COLUMN
DESIGN
1. GUIDELINE FOR FIXING THE POSITION AND ORIENTATION
OF COLUMNS IN THE LAYOUT
This is an important stage . It is a skillful job and economy
in design is achieved by locating columns at proper and / ideal
locations.
(i)
Normally the positions of the columns are shown by Architect
in his plans .
(ii)
Columns should generally and preferably be located at or near
corners and intersection /junction of walls.
(iii)
If the site restrictions make it obligatory to locate column
footings within the property line the column may be shifted
inside along a cross wall to accommodate footings within the
property line . Alternatively trapezoidal footing, eccentric
footing can also be adopted.
In residential
buildings, generally columns should be located at 3 to
4m.c/c to avoid large spans for beams. This will also control
deflection
and cracking .
(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 .
(v)
As far as possible, column projection/s outside the walls
should be avoided, unless Architects plans show contrary or
same is required as structural requirement.
(vi)
Columns should not obstruct door and window position/s
shown in the Architects plans.
(vii)
As far as possible, column should be so positioned, that
continuous frames from one end to the other end of building
in both X and Y directions are available. This will increase the
global stiffness of the building against horizontal forces .
(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 Architects 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 .
(xiii) As far as possible every column must be connected (tied) in
both directions with beams at each floor level, so as to avoid
buckling due to slenderness effects.
(xiv) As far as possible column supported on beam (Floating
column) should be avoided.
(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.
COLUMN TRIAL SECTION
The column section can be assumed by any one of the method:
1.
Based on Load:
Ag (Gross area) required = 80 to 100 mm2 per every 1KN
ultimate load carried by the column depending on the grade of
concrete used.
Ac= cross sectional area of column
D= large dimension of column =Ac/b
b=width of column.
For 600KN ultimate load, area required= 80x 600 =48000 mm2
If b=230mm, D=48000/230=209mm say 230mm.
Size of column is 230 x 230mm.
2. Based on tributary load carried by the column:
Area required is mm2/m2 of area covered by the column
Grade of concrete
M15
External column
M20
M25
Internal column
2500
1800
2000
1500
1800
1200
For example for 3 storeyed building interior column with M20
concrete with 3m by 4m grid
Area required = (3 storey) x tributary area (3x4)x 1500 mm2
=54000mm2
Assuming width of column b=230 mm
Depth required
D = 54000/230 =235mm say 300mm
The size of column to be adopted is 230 x 300 mm.
3. Rough guidance for load carrying capacity of column:
Load carried by concrete =
4t for M15, 5t for M20 and 6t for M25 for 100 cm2 of concrete area.
Load carried by steel (for each bar)
12mm rod =2.03t; 16mm=3.62t; 20mm= 5.65t; 25mm=8.83t
28mm=11.08t; 32mm=14.47t
Total load= load carried by concrete+ load carried by steel
E.g 230 x 230 with 4 Nos. 12mm rod ={(23x23)/100}x 5t +(4 x
2.03) =34.57t.
This is the minimum capacity that the column can safely carried.
4. Estimation of Load on column by thumb rule:
Column Position
Interior column
Side or end column
Corner column
Residential
building
1.2t/m2
1.7t/m2
2.2t/m2
Office/commercial
building
1.4t/m2
1.9t/m2
2.4t/m2
Size of column assumed based on loads
Load (tons)
Column size
(mm)
Up to 45
46 to 80
81 to 110
111 to 150
151 to 195
Above 195
230 x 230
230 x 450 or 300x 300
230 x 600
300 x 600 or 230 x 750
300 x 750 or 450 x 450
300 x 830
5. Based on thumb rule :
(i) Based on height or span of the beam
Column depth is 3 to 5% of total height of building
For example 8 storeyed building with 3m height
The depth of column is (8x3=24m )x3/100= 0.72m say 750mm.
If the beam span is 4.5m, along transverse direction,
width (b) = 1/12 of span of beam
b= 1/12x4.50 =0.375m say 380 mm.
(ii) Based on storey/ span of beam
If building height is 3 storeys or less:
If beam span is < 6m, D=300mm;
If beam span is between 6.0 to 9m, D=350mm
If the beam span is more than 12.0m, D=400mm.
