Compression Members

A column is defined as a structural member subjected to

compressive load in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis.
When the effective length of a compression member does not
exceed three times the least lateral dimensions then such
compression member is called Pedestal.

Compression Members
When the compression members are overloaded, then their failure
may occur in direct Compression, Excessive Bending combined
with Twisting.
Failure of columns depends on their Slenderness Ratio.
Load required to cause these types of failures, decreases as the
length of compression members increases, while maintaining the
the cross-section areas constant.

Classification of Columns
Based on length
1. Short Columns and
2. Long or Slender Columns
If slenderness ratios (lex/D) and Ley/b less than 12, then the
columns are called Short Columns.
When slenderness ratios lex/D and ley/b or both slenderness ratios
are more than 12, then the columns are called Slender Columns.

Classification of Columns
Based on type of loading and load combinations
1. Axially Loaded Columns
2. Axially Loaded with Uniaxial Bending Moment
3. Axially Loaded with Biaxial Bending Moment
Reinforced Concrete Columns
1. Tied Columns
2. Spiral Columns

EFFECTIVE LENGTH
Effective length of a column is the length between points of contra
flexure of the buckled column.
Code specifies certain values of effective length for normal usage
assuming idealized end conditions.
Code provided two charts to calculate effective length of columns in
framed structures.
Chart 26 is for a braced column structure in which the relative
movement of ends of a compression member transverse to its axis is
prevented
Chart 27 is for an unbraced column system where such relative
movement is possible and the restraint is provided only by the rigidity of
the joints and the stiffness of interacting beams and columns.

Effective Length of Compression Members

Degree of End Restraint of the Member

Effective
Length

1.

Effectively held in position and restrained against rotation

at both ends

0.65 L

2.

Effectively held in position at both ends, restrained against

rotation at one end

0.80 L

3.

Effectively held in position at both ends, but not against

rotation

1.0 L

4.

Effectively held in position and restrained against rotation

at one end, and at the other restrained against rotation but
not held in position

1.2 L

Effectively held in position and restrained against rotation

at one end, at the other end partially restrained against
rotation but not held in position

1.5 L

Effectively held in position and restrained against rotation

at one end, not held in position nor restrained against
rotation at the other end

2.0 L

5.

6.

ASSUMPTIONS
1.Plane sections normal to the axis remain plane after bending.
2.Relationship between stress vs. strain in concrete is assumed to be
parabolic. The maximum compressive stress is equal to 0.67 fck. (a)
Design stress = 0.446fck
3.Tensile strength of concrete is ignored.
4.Stress in reinforcement can be obtained from the representative
stress-strain curve for the type of steel used.
5.Maximum compressive strain in concrete in axial compression is
limited to 0.002.

ASSUMPTIONS
7. Maximum compression strain at highly compressed extreme fibre
in concrete subjected to axial compression and bending, but no
tension on section, is taken as 0.0035 minus 0.75 times strain at the
lead compressed extreme fibre.
8. Maximum compressive strain at highly compressed extreme fibre
in concrete subjected to axial compression and bending, when part
of section is in tension, is taken as 0.0035. The strain distribution
lines for these two cases intersect each other at a depth of [0.43 D]
from highly compressed edge. This point is assumed to act as a
fulcrum for the strain distribution line when the neutral axis lies
outside the section.

MINIMUM ECCENTRICITY
In practice, a truly axially loaded column is rare, if not non existent.
Therefore, every column should be designed for certain minimum
eccentricity.
This accidental eccentricity may occur due to end conditions, inaccuracy
during construction or variation in materials even when the load is
theoretically axial.
D
l
emin
+

500
30

Minimum eccentricity should be as follows.

l = unsupported length of column in mm

20

D = lateral dimension of column in the direction under consideration in mm.

All members subjected to a compression load must be designed for the
eccentricity, emin corresponding to the maximum moment which can
accompany this loading condition.

STRENGTH OF AXIALLY LOADED SHORT COLUMNS

Strength of short columns with lateral ties is the sum of the

concrete contribution and the steel contribution.
Concrete and steel work together and overall capacity of column is
sum of the strength of individual material capacities.

