Dr.

Gruenwald Column Base Plates

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____________________________________________________
ARCH5023/ARCH4333 - ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES I

][ STEEL STRUCTURES ][
THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA - COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE

____________________________________________________

STEEL COLUMN
BASE PLATES
Purpose:
=======
connect column to its support
ample bearing area
seat at proper elevation
level surface
uniform distribution of load
Application:
=========
transfer bearing to concrete footing
steel plate welded to column
light load - small plates
high-strength steel - heavy plates
Plate Design:
=========
Design according to AISC Manual
and AISC Code
Based on allowable bearing pressure
(typically allowable bearing stress on concrete)

Determination of Plate:
=================
A 1
= P / Fp
A 1
= Plan Area of bearing plate
= B x N
N = thickness of the wall
B = length
for excessive length use shallow
I-beam instead of flat plate
P
= compression load of the column

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Dr. Gruenwald Column Base Plates

Fp

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= allowable bearing stress on the

supporting material typically concrete
= allowable bearing stress on the concrete
f'c = 0.3 fc
when plate covers entire support
for larger areas stress may be increased
by a factor
---------V A2/A1
maximum 2

fc

due to the limitations of the word processor

the following symbol
---------v
stands for the square root
which includes the nominator and denominator

Thickness of Plate Formula:

====================
P&A 336

t = V

------------------3 fp x n x n
---------------Fb

= thickness of bearing plate (inches)

fp
Fp

= actual bearing pressure P/A

= allowable bending stress in the plate
0.75 Fy
(PA 267)
= edge distance x
= edged distance y

m
n

COLUMN BASE PLATE EXAMPLE PROBLEM

Column Base Plate:
==============
Example Problem:
Design a base plate
of A36 steel
for a W 12 x 58 column
with a load of 250 kips.
The column bears on a large

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3,000 psi reinforced concrete footing

with fc' = 3 ksi

A. GIVEN
base plate of A36 steel
for a W 12 x 58 column
with a load of 250 kips.
The column bears on a large
3,000 psi reinforced concrete footing
with fc' = 3 ksi

B. ASKED
Design the column base plate N = length B = width t = thickness m = edge distance x m = edge distance y

C. GRAPH

D. SOLUTION
1. We assume the footing are is considerably
larger than the plate area
thus
Fp = 0.3 fc' for plate = concrete

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2 = maximum factor to increase

Fp = 0.3 fc' x 2
Fp = 0.6 fc'
Fp = 0.6 x 3 ksi
Fp = 1.8 ksi
2. Area A1
P = 250 kips
Fp = 1.8 ksi
A 1 = P / Fp
A 1 = 250 kips / 1.8 ksi
A 1 = 138.9 sq in
3. We assume the plate is square
B = N
m = n
_________
B = V A 1
__________
B = V 138.9 sq in
B = 11.8 in
4. Determine n:
according to layout rules
given W 12 x 58
Table 4.1 PA 171
d = depth
=
12.19
b = width
=
10.014

inch
inch

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Dr. Gruenwald Column Base Plates

5.

0.8
B B B -

6.

edged distance both sides

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b
2n = 0.8 b
2n = 0.8 x 10.014 inch
2n = 8.01 inch

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2n
= B - 0.8 b
2n = 12 - 8.01
= 3.99 inch
= 4 inch
7.

edge distance side n

n
=
2n /2
n
=
4 inch / 2
n
=
2 inch

8.

d
= 12.19"
N - 2m = 0.95 x d
N - 2m = 0.95 x 12.19
N - 2m = 11.58"

9.

m assumed based on
welding needs
anchorbolt layout
m = 1.25 inch
m = 1.21 inch actual

10. N = 0.95 d + 2m
N = 11.58 + 2 x 1.21
N = 11.58 + 2.42 inch
N = 14 inch
11.
A 1

P
fp

= Plan Area of bearing plate

= B x N
N = width
B = length
= compression load of the column
= actual bearing pressure
fp
fp
fp
fp

=
=
=
=

P / A1
250 / 12 x 14
250 kips / 168 inch
1.49 ksi

12.
Fp = allowable bending stress in the plate
0.75 Fy
(PA 267)
Fp = 0.75 x 36
Fp = 27 ksi
13.

t = V

----------------3 fp x n x n
--------------Fb

as it is a square column m = n

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Dr. Gruenwald Column Base Plates

t = V

t
fp
Fp
n

t = V

t = V

t = V

t = V

t = V

t = V

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------------------3 fp x m x m
----------------Fb
= thickness of bearing plate (inches)
= actual bearing pressure P/A
= allowable bending stress in the plate
0.75 Fy
(PA 267)
= m = edge distance x = y
------------------3 fp x n x n
--------------Fb
----------------------3 x 1.49 x 2 x 2
--------------------0.75 x 36
----------------------3 x 1.49 x 4
--------------------27

--------------4.47 x 4
-----------27
----------17.88
--------27
----------0.662

t = 0.814 inch
plates are usually specified in thickness
increments of 1/8 inch
so the minimum thickness would be 7/8 inch.
0.875 inch

E. ANSWER
Minimum thickness to be 7/8 inch (0.875 inch)

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STEEL COLUMN BASE PLATES RELATED

SITES
ARCAT
Architects' First Source
Thomas Register

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LECTURES
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Prof. Dr. Hermann Gruenwald

(mail comments to: HGRUENWALD@ou.edu)
College of Architecture
The University of Oklahoma
Dr. Gruenwald 1996, 1997

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