If the building height is 4 to 9 storeys:
If beam span is < 6m,
D=400mm;
If beam span is between 6.0 to 9m,
D=500mm
If the beam span is more than 12.0m,D=600mm
6. Based on Load and moment:
Assume 2% of C.S area for fy=250N/mm2
(i) If the line of action of the eccentric load is outside
c.s area =Pu/0.4 fck
(ii) If the line of action of the eccentric load is inside (within the
section)
c.s. area =Pu/0.45fck
Example:
Pu=2460KN; Mu=91KNM; fck=20N/mm2 ;fy=415N/mm2
Calculate eccentricity of load =Mu/Pu
=91/2460= 0.037m
Assume that line of action of axial load is inside the section and
check this later.
c.s area required =2460x103 /0.45x20x106
=0.273m2
If one dimension is 460mm, the other needs to be
=0.273/0.46=0.59m say 0.60m
Section is 460mm x 600mm
Area of steel reinforcement= 0.02x0.273x(250/415)x106
=3289.16 mm2
OTHER THUMB RULES:
1.For Residential Buildings:
Approximate Load on column & Sectional area of Column M20
(a) External Columns :
(i)
Load on Column = (No. of Floors +1) x 40 x No. of Loaded
Grid
E.g. For 2 Floors with loaded grid as 3
Load on Column = (2+1) x 40 x 3 = 360 KN.
(ii)
Minimum c.s. area of Column required= (No. of floors +1) x 6
x No. of
Loaded Grids. = ----- sq. inch.
E.g. Mini. c.s. area reqd. = (2 +1) x 6 x 3 =54 sq. inch.
Note: 1. For more than 6 grids, other grids should be treated as 1/6
eg. For
11 grids column Net Loaded Grids = 6 + (11- 6)/6 =6+5/6
=
6.83 Nos.
2. For smaller grids (span up to 7 ft.(2.13m) i.e. w.c., bath
grids
consider net grid = No. of small grids /3
3.Minimum Column size should be 9 x 9 (230 x 230 mm)
(b) Internal Column :
(i) Load on Columns= (No. of Floors +1) x 45 x No. of Loaded Grids
= - KN.
Eg. Load on Column of G+1 residential building with 4 grids
= (2+1) x 45 x 4 No. of loaded grids=540 KN.
Eg. For 11 grided column (more than 6 grids),
Load on internal column= (2+1) x 45 x(6 = (116)/6
= 3 x 45 x (6-5/6) = 3 x 45 x 5.16 =697.5 KN.
(iii)
Mini. c.s. area of int. column required = (No. of floors+1) x 7 x
No. of Loaded Grids. = --- sq. inch.
Eg. Mini. c.s. area of int. column of G+1 building with 4 loaded
grids
= (2+1) x 7 x 4 = 84 sq. inch.
2. For Public Building
Approximate Load on column & Sectional area of Column M20 :
Formula for residential building as above x 1.75
(i) External Columns :
(a) Load on Column = (No. of Floors +1) x 40 x No. of Loaded Grid
x 1.75
E.g. For 2 Floors with loaded grid as 3
Load on Column = (2+1) x 40 x 3 x 1.75 = 630 KN.
(b) Minimum c.s. area of Column required= (No. of floors +1) x 6 x
No. of
Loaded Grids. x 1.75 = ----- sq. inch.
E.g. Mini. c.s. area reqd. = (2 +1) x 6 x 3 x 1.75 =94.5 sq. inch.
Note: 1. For more than 6 grids, other grids should be treated as 1/6
eg. For
11 grids column Net Loaded Grids = 6 + (11- 6)/6 =6+5/6
=
6.83 Nos.
2. For smaller grids (span up to 7 ft.(2.13m) i.e. w.c., bath grids
consider net grid = No. of small grids /3
3.Minimum Column size should be 9 x 9 (230 x 230 mm)
(ii) Internal Column :
(i)
Load on Columns= (No. of Floors +1) x 45 x No. of
Loaded Grids x 1.75
= - KN.
Eg. Load on Column of G+1 office building with 4 grids
= (2+1) x 45 x 4 No. of loaded grids x 1.75= 945 KN.
Eg. For 11 grided column (more than 6 grids),
Load on internal column= (2+1) x 45 x(6 = (116)/6 x1.75
= 3 x 45 x (6-5/6) x 1.75 = 3 x 45 x 5.16 x 1.75 = 1219.05 KN.
(ii)
Mini. c.s. area of int. column required = (No. of floors+1)
x 7 x No. of Loaded Grids. x 1.75 = --- sq. inch.
Eg. Mini. c.s. area of int. column of G+1 building with 4 loaded
grids
= (2+1) x 7 x 4 x 1.75 = 147 sq. inch.
3.Portal Frame Building :
(i) Minimum Depth of Column = ) Clear height of Column in ft + 3) =
in
Inch.