COMPRESSION MEMBERS

Axial load carrying Capacity of a column is given by

Pcu = f cc Ac + f sc Asc
fcc = Permissible stress in concrete in direct compression

f cc =

f ck

ms

0.67 f ck
= 0.445 f ck
1.5

Ac = Cross-sectional area of concrete

Ac = Ag Asc
Ag = Gross-cross sectional Area of the column
fsc = Permissible compressive stress for column bars
Asc = Cross-sectional Area of longitudinal steel bars for columns
Pcu = Axial ultimate load in compression stress in concrete

COMPRESSION MEMBERS
At failure, strain across the column section is 0.0020 uniform.
At this strain full design stress may develop in mild steel bars.
Stress in mild steel bars
f sc =

fy

fy
1.15

= 0.87 f y

Load carrying capacity

Pcu = 0.45 f ck Ac + 0.87 f y Asc

COMPRESSION MEMBERS
When high strength deformed bars are used as reinforcement,
the full design stress will develop at a strain of 0.002.
Stress in HYSD bars may be read from stress-strain diagram.
f sc =

0.85 f y
1.15

= 0.74 f y

Pcu = 0.45 f ck Ac + 0.74 f y Asc

Then
IS: 456-2000 recommends the ultimate load carrying capacity of
member by reducing this capacity by approx. TEN PERCENT.
When minimum eccentricity does not exceed 0.05D, capacity is
given by
For mild Steel

Pcu = 0.40 f ck Ac + 0.77 f y Asc

COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Pcu = 0.40 f ck Ac + 0.67 f y Asc

For HYSD bar

=Percentage reinforcement
Ag
Asc
=
100 Asc =
Ag
100
Ac = Ag Asc

For mild Steel bars

. Ag

. Ag
+ 0.77 f y
Pcu = 0.4 f ck Ag

100
100

For HYSD bar

. Ag

. Ag

+ 0.67 f y
Pcu = 0.4 f ck Ag

100

100

For mild Steel bars

Pcu

f
= 0.4 f ck 1
+
0
.
77
y
Ag
100
100

For HYSD bar:

Pcu

f
= 0.4 f ck 1
+
0
.
67
y

Ag
100
100

Pcu

= 0.4 f ck + 0.67 f y 0.4 f ck
Ag
100

For Rectangular Cross-section

Ag = bD

Pcu

0.67 f y 0.4 f ck
= 0.4 +
bDf ck
100 f ck

If possible high yield strength deformed bars should be used.

Columns reinforced with Mild Steel bars tend to collapse without

warning when the steel bars yield.
Classification of short columns avoids superfluous calculations
of moment due to additional eccentricity.
In case, additional eccentricity is calculated in short columns,
this shall be nearly always less than the minimum of 0.05 D.

 Ultimate load for columns with helical (spiral) reinforcement

shall be 1.05 times ultimate load for similar short column with
lateral ties or rings, provided following condition is satisfied
Ag
f ck
Vh

0.36
1

Vcore
Ac
f y

Where Vh = volume of helical reinforcement per 1mm length

Vcore = volume of core of concrete per 1 mm length
Circumferential length Cross Sectional Area of Spiral
Vh =
Pitch of Spiral Wire(Spacing)

Vh =

.d c . Asc
P

Vcore

D 2 core
=
.1
4

Where Dcore = diameter of core measured outer to outer of the spiral

Dc = centre line diameter of spiral
= pitch of the spiral
The volumetric Ratio [volume of helical spiral steel to the volume of core concrete]
The confinement stress due to spiral on concrete

Vh
.d c . Asc
4
=
2
s =
Vcore
P
D core

Asp =

The Confinement Stress 21

1
2

s .d c .P
4

due to Spiral on Concrete >

s f y
2

2 Asp f y
dc P

= 21

REQUIREMENTS OF LONGITUDINAL REINFORCEMENT

1. Minimum area of cross-section of longitudinal bars must be at least 0.8% of Ag
2. Maximum Area of cross-section of longitudinal bars must not exceed 6.0% of
gross c/s area of concrete (Practically not more than 4.0%).
3. In any column that has a larger cross-sectional area than that required to
support the load, the minimum percentage steel must be based on the area of
concrete required to resist the direct stress
4. Bars should not be less than 12mm diameter
5. Minimum number of bars should be four in rectangular columns and six in
circular columns
6. For helical reinforced columns at least six bars should be provided
7. Spacing of longitudinal bars should not be more than 300mm.
8. In case of pedestals reinforcement should not be less than 0.15% of c/s of the
member.

TRANSVERSE REINFORCEMENT
Lateral ties
1. Diameter diameter of longitudinal bar (or) 6mm

Pitch should not exceed

a. least lateral dimension
b. 16 times the smallest diameter of the longitudinal bars
c. 48 times the diameter of lateral ties.

HELICAL REINFORCEMENT
Diameter of helical reinforcement (largest longitudinal bar)
Helical reinforcement should be of regular formation with turn
of helix evenly spaced and its ends should be anchored properly
by providing one and a half extra turns of the spiral bars.
Pitch should not exceed
a. 1/6 core diameter of column
a. 25mm
b. Three times diameter of steel bar forming helix.
For increased load on strength of helical column pitch should
not exceed 75mm

 If an increased load on the column on the strength of helical

reinforcement is not allowed for, its pitch should not exceed
i. least lateral dimension
ii. sixteen time the smallest diameter of in longitudinal bar
iii. forty-eight times the diameter of the helical bars.

