Overview Page 1 of 13

COMPUTERS AND STRUCTURES, INC., BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 2002

CONCRETE FRAME DESIGN BS 8110-97
Technical Note
Column Design
This Technical Note describes how the program checks column capacity or de-
signs reinforced concrete columns when the BS 8110-97 code is selected.
Overview
The program can be used to check column capacity or to design columns. If
you define the geometry of the reinforcing bar configuration of each concrete
column section, the program will check the column capacity. Alternatively, the
program can calculate the amount of reinforcing required to design the col-
umn. The design procedure for the reinforced concrete columns of the struc-
ture involves the following steps:
Generate axial force/biaxial moment interaction surfaces for all of the dif-
ferent concrete section types of the model. A typical biaxial interaction
surface is shown in Figure 1. When the steel is undefined, the program
generates the interaction surfaces for the range of reinforcement from 0.2
to 10 percent.
Calculate the capacity ratio or the required reinforcing area for the fac-
tored axial force and biaxial (or uniaxial) bending moments obtained from
each load combination at each station of the column. The target capacity
ratio when calculating the required reinforcing area is taken as the Utiliza-
tion Factor Limit, which is equal to 0.95 by default. The Utilization Factor
Limit can be redefined in the Preferences.
Design the column shear reinforcement.
The following four subsections describe in detail the algorithms associated
with this process.
Generation of Biaxial Interaction Surfaces
The column capacity interaction volume is numerically described by a series
of discrete points that are generated on the three-dimensional interaction
Concrete Frame Design BS 8110-97 Column Design
Generation of Biaxial Interaction Surfaces Page 2 of 13
failure surface. In addition to axial compression and biaxial bending, the for-
mulation allows for axial tension and biaxial bending considerations (BS
3.8.4.1, 3.4.4.1). A typical interaction diagram is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: A Typical Column Interaction Surface
The coordinates of these points are determined by rotating a plane of linear
strain in three dimensions on the section of the column (BS 3.4.4.1). See Fig-
ure 1. The linear strain diagram limits the maximum concrete strain,
c
, at the
extremity of the section to 0.0035 (BS 3.4.4.1).
33
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22
33
22
33
Concrete Frame Design BS 8110-97 Column Design
Calculate Column Capacity Ratio Page 3 of 13
The formulation is based consistently upon the basic principles of ultimate
strength design and allows for any doubly symmetric rectangular, square, or
circular column section (BS 3.8.4).
The stress in the steel is given by the product of the steel strain and the steel
modulus of elasticity,
s
E
s
, and is limited to the design strength of the steel,
f
y
/
s
. The area associated with each reinforcing bar is placed at the actual lo-
cation of the center of the bar and the algorithm does not assume any simpli-
fications with respect to distributing the area of steel over the cross section of
the column (such as an equivalent steel tube or cylinder). See Figure 2.
The concrete compression stress block is assumed to be rectangular, with a
stress value of 0.67f
cu
/
c
. See Figure 2. The interaction algorithm provides
corrections to account for the concrete area that is displaced by the rein-
forcement in the compression zone.
Calculate Column Capacity Ratio
The column capacity ratio is calculated for each loading combination at each
output station of each column. The following steps are involved in calculating
the capacity ratio of a particular column for a particular loading combination
at a particular location:
Determine the factored moments and forces from the analysis load cases
and the specified load combination factors to give N, V
2
, V
3
, M
33
, and M
22
.
Determine the additional moments resulting from slender column effect.
Compute moments caused by minimum eccentricity.
Determine total design moments by adding the corresponding additional
moments to the factored moments obtained from the analysis. Determine
whether the point, defined by the resulting axial load and biaxial moment
set, lies within the interaction volume.
The following three subsections describe in detail the algorithms associated
with this process.
Concrete Frame Design BS 8110-97 Column Design
Calculate Column Capacity Ratio Page 4 of 13
Figure 2: Idealized Stress and Strain Distribution in a Column Section
Determine Factored Moments and Forces
Each load combination is defined with a set of load factors corresponding to
the load cases. The factored loads for a particular load combination are ob-
tained by applying the corresponding load factors to the load cases, giving N,
V
2
, V
3
, M
f33
, and M
f22
.
Determine Additional Moments
If the column is in compression, the factored moments are magnified by
adding extra moments to account for the local stability effects (BS 3.8.3). If
the column axial force is tensile for a load combination, the additional mo-
ments are not considered for that load combination. Both the moments about
the major and minor axes are magnified. For simplicity, the following is de-
scribed for moments about either of the two axes. The program calculates the
magnified moments for a particular load combination at a particular point as:
M
mag
= ( ) f M M , M max
add f f
+ , (BS 3.8.3.2)
where,
c
Concrete Frame Design BS 8110-97 Column Design
Calculate Column Capacity Ratio Page 5 of 13
M
f
is the factored moment for a particular load combination at a
particular point. It is obtained by applying the corresponding load
factors to the load cases.
M
add
is the additional moment about a particular load combination at a
particular point. For both "Braced" and "Unbraced" columns, the
additional moment is obtained as follows:

