Rectangular Columns - as per ACI-318

Input Variables

Width of member: b ≔ 12

Thickness of member: h ≔ 24

Bar size number x ≔ 10

(bar number, BarNo):
BarNo ≔ x

Number of bars on "h"

Nh ≔ 3
face, minimum of 2 bars:

Number of bars on "b"

Nb ≔ 2
face, minimum 2 bars:

Clear reinforcement
cl ≔ 2
cover:

Computed Variables

Ag gross area of concrete

Ast total area of longitudinal reinforcement

 ratio of the total area of longitudinal reinforcement to the gross area of concrete

Ntotal total number of reinforcing bars

Ec modulus of elasticity of concrete for values of wc between 90 pcf and 155 pcf
(ACI 318, 8.5.1)

y strain in reinforcement at yield stress fy

1 factor used to calculate depth of equivalent rectangular stress block

(ACI 318, 10.2.7.3)

cb distance to neutral axis at balanced tension/compression failure

(ACI 318, Section 10.3.2)
  strength reduction factor (ACI 318, 9.3.2.2)
Pn usable axial load strength at given eccentricity

Mn usable moment strength with given axial load

Po nominal axial load strength at zero eccentricity

Pb nominal axial load strength at balanced conditions (ACI 318, Section 10.3.2)

Pmax maximum usable axial load (ACI 318, Eq. (10-2))

Material Properties & Constants

Enter f'c, fy and wc if different from that shown.

Specified compressive strength of concrete: f'c ≔ 4

Specified yield strength of reinforcement: fy ≔ 60

Weight of concrete: wc ≔ 147

Modulus of elasticity of reinforcement

Es ≔ 29000
(ACI 318, 8.5.2):

Strain in concrete at compression failure

εc ≔ 0.003
(ACI 318, 10.3.2):

Reinforcing bar number designations, diameters and areas:

T
No ≔ [ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 ]

T
db ≔ [ 0 0 0 0.375 0.5 0.625 0.75 0.875 1.00 1.128 1.27 1.41 0 0 1.693 0 0 0 2.257 ]

T 2
Ab ≔ [ 0 0 0 0.11 0.20 0.31 0.44 0.60 0.79 1.00 1.27 1.56 0 0 2.25 0 0 0 4.00 ]

The following variables are computed from the entered material properties.
Modulus of elasticity of concrete for values of wc between 90 pcf and 155 pcf
(ACI 318, 8.5.1):
1.5
⎛ wc ⎞ ‾‾‾‾
f'c
Ec ≔ ⎜―― ⎟ ⋅ 33 ⋅ ―― ⋅ Ec = 3720 ksi
⎝ ⎠

Strain in reinforcement at yield stress fy:

fy
εy ≔ ― εy = 0.00207
Es

1 factor used to calculate depth of equivalent rectangular stress block (ACI 318, 10.2.7.3):

⎛ f'c − 4 ⎞
β1 ≔ ⎜⎛⎝f'c ≥ 4 ⎞⎠ ⋅ ⎛⎝f'c ≤ 8 ⎞⎠ , 0.85 − 0.05 ⋅ ―――― , ⎛⎝⎛⎝f'c ≤ 4 ⎞⎠ , 0.85 , 0.65⎞⎠⎟
⎝ ⎠

β1 = 0.85

Defined Units

−3
≔ ⋅
Calculations

Reinforcement yield strengths must be less than 80 ksi in accordance with ACI 318, Section 9.4.

fy ≔ ⎛⎝fy > 80 , 80 , fy⎞⎠ fy = 60

Gross area of section Ag (in in²):

2
Ag ≔ b ⋅ h Ag = 288 in

Total number of reinforcing bars:

Ntotal ≔ 2 ⋅ ⎛⎝Nh + Nb − 2⎞⎠ Ntotal = 6

Total area of longitudinal reinforcement Ast and reinforcement ratio  where  must range between a
minimum of 1% and a maximum of 8%:

Ast ≔ Ntotal ⋅ Ab 2
x Ast = 7.62 in

Ast
ρ ≔ ―― ρ = 2.646%
Ag

Distance from face of column to center of reinforcing bar:

db
x
d' ≔ cl + ―― d' = 2.635 in
2

Reinforcing bar locations from centroid of reinforcement on tension face:

n ≔ Nh − 1 n=2

i≔0‥n

⎛ h − 2 ⋅ d' ⎞ T
s ≔ ⎜――― ⋅ i⎟ s = [ 0 9.365 18.73 ] in
i
⎝ Nh − 1 ⎠
Distance to neutral axis at balanced tension/compression failure:

εc ⋅ (h − d')
cb ≔ ―――― cb = 12.645 in
εy + εc

User specified lower value for neutral axis distance:

h
cmin ≔ ― cmin = 4.8 in
5

Note The value of c may be raised or lowered to show all required compression
values of Pn. A value of c = 0 inches will call for all tension values of Pn.