Eg. For 24 ft height of column
Minimum Depth of Column = (24 +3) = 27 inch
OR
Minimum depth of Column = (Height of Column in ft. + Span of
Beam in ft.)/2 =
in inch.
For 12 ft height & 40 ft span Minimum depth of Column =
(12 ft+ 40 ft )/2 =26 inch.
Minimum width of Column = ( depth of Column in inch )/2 = 26
inch/2
=13 inch
For every additional point load / concentrated loads, increase the
depth of column by 3 to 6 inch.
(ii)
Reinforcement for column :
Longitudinal steel :
(a) Dia of bars :
Minimum dia of vertical steel = ( Width of column in inch + Depth of
column in inch)/3 = -- mm.
Dia of vertical / Long. Steel = (Safe Load in KN)/2.5(Width of column
in inch+ Depth of column in inch) = -- mm.
Eg. Dia of vertical steel = 405 KN/2.5 x( 9+9) =7.5 mm say 12 mm
For 9 x21 column with safe load of 1570KN =
=1570 kn /2.5 (9+21) 20.93mm say 22mm
(b) No. of vertical bars :
Mini. No. of Vertical bars = 1 + (Safe Load in Kn /Area of column in
sq. inch)
= -- Nos. (For M15 & M20 grade with Fe 415 steel)
Eg. No. of vertical steel bars required = 1+543/(9 x 12) 5.76 nos.
say 6 nos.
OR
Mini. No. of vertical /Long. Steel bars = (Safe Load on column in
kn)/3.5( width of column in inch + Depth of column in inch) = -- mm.
Eg. No. of vert. steel bars required =1064 kn/3.5
(9+21+16mm)=6.60nos. say 8 nos. (Here column size 9 x 21
with 16mm dia bars)
Note: Safe load on portal column = 5 x width of column in inch x
depth of column in inch = -- kn. For M15 grade concrete Fe 415
steel.
Eg. For 12 x 18 column with M15 &Fe 415 steel
Safe Load = 5 x 12 x 18 =1080kn.
(Here min. steel in column is 0.80% with Fe 415 steel is considered)
For M20 grade Mini. Safe Bearing Capacity = sBC of M15 column x
1.21
Eg. For 12x18 M20 concrete
Safe Load of column = 5 x 12 x 18 x 1.21 =1306kn.
(Note: For M20 grade columns each & every increment in steel
percentage by 0.10% , increase safe load of column by 30 kn).
Eg. For M20 column of size 230mm x 530mm with 0.80% steel
strength= 1148 kn . and for M20 column of size 230mm x 530mm
with 0.90% steel, strength=1148+30 =1178kn. (Here increment is
0.90-0.80 =0.10%)
3. Column sizes for Frames with Bracings:
Mini. width of column with bracing =( (Height of Building in ft. +
span of Beam in ft) /8 + 3 inch) =-- inch
Mini. depth of column with bracing =
(Ht. of Buildg in ft+ span of beam in ft) /4 = -- in inch.
Eg. For 40 high building 40 span of beam
Mini. width of column = (40+40) / 8 +3= 13 inch
Mini. Depth of column = (40+40) /4 =20 inch.
4. Minimum size of columns at Top most & Lowest Floor of
Building
Mini. Depth of Column at Upper most floor level = (No. of floors(n) x
3 x+9
= in inch ( Here mini. width is 9)
Eg. For 5 storeyed building mini. depth of column at foundation
level should
be = No. of floors (n) x 3 +9 =24 i.e/ mini. size of column at
foundation
level for 5 storeyrd building should be 9 x 24.
( for economical structures, it is better to provide column @ 100 to
150 sq. ft
area).
5. Columns for Factory Shed with Roof Trusses :
(i) Columns without bracings :
Depth of Column =( Height of Column in ft +3) /2 =--- inch.
Eg. Depth for 18 ft column = (18 ft +3)/2=10.5 inch. OR
Mini. Depth of columns =(Ht. in ft + Span in ft.)/3 = --inch
Eg. Depth = (18 ft+40ft) /3 =19.33 inch say 21.
OR
Mini. Depth= (Ht. of column in ft.+ Span of Truss in ft.+ spacing of
truss
in ft)/4 = --- inch.
Eg. Depth =(18 ft ht.+40 ft span+15 ft spacing)/4 = 18.25 inch say
21 inch.
Mini. width of Column = Depth of Column in inch /2 = -- inch
Eg. Width = 21 /2 =10.5 inch say 12.
