59

D DE ES SI IG GN N O OF F A AX XI IA AL LL LY Y L LO OA AD DE ED D C CO OL LU UM MN NS S

Categories of Columns
Concrete columns can be roughly divided into the following three categories:
1. Short compression blocks or pedestals. If the height of an upright compression
member is less than three times its least lateral dimensions it may be considered
to be a pedestal.
2. Short reinforced concrete columns. Should a reinforced concrete column fail due
to initial material failure, it is classified as a short column. The load that it can
support is controlled by the dimensions of the cross section and the strength of
the materials of which it is constructed.
3. Long reinforced concrete columns. Should the length of a column be increased,
the chances that it will fail by buckling will be increased. A column that fails by
buckling is said to be a long column.

Types of Columns
A plain concrete column can support very little load, but its load-carrying capacity will be
greatly increased if longitudinal bars are added. Under compressive loads columns tend
not only to shorten lengthwise but also to expand laterally due to the Poisson effect. The
capacity of such members can be greatly increased by providing lateral restraint in the
form of closely spaced closed ties or helical spirals wrapped around the longitudinal
reinforcing.
Reinforced concrete columns are referred to as tied or spiral columns
depending on the method used for laterally bracing or holding the bars in place. If the
column has a series of closed ties, as shown in Figure 8.1(a), it is referred to as a tied
column. These ties are effective in increasing the column strength. They prevent the
longitudinal bars from being displaced during construction and they resist the tendency
of the same bars to buckle outwards under load, which would cause the outer concrete
cover to break or spall off. Tied columns are ordinarily square or rectangular, but they
can be octagonal, round, L-shaped, and so forth.
If a continuous helical spiral made from bars or heavy wire is wrapped around the
longitudinal bars, as shown in Figure 8.1(b), the column is referred to as a spiral
column. Spirals are even more effective than ties in increasing a columns strength.
The closely spaced spirals do a better job of holding the longitudinal in place, and they
also confine the concrete inside and greatly increase its resistance to axial
compression. Spiral columns are usually round, but they also can be made into
rectangular, octagonal, or other shapes.
Composite columns, illustrated in Figures 8.1(c) and (d), are concrete columns
that are reinforced longitudinally by structural steel shapes, which may or may not be
surrounded by structural steel bars, or they may consist of structural steel tubing filled
with concrete (commonly called lally columns).

Failure of Tied and Spiral Columns
Should a short, tied column be loaded until it fails, parts of the shell or covering concrete
will spall off and, unless the ties are quite closely spaced, the longitudinal bars will
buckle almost immediately as their lateral support (the covering concrete) is gone. Such

60
Ties
Longitudinal
Bars
(a) Tied Column
Spirals
Longitudinal
Bars
(b) Spiral Column
(c) Composite Column
(d) Composite Column
Figure 8.1 Types of Columns
















failures may often be quite sudden, and apparently they have occurred rather frequently
in structures subjected to earthquake loadings.
When spiral columns are loaded to failure, the situation is quite different. The
covering concrete or shell will spall off but the core will continue to stand, and if the
spiral is closely spaced, the core will be able to resist an appreciable amount of
additional load beyond the load that causes spalling. As a result, the spalling off of the
shell of a spiral column provides a warning that failure is going to occur if the load is
further increased.

NSCP Requirements for Cast-in-Place Columns
The NSCP specifies quite a few limitations on the dimensions, reinforcing, lateral
restraint, and other items pertaining to concrete columns. Some of the most important
limitations are listed in the paragraphs to follow.
1. The area of longitudinal reinforcement may not be less than 1% or more than 8%
of the gross area A
g
section. (NSCP Section 410.10.1 )
2. The minimum numbers of longitudinal bars permissible in compression members
(NSCP 410.10.2) are as follows: 4 for bars within rectangular or circular ties, 3 for
bars within triangular ties, and 6 for bars enclosed by spirals.
3. The NSCP does not directly provide a minimum column cross-sectional area but
to provide the necessary cover outside of ties or spirals and to provide the
necessary clearance between longitudinal bars from one face of the column to
the other it is obvious that minimum widths or diameters of about 200 to 250
millimeters are necessary.
4. When tied columns are used, the ties shall not be less than 10mm diameter in
size for 32mm diameter or smaller, and at least 12mm diameter in size for 36mm
diameter bars and bundled longitudinal bars. (NSCP Section 407.11.5.1)
5. The vertical spacing of ties should not exceed 16 times the longitudinal bar
diameter, 48 times the diameter of the ties, or the least lateral dimension of the
column. (NSCP Section 407.11.5.2)

61
Figure 8.2 Typical Tie Arrangements
150mm max 150mm max
150mm max
150mm max
150mm max 150mm max
>150mm > 150mm
>150mm
>150mm
> 150mm > 150mm
>150mm
>150mm
> 150mm > 150mm
150mm max 150mm max 150mm max
>150mm
>150mm
150mm max 150mm max
>150mm
>150mm
150mm max
6. The ties must be arranged so that every corner and alternate longitudinal bars
have lateral support provided by the corner of a tie having an included angle not
greater than
0
135 and a bar shall be not farther than 150 mm clear on each side
along the tie form such a laterally supported bar. (NSCP Section 407.11.5.3)
(See Figure 8.2 for the tie arrangements for various column sections)
7. Ties should be located vertically not more than one half a tie spacing above the
top of footing or slab in any story and should also be spaced not more than one
half a tie spacing below the lowest horizontal reinforcement in slab above.
(NSCP Section 407.11.5.4)
8. Column ties should have hooks as specified in Section 407.2.3 of the NSCP.
(NSCP Section 407.11.5.6)
9. The NSCP (Section 407.11.4.3) states the clear spacing of spirals may not
exceed 75 mm or be less than 25 mm.
10. For cast-in-place construction, the size of spirals should not be less than 10mm
diameter. (NSCP Section 407.11.4.2)
11. Should splices be necessary in spirals, they are to be provided by welding or by
lapping the spiral bars or wires with a length of the larger of 48 times the bar
diameter and 300mm. (NSCP Section 407.11.4.5)
12. Section 407.11.4.6 of the NSCP states that spirals should extend from top of
footing or slab in any story to level of lowest horizontal reinforcement in members
supported above.
13. The ratio of spiral reinforcement
s
should not be less than
'
g
c
s
c y
A
f
0.45 1
A f
| |
=
|
\ .
.
