User specified variables m, q and :

1
m ≔ 16 q≔2 α≔―
2

Note Values of Pn and Mn are calculated for tension (or least compression) face reinforcement stresses
at -fy, and from -fy to +fy at intervals of fy.(1 + )/(m -1), and for values of c from cb to cmin at 1/q
inch intervals. The values of m, q and  may be adjusted to show all required points on the
interaction chart.

Stress range in tension face reinforcement for which values of Pn and Mn are calculated.

Lower stress: Stress interval: Limiting upper stress, +fy:

fy ⋅ (1 + α) fy = 60
−α ⋅ fy = −30 ―――― =6
m−1

Range in values of c for which values of Pn and Mn are calculated:

Lower value of c = cmin: Intervals of c:

1
cmin = 4.8 in ―⋅ = 0.5
q
Limiting upper value of c = cb:
 Limiting upper value of c = cb:

cb = 12.645 in

Range variable j defining all points for which values of Pn and Mn are calculated:

⎛ cb − cmin ⎞
j ≔ 0 ‥ m + q ⋅ ⎜――― ⎟
⎝ ⎠

Total number of calculated values of Pn and Mn:

⎛ ⎛ cb − cmin ⎞⎞
ceil ⎜m + q ⋅ ⎜――― ⎟⎟ = 32
⎝ ⎝ ⎠⎠

Note If this value is larger than 35, the last page of this document may need reformatting to
provide ample space for the tabulated values of Pn and Mn.

Distance from extreme compression fiber to neutral axis:

⎛ εc ⋅ (h − d') ⎛ εc ⋅ (h − d') j−m ⎞⎞

c ≔ ⎜j ＝ 0 , ――――
j
, ⎜(j ≤ m) , ――――――――― ⎛ ⎛ 1+α ⎞⎞
, cb − ――⋅ ⎟⎟
εc − εy q
⎜ ⎜ εc − εy ⋅ ⎜α − ⎜――⋅ (j − 1)⎟⎟ ⎟⎟
⎝ ⎝ ⎝ ⎝m−1 ⎠⎠ ⎠⎠

Strains in tension face reinforcing bars :

εc ⋅ (h − d') s
εs ≔ ―――― − εc i
0,j c εs ≔ εs − ――⋅ ⎛εc + εs ⎞
i,j 0,j h − d' ⎝ 0,j
j ⎠

Stresses in all reinforcing bars:

fs ≔ ⎛εs ⋅ Es < −fy , −fy , ⎛εs ⋅ Es > fy , fy , εs ⋅ Es⎞⎞

i,j
⎝ i,j ⎝ i,j i,j
⎠⎠
Depth of rectangular stress block, a:

a ≔ ⎛β1 ⋅ c ≤ h , β1 ⋅ c , h⎞
j ⎝ j j ⎠

Reinforcement stresses reduced by 0.85.f'c for bars within rectangular stress block depth a:

fse ≔ ⎛⎛h − d' − s ⎞ < a , fs + 0.85 ⋅ f'c , fs ⎞

i,j
⎝⎝ i⎠ j i,j i,j
⎠

Nominal axial load, Pn:

k≔1‥n−1

⎛ ⎛ ⎞⎞
Pn ≔ 0.85 ⋅ f'c ⋅ a ⋅ b − Ab ⋅ ⎜Nb ⋅ ⎛fse + fse ⎞ + ⎛⎝Nh > 2⎞⎠ ⋅ 2 ⋅ ⎜ ∑ fse ⎟⎟
j j x
⎝ ⎝ 0,j n,j
⎠ ⎝ k k,j
⎠⎠

Nominal moment, Mn:

⎛ a ⎞
j ⎛ ⎛ ⎞⎞ ⎛h ⎞
Mn ≔ 0.85 ⋅ f'c ⋅ a ⋅ b ⋅ h − d' − ―⎟ − Ab ⋅ ⎜Nb ⋅ fse ⋅ (h − 2 ⋅ d') + ⎛⎝Nh > 2⎞⎠ ⋅ 2 ⋅ ⎜ ∑ ⎛fse ⋅ s ⎞⎟⎟ − Pn ⋅ ⎜―− d'⎟
⎜
j j x n,j
⎝ 2⎠ ⎝ ⎝ k ⎝ k , j k⎠⎠⎠ j
⎝2 ⎠

Nominal axial load strength Po at zero eccentricity:

3
Po ≔ Pn Po = ⎛⎝1.41 ⋅ 10 ⎞⎠ kip
0

Nominal axial load Pb and moment Mb at balanced tension/compression failure:

Pb ≔ Pn Mb ≔ Mn
m m

Pb = 441.143 kip Mb = 473.266 kip ⋅ ft

Strength reduction factor  (ACI 318, 9.3.2.2):

0.10 ⋅ f'c ⋅ Ag
P1 ≔ ―――― P1 = 164.571 kip
0.7

h − 2 ⋅ d'
γ ≔ ――― γ = 0.78
h
 0.7 ⋅ Pn 0.7 ⋅ Pn
j j
P2 ≔ ―――― P3 ≔ 0.9 − ――― ⋅ 0.2
j 0.10 ⋅ f'c ⋅ Ag j Pb

ϕ ≔ ⎛Pn ≥ P1 , 0.7 , ⎛Pn ≤ 0 ⋅ , 0.9 , ⎛(γ ≥ 0.7) ⋅ ⎛⎝fy ≤ 60 ⋅ ⎞⎠ + ⎛⎝Pb ≥ P1⎞⎠ , 0.9 − P2 ⋅ 0.2 , P3 ⎞⎞⎞
j
⎝ j ⎝ j ⎝ j j
⎠⎠⎠

Design axial load and bending moment Pn and Mn:

ϕPn ≔ ϕ ⋅ Pn ϕMn ≔ ϕ ⋅ Mn
j j j j j j

Maximum usable axial load:

ϕPmax ≔ ϕ ⋅ 0.8 ⋅ Po ϕPmax = 789.876 kip

0
Summary

Width of member: b = 12 in

Thickness of member: h = 24 in

Bar size number: BarNo = 10

Number of bars on h face: Nh = 3

Total number of bars: Ntotal = 6

Reinforcement ratio: ρ = 2.646 1%

Clear reinforcement cover

cl = 2
of longitudinal bars:

Concrete strength: f'c = 4

Reinforcement strength: fy = 60

Unit weight of concrete: wc = 147

Number of bars on b face:

Nb = 2

Maximum usable axial load: ϕPmax = 789.9 kip

2
Area of reinforcement: Ast = 7.62 in
 0

1⋅10³

900

789.876
800 ϕPmax
700

600

500

ϕPn ( ) 400
j

300

200

100
0
0

-100

0 35 70 105 140 175 210 245 280 315 350

ϕMn ( ⋅ )
j

Note

1) If curve does not cross Pn = 0, lower the value of cmin on page 4.
2) The chart may require reformatting for changes in input.

Reinforcing
Neutral axis
bar stress on
depth c:
"tension face":

⎡ −60 ⎤ ⎡ 68.843 ⎤
⎢ −30 ⎥ ⎢ 32.61 ⎥
⎢ −24 ⎥ ⎢ 29.504 ⎥
fs = ⎢ −18 ⎥ c = ⎢ 26.938 ⎥
0,j ⎢ −12 ⎥ j ⎢ 24.783 ⎥
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
−6 22.948
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
⎣ ⋮⎦ ⎣ ⋮ ⎦
Usable axial load and moment:

⎡ 987.344 ⎤ ⎡ 0 ⎤
⎢ 925.088 ⎥ ⎢ 41.627 ⎥
⎢ 908.428 ⎥ ⎢ 49.953 ⎥
⎢ 860.287 ⎥ ⎢ 88.314 ⎥
⎢ 797.355 ⎥ ⎢ 135.44 ⎥
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
736.129 174.537
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
⎢ 681.05 ⎥ ⎢ 204.738 ⎥
⎢ 630.929 ⎥ ⎢ 228.608 ⎥
⎢ 584.863 ⎥ ⎢ 247.896 ⎥
⎢ 542.158 ⎥ ⎢ 263.825 ⎥
ϕ ⋅ Pn = ⎢ 502.269 ⎥ ϕ ⋅ Mn = ⎢ 277.262 ⎥ ⋅
j j j j
⎢ 464.762 ⎥ ⎢ 288.834 ⎥
⎢ 429.289 ⎥ ⎢ 299 ⎥
⎢ 395.566 ⎥ ⎢ 308.103 ⎥
⎢ 369.405 ⎥ ⎢ 316.396 ⎥
⎢ 338.522 ⎥ ⎢ 324.075 ⎥
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
308.8 331.286
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
290.619 329.805
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
⎢ 271.918 ⎥ ⎢ 327.894 ⎥
⎢ 252.628 ⎥ ⎢ 325.552 ⎥
⎣ ⋮ ⎦ ⎣ ⋮ ⎦