>

tension. in column
and n, compressio in column

, 0 N if , 0
, 0 N if , Na
M
u
add
(BS 3.8.3.1)
a
u
is the deflection at the ultimate limit state. It is obtained as
a
u
=
e
Kh. (BS 3.8.3.1)

e
=
2
e
' b
l
000 , 2
1
(
(
,
\
,
,
(
j
. (BS 3.8.3.1)
l
e
is the effective length in the plane under consideration. It is
obtained from
l
e
= l
0
, (BS 3.8.1.6.1)
where is the effective length factor, and l
0
the unsupported
length corresponding to instability in the major or minor direction
of the element, l
33
or l
22
in Figure 3. In calculating the value of
the effective length, the factor is taken as 1. However, the pro-
gram allows the user to override this default value. Even if addi-
tional moments are considered, global P-delta analysis should be
completed for all frames, especially unbraced frames. The default
value of is conservative for braced frames and for unbraced
frames for which P-delta analysis is performed. It may not be
conservative for unbraced frames if P-delta analysis is not per-
formed. In that case, a value greater than 1 for is appropriate.
b' is the dimension of the column in the plane of bending consid-
ered.
h is also the dimension of the column in the plane of bending
considered.
Concrete Frame Design BS 8110-97 Column Design
Calculate Column Capacity Ratio Page 6 of 13
Figure 3: Axes of Bending and Unsupported Length
K is the correction factor to the deflection to take care of the influence
of the axial force; K is conservatively taken as 1.
( ) f is a distribution function. This is used to modify the moment at any point
of a column by a certain fraction of M
add
, as M
add
is not added uniformly at all
points of the column. This function is consistent with BS Figure 3.20 for
braced frames and BS Figure 3.21 for unbraced columns. The function is
given for brced frames as follows (BS 3.8.3.2, BS Figure 3.20):
Concrete Frame Design BS 8110-97 Column Design
Calculate Column Capacity Ratio Page 7 of 13
( )
( )
( )
( )( ) ( )
( )

]
]
]
]
,
,

+
+
(
(
,
\
,
,
(
j
+
+

otherwise. ,
and hinged, is end J if , 6 2
hinged, is end I if , 6 2
hinged, are ends J and I both if ,
2
1
1 6
1
4
6 2
1 1
4
6 2
1
1 4
f

The function is given for unbraced frames as follows:

( )
( )
( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( )( )
( )( )

> +
> +
+

end. any at hinge no and , if ,

end, any at hinge no and , if ,
hinged, is end J if , 1 - 1
hinged, is end I if ,
hinged, are ends J and I both if ,
J I
3 2
I J
I J
3 2
J I J I
M M 2 3 1 M M 1
M M 2 3 M M 1 M M
2 1 2
1 4
f

