3.31 in 2 Use 6 No 7 bars Ast 3.6 in 2

35

Example 9.1
Design the ties
3
48
in 18 in
8
7
16
in 14 in
8
Least column dimension = 14 in
Use No 3 ties at 14 in
36

Example 9.1
Other ACI Code requirements

7.6.1

Longitudinal bar clear spacing =

9
7
in in 3.625 in 1 and db
2
8
10.9.1 Steel percentage
3.6 in 2
0.01
0.01837 0.08
14 in 14 in

10.9.2

Number of bars = 6 4
37

Example 9.1
Other ACI Code requirements

7.10.5.1

Minimum tie size =

No 3 for No 7 longitudinal bars

38

Example 9.1

39

Example 9.2
Design a round spiral column to support an
axial dead load of 240 k and an axial live
load of 300 k. Begin using 2 percent
longitudinal steel, a concrete strength of
4,000 psi and Grade 60 steel.

40

Example 9.2
Determine the factored axial load
Pu 1.2 240 k 1.6 300 k 768 k

41

Example 9.2
Select the column dimensions

Pn 0.85 0.85 f c' Ag Ast f y Ast

768 k

0.75 0.85
0.85 4 ksi Ag 0.02 Ag 60 ksi 0.02 Ag

Ag 266 in 2 Use 18" diameter column Ag 255 in 2

Since 255 < 266 in2, the reinforcing steel

percentage will be greater than 2%

42

Example 9.2
Pn 0.85 0.85 f c' Ag Ast f y Ast

Select
768 k
the
longitudinal 0.75 0.85
steel

0.85 4 ksi 255 in 2 Ast 60 ksi Ast

Ast 5.97 in 2 Try 6 No 9 bars Ast 6.00 in 2

6.00 in 2

0.0235 0.02
2
255 in
Use 6 No 9 bars Ast 6.00 in 2
43

Example 9.2
Design of the spiral ties
Ac

15 in 2
4

177 in 2

Ag f c'
Minimum s 0.45
1

Ac f y
255 in 2 4 ksi
0.45
1
0.0132
2
177 in
60 ksi
44

Example 9.2
Design of
Spiral

Try a No 3 spiral
db 0.375 in
As 0.11 in 2

4as Dc db
s
sDc2
0.0132

4 0.11 in 2 15 in 0.375 in
s 15 in

s 2.17 in; use s = 2 in

45

Example 9.2

6 No 9 bars

15
18

46