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How to Design a Column?

By BYJU'S Exam Prep

Updated on: September 25th, 2023

The design of columns is one of the important topics of the GATE exam and other competitive exams. The design of columns can be carried out by different methods, including the limit state method and working stress method. And it depends on the type of columns used, the slenderness of the columns and the strength for which it is intended to design.

Design of Column PDf

The design of columns also depends on the material used for the design of columns. A column can be designed with the help of steel materials or with reinforced concrete materials depending upon the strength and suitability of materials for a particular use. The article contains fundamental notes on the “Design of Column” topic of the “Design of Concrete Structures” subject.

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What is the Meaning of the Design of Columns?

Design of columns means the designing of the dimensions of the various columns. Dimension includes fixing the shape and finding the length and width of the cross-section. Designing also means finding the reinforcing bars’ diameters in the reinforced column’s design. An essential factor to design columns is the Euler’s theory of columns.

The design of columns depends on the columns’ slenderness ratio and the load types on the columns. The column base is also designed considering these factors. Columns are mainly designed for compressive loads but can act in the pure axial direction or with the eccentric loading direction to the columns. Reinforced columns can be designed with working stress or limit state methods.

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Different Materials for Designing Columns

A column is a structural member designed to transfer a load of superstructure to the below footings. It mainly takes compressive loads over it, whether it acts in the pure axial direction or has eccentricity to the axis of the column. Materials for the construction of the columns depend on the design load and other structural requirements.

Columns can be constructed with steel structures, timbers, concrete materials, etc. The selection of these materials is mainly based on their strength characteristics. For example, steel columns are preferred for high-strength and lightweight structures and timber columns are generally preferred for temporary structures.

Different Parameters of Design of Reinforced Column

Designing a reinforced column depends on the slenderness ratio, effective length, shape amount of external loads, eccentricity of loads, etc. These parameters are selected in such a way that it meets the suitable strength of the column and struts for which it is designed. Here a few parameters are discussed below.

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Slenderness ratio (λ)

The slenderness ratio of the column is defined as the ratio of the effective length of the column to its least lateral dimension of the column. It depends on the type of column. The letter λ represents it.

For the short column, the value of λ < 3 and for the long column λ >12.

The effective length of a column

The effective length of the column is the length that will be effective for the load resistance. The effective length of Compression Members can be represented below.

The

The

The

Design of Column by Working Stress Method

Concrete columns are designed based on the working stress method or the principle of limit state methods. Earlier, the columns were designed based on the working stress method, but this method assumes that lesser amount of stress value at failure; hence it gives an uneconomical design. Here are a few points of column designing by working stress method explained.

Load carrying capacity for short column

P = σscAsc + σccAcc

Where

  • AC = Area of concrete, AC = Ag – Asc
  • σSC ⇒ Stress in compression steel
  • σCC ⇒ Stress in concrete
  • Ag ⇒ Total gross cross-sectional area
  • ASC ⇒ Area of compression steel

Load carrying capacity for long column

P = CrscAsc + σccAcc)

where,

  • Cr = Reduction factor
  • Cr = 1.25 – (leff/48B)
  • leff = Effective length of the column
  • B = Least lateral dimension

A column with helical reinforcement

In the case of helical reinforcement, the column strength is increased by 5%

P = 1.05(σscAsc + σccAcc) for short column

P = 1.05 CrscAsc + σccAcc) for long column

Longitudinal reinforcement

(a) Minimum area of steel = 0.8% of the gross area of the column

(b) Maximum area of steel

(i) When bars are not lapped Amax = 6% of the gross area of the column

(ii) When bars are lapped Amax = 4% of the gross area of the column

Minimum number of bars for reinforcement

For rectangular column 4

For circular column 6

Minimum diameter of bar ⇒ 12 mm

Maximum distance between longitudinal bar ⇒ 300 mm

Pedestal

It is a short length whose effective length is not more than 3 times of least lateral dimension.

Transverse reinforcement (Ties)

φ = max {¼ φmin and 6 mm}

where Φmin = Minimum dia of the main longitudinal bar

φ = dia of the bar for transverse reinforcement

Pitch (p)

φ = min {Least lateral dimension, 16 φmin and 300 mm}

where φmin = minimum dia of the main longitudinal bar

Helical reinforcement

(i) Diameters of helical reinforcement are selected such that

Helical

(ii) Pitch of helical reinforcement (p)

(a) p ≤ 75 mm

(b) p ≤ (1/6)th dc

(c) p ≥ 3 φh

(d) p ≥ 25 mm

where,

  • dc = Core diameter = dg – 2 × clear cover to helical reinforcement
  • AG = Gross area = Π(dg)2/4
  • dg = Gross diameter
  • Vh = Volume of helical reinforcement in a unit length of the column
  • φh = Diameter of steel bar forming the helix
  • dh = centre to centre dia of the helix ⇒ dg – 2 clear cover – φh
  • φh = diameter of the steel bar forming the helix

Some other IS recommendations

(a) Slenderness limit

(i) Unsupported length between end restrains < 60 times least lateral dimension.

(ii) If in any given plane, one end of the column is unrestrained, then its unsupported length <100 B2/D

(b) All columns should be designed for a minimum eccentricity of

IS

Design of Column by Limit State Method

The design of columns by limit state method is carried out based on the IS 456. This design uses the material’s ultimate strength at its failure point; hence, it gives an economical design to the structure. The ultimate load on columns is calculated based on the following expression.

Pu = 0.4fckAc + 0.67fyAsc

For the column having helical reinforcement, the strength of the column is increased by 5%. Hence it will be ⇒ Pu = 1.05(0.4fckAc + 0.67fyAsc)

IS 456 Recommendations

(a) Slenderness limit

(i) Unsupported length between end restrains <60 times least lateral dimension.

(ii) If in any given plane, one end of the column is unrestrained, then its unsupported length <100 B2/D

(b) All columns should be designed for a minimum eccentricity of

IS

Concentrically Loaded Columns

Where e = 0, i.e., the column is truly axially loaded.

Pu = 0.45fckAc + 0.75fyAsc

This formula is used for members subjected to combined axial load and bi-axial bending when e > 0.05 D.

For more information about the design of the column, you can refer to the following video on Byju Exam Prep’s official youtube channel.

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