In the above expressions,

is the non-dimensional parameter to represent the location of the
point being considered, = x/L.
x is the distance of the point from the I end of the column.
L is the total length of the column.
M
I
is the absolute value of the end moment at the I end about the re-
spective axis of bending.
M
J
is the absolute value of the end moment at the J end about the re-
spective axis of bending.
In addition to magnifying the factored column moments for major and minor
axes bending, the minimum eccentricity requirements are also satisfied. The
design moment is taken as:
Concrete Frame Design BS 8110-97 Column Design
Calculate Column Capacity Ratio Page 8 of 13
M = max (M
mag
, N e
min
), (BS 3.8.24, BS 3.8.3.2)
where,
M is the design moment.
M
mag
is the magnified moment, which is obtained from the factored
moment and the additional moment by the procedure described
previously.
e
min
is the minimum eccentricity, which is taken as 0.05 times the
overall dimension of the column in the plane of bending consid-
ered, but not more than 20 mm (BS 3.8.2.4):
e
min
=
20
h
20 mm. (BS 3.8.2.4)
The minimum eccentricity is considered about one axis at a time (BS 3.8.2.4).
The sign of the moment resulting from the minimum eccentricity is taken to
be the same as that of the analysis moment.
It is assumed that the user performs a global P-delta analysis for both braced
and unbraced frames. For P-delta analysis, it is recommended that the load
combination used to obtain the axial forces in the columns be equivalent to
1.2 DL + 1.2 LL (White and Hajjar 1991).
Determine Capacity Ratio
A capacity ratio is calculated as a measure of the stress condition of the col-
umn. The capacity ratio is basically a factor that gives an indication of the
stress condition of the column with respect to the capacity of the column.
Before entering the interaction diagram to check the column capacity, the de-
sign forces N, M
33
and M
22
are obtained according to the previous subsections.
The point (N, M
33
, M
22
) is then placed in the interaction space shown as point
L in Figure 4. If the point lies within the interaction volume, the column ca-
pacity is adequate; however, if the point lies outside the interaction volume,
the column is overstressed.
This capacity ratio is achieved by plotting the point L and determining the lo-
cation of point C. The point C is defined as the point where the line OL (if ex-
tended outwards) will intersect the failure surface. This point is determined by
Concrete Frame Design BS 8110-97 Column Design
Calculate Column Capacity Ratio Page 9 of 13
three-dimensional linear interpolation between the points that define the fail-
ure surface. See Figure 4. The capacity ratio, CR, is given by the ratio
OC
OL
.
If OL = OC (or CR=1), the point lies on the interaction surface and the
column is stressed to capacity.
If OL < OC (or CR<1), the point lies within the interaction volume and the
column capacity is adequate.
If OL > OC (or CR>1), the point lies outside the interaction volume and
the column is overstressed.
Figure 4: Geometric Representation of Column Capacity Ratio
33
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22
Concrete Frame Design BS 8110-97 Column Design
Required Reinforcing Area Page 10 of 13
The maximum of all the values of CR calculated from each load combination is
reported for each check station of the column, along with the controlling N,
M
33
, and M
22
set and associated load combination number.
Required Reinforcing Area
If the reinforcing area is not defined, the program computes the reinforce-
ment that will give a column capacity ratio of the Utilization Factor Limit,
which is equal to 0.95 by default. This factor can be redefined in the Prefer-
ences.
In designing the column rebar area, the program generates a series of inter-
action surfaces for eight different ratios of reinforcing steel area to column
gross area. The column area is held constant and the rebar area is modified
to obtain these different ratios; however, the relative size (area) of each re-
bar compared to the other bars is always kept constant.
The smallest and the largest of the eight reinforcing ratios used are taken as
0.2 percent and 10 percent. The eight reinforcing ratios used are the maxi-
mum and the minimum ratios, plus six more ratios. The spacing between the
reinforcing ratios is calculated as an increasing arithmetic series in which the
space between the first two ratios is equal to one-third of the space between
the last two ratios.
After the eight reinforcing ratios have been determined, the program develops
interaction surfaces for all eight of the ratios using the process described ear-
lier in this Technical Note in the section entitled "Generation of Biaxial Inter-
action Surfaces."
Next, for a given design load combination, the program generates a de-
mand/capacity ratio associated with the each of the eight interaction surfaces.
The program then uses linear interpolation between the interaction surfaces
to determine the reinforcing ratio that gives a demand/capacity ratio of the
Utilization Factor Limit, which is equal to 0.95 by default. The Utilization fac-
tor can be redefined in the Preferences. This process is repeated for all design
load combinations and the largest required reinforcing ratio is reported.
If the required reinforcement is found to be less than the minimum allowed in
the code (0.4 percent), the program assigns the design reinforcement to be
0.4 percent (BS 3.12.5.3, BS Table 3.25).
Concrete Frame Design BS 8110-97 Column Design
Design Column Shear Reinforcement Page 11 of 13
If the required reinforcement is found to be more than 6 percent for both
"braced" and "unbraced" frames (BS 3.12.6.2), the program declares a failure
condition.
Design Column Shear Reinforcement
The shear reinforcement is designed for each load combination in the major
and minor directions of the column. The following steps are involved in de-
signing the shear reinforcement for a particular column for a particular load
combination resulting from shear forces in a particular direction (BS 3.8.4.6):
Calculate the design shear stress and maximum allowed shear stress from
v =
cv
A
V
, and (BS 3.4.5.2)
v
max
= min {0.8R
LW
cu
f , 5 MPa}, where (BS 3.4.5.2, BS 3.4.5.12)
A
cv
= b d.
If v exceeds either 0.8R
LW
cu
f or 5 N/mm
2
, the section area should be in-
creased (BS 3.4.5.2, BS 3.4.5.12). In that case, the program reports an
overstress.
R
LW
is a strength reduction factor that applies to light-weight concrete. It
is equal to 1 for normal weight concrete. The factor is specified in the con-
crete material properties.
Note
The program reports an overstress message when the shear stress exceed 0.8R
LW
cu
f
or 5 MPa (BS 3.4.5.2, BS 3.4.5.12).
Calculate the design concrete shear stress from (BS 3.8.4.6)
'
c
v = v
c
+ 0.6
M
Vd
A
N
c
v
c
c c
v A
N
1 + (BS 3.4.5.12)
where,
Concrete Frame Design BS 8110-97 Column Design
Design Column Shear Reinforcement Page 12 of 13
v
c
= R
LW
4 / 1 3 / 1
s
m
2 1
d
400
bd
A 100 k k 79 . 0
(
,
\
,
(
j
(
,
\
,
(
j

