Column usually relates to vertically concrete elements
Types ;
Column and pillar – usually applied to any material
Stanchions – relates to vertically steel element
Post – relates to vertically timber element
Piers – relates to vertically brickwork elements
transfer loads from slabs & beams to the
foundation and then to the soil.
Basically, column is a compression member
that carries axial loads and bending moments
from the continuity of beams and slabs.
Load is 90 degree with the COG of
the column
The column is axially loaded
The stress produced is direct
compressive stress and is uniform
overs the cross section of the column
The load is not axial
Eccentricity
Off COG
Bending stress induced in the column as
well as a direct compressive stress
Smaller cross-section dimension of the column will be looked
at in terms of buckling.
The column’s tendency to buckle , measured by its
slenderness ratio.
Slenderness ratio = Effective length of column (mm) = ᶴ
Least width of column (mm) b
Slenderness ratio = Effective length of column (mm) = ᶴ
Least radius of gyration (mm) r
For short column,
Slenderness ratio < 15
Equation 38
N = 0.4fcuAc + 0.8Ascfy
Where ;
N = Design Axial Load
Ac = The cross-sectional area of concrete excluding any
finishing material and reinforcing steel
Asc = The cross-sectional area of the longitudinal steel.
In order to ensure structural stability,
durability and practicality of construction, BS
8110 lays down various rules governing the
minimum size, amount and spacing of :
◦ (i) longitudinal reinforcement
◦ (ii) links
Size and minimum of bars (clause [Link],BS
8110)
◦ Column with rectangular cross-section should be
reinforced with a minimum of four longitudinal
bars, columns with circular cross-sections should
be reinforced with a minimum of six longitudinal
bars. Each of the bars should not be less than 12
mm in diameter.
Reinforcement areas (clause 3.12.5, BS
8110)
o The code recommends that for columns with a gross-
sectional area Acol , the area of longitudinal reinforcement
( Asc ) should lie within the following limits:
0.4% Acol ≤ Asc ≤ 6% Acol
Spacing of reinforcement
o The minimum distance between adjacent bars should not be
less than the diameter of the bars or hagg + 5mm, where
hagg is the maximum size of coarse aggregate.
o The code does not specify any limitation with regards to the
maximum spacing of bars, but for practical reasons, it should
not normally exceed 250 mm.
Clause 3.12.7, BS 8110
Minimum link diameter ¼ of the largest
longitudinal bar or 8 mm
(whichever is greater)
Maximum spacing 12 x size of the smallest
longitudinal bar or the smallest cross-
sectional dimension of the column.
A short braced column has to carry an
ultimate axial load of 1366kN. The column
size is 250mm x 250mm. Find the steel area
required for longitudinal reinforcement and
select suitable bar. The material grade are 30
and grade 460 reinforcement.
A short braced column is required to carry an
axial load of 999 kN. Design a round column
containing 5.0 percent of steel if strength of
the steel is 460N/mm2 and strength of
concrete is 30N/mm2.
(10marks)