62
Comments on Economical Column Design
Reinforcing bars are quite expensive, and thus the percentage of longitudinal reinforcing
used in reinforced concrete column is a major factor in their economy. This means that
under normal circumstances a small percentage of steel should be used (perhaps in the
range of 1.5 to 3%). This can be accomplished by using larger column sizes and/or
higher-strength concretes.
In general, tied columns are more economical than spiral columns particularly if
square or rectangular columns are to be used. Of course, spiral columns, high-strength
concretes, and high percentages of steel save floor spaces.
As few different column sizes as possible should be used throughout a building.
This consistency of sizes will provide appreciable savings in formworks and labor costs.

Design Formulas
Section 424.7.1 of the NSCP states that the service axial load capacity of columns may
not be greater than the following values:

For spiral columns,

( )
(
= +

'
c g s y s
P 0.255 0.85f A A f A
For tied columns,

( )
(
= +

'
c g s y s
P 0.224 0.85f A A f A
The equations presented here for tied and spiral columns are applicable only for
situations where there is no moment or the moment is sufficiently small so that e is less
than 0.10h for tied columns or 0.05h for spiral columns and provided it is a short
column. Should the e values be greater than the limiting values and/or should the
columns be classified as long ones, it will be necessary to use the procedures described
in the later sections.

Example 1. (Tied Column)
Design a square tied column to support an axial dead load DL of 580 kN and an axial
live load LL of 800 kN. Assume 2% longitudinal steel is desired,
c
f ' 27.6 = MPa and
y
f 414 = MPa. For lateral ties, use
y
f 276 = MPa.

Solution:
1. Calculate Design Load P ,
= + = + = P DL LL 580 800 1380 kN
2. Select Column Dimensions,

( )
(
= +

'
c g s y s
P 0.224 0.85f A A f A
( ) ( ) ( )
(
= +

3
g g g
1380x10 0.224 0.85 27.6 A 0.02A 414 0.02A
=
g
A 197012mm
2

Assume square section, B = L
= = =
g
B A 197012 443.86mm
Say, use 450mm x 450mm column

63
Figure 8.3 Column Section Detail
450 mm
450 mm
Vertical Bars: 8 25mm | bars
Lateral Ties: 2 sets - 10mm | at 400 mm O.C.
40 mm
40 mm
3. Select Longitudinal Bars,
( )
= =
2
g
A 450 202500 mm
2

( ) ( ) ( )
( = +

3
s s
1380x10 0.224 0.85 27.6 202500 A 414 A
=
s
A 3610.55 mm
2

Using 25mm | bars
( )
=
2
b
A 490.9 mm ,
= = =
s
b
A 3610.55
n 7.35
A 490.9
Say, use 8 25mm diameter bars
4. Design of Ties (Assuming 10mm | bars),
Spacing: (a) 48 x 10 = 480 mm
(b) 16 x 25 = 400 mm
(c) Least dimension of column = 450 mm
Say, use 10mm | ties at 400 mm O.C.
5. Draw Column cross section,














Example 2. (Spiral Column)
Design a round spiral column to support an axial dead load D of 800 kN and an axial
live load of 1340 kN. Assume 2% longitudinal steel is desired,
c
f ' 27.6 = MPa and
y
f 414 = MPa. For lateral ties, use
y
f 276 = MPa.

Solution:
1. Calculate Design Load P ,
= + = + = P DL LL 800 1340 2140 kN
2. Select Column Dimensions,

( )
(
= +

'
c g s y s
P 0.255 0.85f A A f A
( ) ( ) ( )
(
= +

3
g g g
2140x10 0.255 0.85 27.6 A 0.02A 414 0.02A
=
g
A 268371mm
2


64
600 mm
D
c
= 520 mm
40mm 40mm
Figure 8.4 Column Section Detail
Vertical Bars: 10 25mm | bars
Spirals: 10mm | at 40 mm O.C.
( ) t
= = = =
t t
2
g
g
4 268371 4A
D
A ;D 584.55
4
mm
Say, use 600mm diameter column
3. Select Longitudinal Bars,
( )
t
= =
2
g
A 600 282743
4
mm
2

( ) ( ) ( )
( = +

3
s s
2140x10 0.255 0.85 27.6 282713 A 414 A
=
s
A 4506 mm
2

Using 25mm | bars
( )
=
2
b
A 490.9 mm ,
= = =
s
b
A 4506
n 9.18
A 490.9
Say, use 10 25mm diameter bars
4. Design of Spirals (Assuming 10mm | bars),
= = =
c
D D 80 600 80 520 mm
Minimum
( )
( )
t | |
|
| |
= = =
| |
t
\ . |
|
\ .
2
'
g
c
s
2
c y
600
A
f 27.6
4
0.45 1 0.45 1 0.014911
A f 276
520
4

Spacing: (a)
( )
( )
= = =

s
c s
4 78.5
4A
s 40.50
D 520 0.014911
Ok!
(b) s < 75 mm
(c) s > 25 mm
Say, use 10mm | spirals at 40 mm O.C.

5. Draw Column cross section,