, (BS 3.4.5.4, Table 3.8)

R
LW
is a shear strength factor that applies to light-weight concrete. It is
equal to 1 for normal weight concrete. This factor is specified in the con-
crete material properties.
k
1
is the enhancement factor for support compression and is taken con-
servatively as 1, (BS 3.4.5.8)
k
2
=
3 / 1
cu
25
f
(
,
\
,
(
j
, (BS 3.4.5.4, Table 3.8)

m
= 1.25, (BS 2.4.4.1)
0.15
bd
A 100
s
3, (BS 3.4.5.4, Table 3.8)
d
400
1, (BS 3.4.5.4, Table 3.8)
M
Vd
1, (BS 3.4.5.4, Table 3.8)
f
cu
40 N/mm
2
, (BS 3.4.5.4, Table 3.8)
A
s
is the area of tensile steel and it is taken as half of the total reinforc-
ing steel area, and
d is the distance from the extreme compression fiber to the centroid of
the tension steel of the outer layer.
If v
'
c
v + 0.4, provide minimum links defined by
yv v
sv
f 95 . 0
b 4 . 0
s
A
, (BS 3.4.5.3)
else if
'
c
v + 0.4 < v < v
max
, provide links given by
Concrete Frame Design BS 8110-97 Column Design
References Page 13 of 13
yv
'
c
v
sv
f 95 . 0
b ) v v (
s
A
, (BS 3.4.5.3)
else if v > v
max
a failure condition is declared. (BS 3.4.5.2, 3.4.3.12)
f
yv
cannot be taken as greater than 460 MPa (BS 3.4.5.1) in the calcula-
tion. If f
yv
is defined as greater than 460 MPa, the program designs shear
reinforcing assuming that f
yv
is equal to 460 MPa.
References
White. D. W., and J.F., Hajjar. 1991. Application of Second-Order Elastic
Analysis in LRFD: Research in Practice. Engineering Journal. American
Institute of Steel Construction, Inc. Vol. 28, No. 4.