Column Analysis and Design Examples

These examples use the NSCP 2015/adopted ACI 318 basis. Compression is positive for section resultants, moments are taken about the section centroid, and every interaction point is obtained from strain compatibility and force equilibrium.

Maximum Design Axial Strength of a Short Tied Column

A short tied column is 400 mm×400 mm400\text{ mm}\times400\text{ mm} with eight 25 mm bars (Ast=3927 mm2A_{\mathrm{st}}=3927\text{ mm}^2), fc′=28 MPaf'_c=28\text{ MPa}, and fy=420 MPaf_y=420\text{ MPa}. Determine the maximum factored axial design strength.

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Balanced Strain Reference Point

A 400 mm×400 mm400\text{ mm}\times400\text{ mm} tied column has two 25 mm bars at d′=65 mmd'=65\text{ mm} and two at d=335 mmd=335\text{ mm}, so As′=As=982 mm2A'_s=A_s=982\text{ mm}^2. Use fc′=28 MPaf'_c=28\text{ MPa}, fy=420 MPaf_y=420\text{ MPa}, Es=200,000 MPaE_s=200{,}000\text{ MPa}, and β1=0.85\beta_1=0.85. Find the balanced nominal resultants.

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Capacity at a Specified Load Eccentricity by Strain Compatibility

Use the section and materials from Example 2 for Pu=1000 kNP_u=1000\text{ kN} and Mu=180 kN-mM_u=180\text{ kN-m}. Check section strength without interpolating between interaction-diagram landmarks.

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Pure Bending Is Not the Balanced Point

For the section in Example 2, find the strain-compatible point at zero nominal axial force.

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Nonsway Slenderness and Moment Magnification

A braced, nonsway 400 mm×400 mm400\text{ mm}\times400\text{ mm} column is pin-ended for the axis considered, so k=1.0k=1.0. Let Lu=4.0 mL_u=4.0\text{ m}, fc′=28 MPaf'_c=28\text{ MPa}, Pu=3000 kNP_u=3000\text{ kN}, M1/M2=+0.50M_1/M_2=+0.50 for single curvature, and M2=120 kN-mM_2=120\text{ kN-m}. Use EI=0.4EcIg/(1+βdns)EI=0.4E_cI_g/(1+\beta_{dns}) with βdns=0.20\beta_{dns}=0.20.

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Bresler Reciprocal Load Check

At the specified eccentricities, a column has Po=4000 kNP_o=4000\text{ kN}, Pnx=1500 kNP_{nx}=1500\text{ kN}, and Pny=1200 kNP_{ny}=1200\text{ kN}. Estimate the nominal biaxial axial capacity within the range where the reciprocal approximation is applicable.

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Minimum Spiral Volumetric Ratio

A circular column has overall diameter 400 mm400\text{ mm} and 40 mm40\text{ mm} clear cover to the outside of the spiral, so the core diameter measured outside-to-outside is 320 mm320\text{ mm}. Use fc′=28 MPaf'_c=28\text{ MPa} and fyt=420 MPaf_{yt}=420\text{ MPa}.

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Tied and Spiral Axial Caps Are Conditional

Two otherwise comparable short columns each have Po=4000 kNP_o=4000\text{ kN}. Compare their maximum factored axial strengths, assuming the first is tied and the second fully qualifies for spiral-member provisions.

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Ordinary Tie Spacing Governing Check

A 450 mm×600 mm450\text{ mm}\times600\text{ mm} tied column uses 25 mm longitudinal bars and 12 mm ties. Determine the maximum ordinary non-seismic tie spacing from the three spacing limits taught in this topic.

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Transition-Region Strength Reduction Factor

A tied-column strain-compatible state has fy=420 MPaf_y=420\text{ MPa}, Es=200,000 MPaE_s=200{,}000\text{ MPa}, and net extreme tensile strain ϵt=0.0040\epsilon_t=0.0040. Determine the applicable ϕ\phi.

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Biaxial Method Selection Beyond the Reciprocal Approximation

A rectangular corner column has significant MxM_x and MyM_y. A preliminary reciprocal-load calculation produces an estimated biaxial strength below 0.10Po0.10P_o, and the actual reinforcement is strongly asymmetric. Select the appropriate analysis path.

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