AXIAL LOAD AND UNIAXIAL BENDING

All compression members are to be designed for a minimum
eccentricity of load in two principal directions.
emin = l

500

+d

30

, Subject of a minimum of 20 mn

When emin 0.05d

Pu = 0.4 f ck Ac + 0.67 f y Asc
Section is designed for a moment which is not less than that due to the
prescribed minimum eccentricity when a compression member is
subjected axial load and bending moment, maximum strain at
outermost compression fibre is 0.0035 is also applicable when the
neutral axis lies within section and in limiting case when the neutral
axis lies along one edge of the section .

 In the later case, strain varies from 0.0035 at highly compressed

edge to zero at opposite edge.
For purely axial load, strain is assumed to be uniformly equal
0.002 across the section.
Strain distribution lines for these two cases intersect each other at
a depth of 3D/7 from the highly compressed edge.

This point is assumed to act as a fulcrum for the strain

distribution line when the neutral axis lies outside the section.

This leads to the assumption that the strain at the highly

compressed edge is 0.0035 minus 0.75 times the strain at the least
compressed edge
.

I) Neutral axis
lies within the
section

I) When the neutral axis lies within the section

Cross section dimensions

b = width of the section
D = depth of the section

Steel bars are symmetrically distributed along the outer faces. The stress block
parameters are simpler. These parameters may be directly incorporated into the
expressions. The equilibrium equation can be written from the diagram

Pcu .F d = [Pu.cc + Pu.sc PTS ]

Pcu .F d = 0.36 f ck .b.xu + ( f sc f cc )Asc ( f st Ast )

Pc
Pcu .F d
= 0.36k + ( f sc f cc )
bDf ck
100 f ck

(
f st Pf )

100 f ck

Taking moments about centroid of the section:

M cu = Pcu .Fd (0.5D e)

M cu = Pcu.cc . y c + Pu.sc y sc
= 0.36 f ck .b.kD(0.5 D 0.416 xu )( f si f ci ) Ast . y
= 0.36 f ck .b.kD(0.5 D 0.416kD) + ( f si f ci ) Asi . yi
n
Pi
M cu
= 0.36k [0.5 0.416k ] + ( f si f ci )
2
f ck .b.D
i =1
100 f ck

yi

D

II) When the neutral axis lies outside the section

xu = kD = neutral axis distance from the extreme compression edge
2
Parabola is Mathematically

Y = kx 2

4
g =
D

0.446 f ck

3D

= kD
7

1 g = 0.446 f ck 4 D
7 kD 3D
2
2

4
g = 0.446 f ck
7 k 3
Where g= difference between stress at the highly compressed edge and the
stress at the least compressed edge.

Area of stress block

Area of Stress Block = 0.446 f ck .k .D

= 0.446 f ck .k .D

g 4
D
3 7

4
gD
21

4
Here g = 0.446 f ck

7k 3

4 4 2
Area of Stress Block = 0.446 f ck D 1

21
7
k
3

The centroid of the stress block is obtained by taking moments about the highly
compressed edge.
Moment about the highly compressed edge
3
34
D 4
M ca = 0.446 f ck D
gD D + D
47
2 21
7
D2
= 0.446 f ck D
2

Centroid =

8
2

gD
49

Moment
Area of Stress Block

Equilibrium equations
Pu = k1 ck bD + ( f si f ci )Asi
n

i =1

M u = About Centroidal Axis

n
D
M u = k1 ck bD k 2 D + ( f si f ci )Asi . yi
i =1
2
2

4 4
k1 = 0.446 1

21
7
k
3

k2

8g
0.223

49 f ck

=
k1

Asi =

Pi .bD
100

n
Pcu
Pi
= k1 + ( f si f ci )
i =1
bDf ck
100 f ck

Mu
bD 2 f ck

n
Pi
= k1 [0.5 k 2 ] + ( f si f ci )
i =1
100 f ck

y i

D

III) When the N.A lying on the edge of the section

III) When the N.A lying on the edge of the section:

n

Pcu = 0.36 f ck .bD + ( f sci f cci ) Asci

i =1

n
Pcu
Pi
= 0.36 + ( f sci f cci )
i =1
bDf ck
100 f ck

M u = Pcu.cc (D 0.416 D ) + Pcu.sc [D y i ]

= 0.36 f ck .b.D 2 [0.584] + ( f sci f cci ) Asci [D yi ]
n

i =1

Mu
bD 2 f ck

n
P
= 0.36 0.584 + ( f sci f cci ) i
i =1

100 f ck

D y i

#1. Design a short helically reinforced concrete circular column of 300mm

diameter to support an axial load of 600kN. Adopt M15 concrete and Fe415.