(ii) Column with bracings ( bracings at 8 ft (2.43m( height
Max. moment at base = )Axial Load in kn /3.75)= --- kn.m.
Columns subject to cantilever moment:
(For Porch & light wt. slab loads & column ht. not more than 12 0)
Column Depth = Cantilever span in ft. x 2 = -- inch.
Eg. Column depth for cantilever span of 15 ft.=15 x 2 =30inch.
Column width =Cantilever span in ft. = -- inch.
Eg. Column width for cantilever span of 15 ft.= 15= 15inch.
Hence column of size 15 x 30 will be required for 15 ft cantilevers.
In case of Balanced cantilever or Counter balance wt. column depth
may be reduced by 1.5.
Eg. Column subjected to balance cantilever beams,
Depth = 30 inch/1.5=20 inch.
i.e. for 15 ft cantilever beam with counter balance , column size will
be 15x20.
7. Capacity of Columns based on % of steel
Steel Grade
Fe 415
Concrete Grade
Fe 500
M20
P=(2.7005 p+ 8)
P=(3.27p + 8)
M25
bD/1500
P=(2.6805 p+ 10)
bD/1500
P=(3.25p +10)
M30
bD/1500
P=(2.6605 p+ 12)
bD/1500
P=(3.23p + 12)
M35
bD/1500
P=(2.6405 p+ 14)
bD/1500
P=(3.21p + 14)
M40
bD/1500
P=(2.6205 p+ 16)
bD/1500
P=(3.19p + 16)
bD/1500
bD/1500
Where P is Axial Load carrying capacity of column in Kn.
p = % of steel reinforcement (say 2% is 2)
b = Breadth of Column in mm
D = Depth of Column in mm.
PRACTICAL ASPECTS
A column may be classified based on different criteria such as:
1. Based on shape
Rectangle
Square
Circular
Polygon
2. Based on slenderness ratio
Short column, ? ? 12
Long column, ? > 12
3. Based on type of loading
Axially loaded column
A column subjected to axial load and unaxial bending
A column subjected to axial load and biaxial bending
4. Based on pattern of lateral reinforcement
Tied columns
Spiral columns
Minimum eccentricity
Emin > l/500 + D/30 >20
Where, l = unsupported length of column in mm
D = lateral dimensions of column
Other Aspects:
1.
Size of column
Size of columns to be kept as
Square
Upto 500 mm
multiples of 50 mm
Rectangular
> 500 mm
multiples of 100 mm
Circular
> 200 dia is preferable
Size of column
Square Column
230 x 230
300 x 300
400 x 400
450 x 450
500 x 500
600 x 600
Circular Column
Rectangular
230 x 300
300
400
450
500
600
x
x
x
x
x
230 x380
380
450
530
600
750
300 x 380
300
400
450
500
600
380 dia
400 dia
450 dia
500 dia
600 dia
Longitudinal reinforcement
Minimum dia
12 mm
Maximum dia
40 mm
Minimum No. of bars
4 for rectangular
x
x
x
x
x
450
530
600
680
840
Minimum reinforcement
0.8% C.S. area of columns
Maximum reinforcement
4% bD
Common dia of bars used
12, 16, 20, 22, 25, 28.
Common No.
4, 6, 8, 10, 12
Maximum spacing of bars
300 mm when measured along
periphery of column.
Other aspects
1.
Normally size of column should not be altered for atleast four floors in
multi-storied buildings.
2.
A section less than 200 x 200 mm is generally not preferred.
3.
For columns , rich concrete mixes like M25 and M20 in the lower storeys
of multi-storeyed building will lead to economy. Column sizes should
be chosen on the higher side and richer concrete mixes and age
factors shall be used in the lower storeys . For durability, the minimum
concrete mix in all concrete members shall be M20.
4.
For achieving economy in shuttering , column size can be kept the
same throughout the height of building ( or in steps of a few storeys
at the least ) . Varying the reinforcement and the concrete mix as
required in the design. Normally size of the column should not be
altered for atleast four floors in multi-storeyed building.
5.
Slender columns should be avoided , if possible , as these consume
more steel than that required for the corresponding short columns.
6.
In earthquake prone areas, square columns will prove more
economical than rectangular columns , as these columns will have to
be designed for earthquake effect in each principal direction .
7.
Lateral Ties
1.
Dia of Ties greater of
(I)
6 mm
(II)
of dia of largest longitudinal bar
Maximum dia
2. Pitch:
16 mm
Maximum spacing is least of the following:
(I)
Least lateral dimension of column.
(II)
16 x dia of smallest longitudinal bar
(III)
300 mm