Pcu = 1.5 600 = 900 KN

D = 300mm
Ag = Gross Area =

D2 =

300 300

f ck = 15N/mm 2
f y = 415N/mm 2

Assume P = 1%
Asc =

1
300 2
100 4

Assume that e min < 0.05 D

Assume that e min < 0.05D

Pu = 0.4 f ck Ac + 0.67 f y Asc
P

Ac = Ag Asc = Ag 1
100
Pcu

P
P

0
.
67
415
300 300
A
= 0.4 15 300 300 1
+

g
1.05
4
100 4
100

P = 1% of A g = 2.25
Asc =

P
300 300 = 1591.7 mm 2
100 4

Asc = Area of steel = 1592mm 2

D2 =

1592
8

= 15.91mm 16mm

 Spirals Diameter
i.

(diameter of larger bar = 4m

ii. 5mm
Pitch maximum
i.

75mm

ii. 1/6 diameter of core

Ag
f
Vh
0.36
1 ck
Vcore
Ac
fy

(d c )2 2 s
4
Pi = sn

Vh =

Vcore =
Vh
=
Vcore

18122.985
sn

2
1 = 38013.36mm 2
Dcore

(d c )2

2
Dcore

2s

Ag
f
= 0.36
1 ck
Ac
fy

18122.985
15
= 0.36[0.8595]
= 0.011184
38013.30 sn
415
sn =

18122.985
= 42.63m
38013.30 0.0111

Spacing of Helical Reinforcement=<25

>75

#2 A column of effective length 4m is to be designed for an axial force of 700 kN and a

BM of 90 kN.m. Design the section by limit state approach. M20 and Fe415 steel are

le = 4.0m

to be used.

Pu = 700kN

sol:-

M = 90kN .m

Assume the column as a short column. Reinforcement is provided on two sides

symmetrically (on two sides)

Assume moment due to minimum eccentricity to be less than the actual moment.
Assume

250mm 500mm column

Assume 20mm dia bars with 40m cover

d 1 = 40 + 10 = 50
d1
50
=
= 0.1
D
500
d1
Charts for
= 0.1 will be used
D

Pcu
1050 10 3
1050 21 42
=
=
=
=
= 0.42
bDf ck 20 250 500 2500 50 10

Mu
bD 2 f ck

135 10 6
135 2.7 2.7
=
=
=
=
10 = 1.08 = 0.108
20 250 500 500 125 25 25

f ck

= 0.08

= 0.08 20 = 1.6
= Asc =

Four sides

f ck

1.6
250 500 = 2000m 2
100

= 0.10 = f ck

= 0.10 20 = 2%
Asc =

2
250 500 = 2500mm
100

Design a rectangular reinforced concrete column to support an axial load of 1000KN.

Actual length of column is 6.0m. The column is restrained in position and direction at its
both the ends. M20 grade of concrete and HYSD steel bars of grade Fe415 are to be used.

BIAXIAL BENDING
Exact design of members subjected to axial load and biaxial bending is extremely laborious.
Therefore, the code permits the design of such members be

Mux =

Mux n Muy n

+
1.0
Mux1
Muy1
Design moment due to design load about x axis.

Muy =

Design moment due to design load about y axis.

Mux1 =

Maximum moment capacity about x axis

Muy1 =

Maximum moment capacity about y axis

n = Depends on

Pu
Puz

Puz = 0.45 f ck Ac + 0.75 f y As

Pu
Puz

0.2

1.0

0.8

2.0

For intermediate values, interpolation may be done.

The additional moments may be reduced by multiplying factor k given below

k =

Puz Pu
1
Puz Pb

Puz = 0.45 f ck Ac + 0.75 f y As

Pb = Axial load corresponding to the conditions of max Comp strain 0.0035 in concrete

and tensile strain of 0.002 in outermost layer of tension steel.

1.

Design completely an RC column to carry an axial load of 20 kN and a lateral

load of 10 kN acting at mid section of a height 4.5m with partial fixity at ends.
Use HYSD bars and M20 grade concrete.

Sol :-

Axial Load = 20kN

Bending Moment = 10 2.25 = 22.5 kN/m

Factored loads

Pu = 1.5 20 = 30kN
M u = 1.5 22.5 = 33.75kN / m

3. A column of effective length 4m is to be designed for an axial force of 700kN

and a BM of 90 kN.m. Design the section by limit state approach. M20

concrete and Fe415 are to be used.
Sol

Factored Load = 1.5 700 = 1050kN

Factored Moment = 1.5 90 = 135kN.m
Le = 4.0m

f ck = 20 N / mm 2
f y = 415 N / mm 2

Assume b = 350m
D = 500mm

1.

emin =

4000 500
+
500
30

= 8 + 16.66 = 24.67 nm
emin
= 0.0493 < 0.05
D

2.

emin =

4000 350
+
= 19.67
500
30

emin
18
=
= 0.06
D
300