Design of COLUMNS with Uniaxial Moment

Analyse the given section whether it can carry given axial load
and moment( one axis at a time)
Design Parameters used as input for design are
i. Dimensions b and D of the rectangular cross-section,
ii. Grades of concrete (fck) and steel (fy)
iii. Longitudinal steel reinforcing bars No. of bars and its
distribution along b and D. (Not pt/fck as per SP 16)
iv. Cover to longitudinal reinforcement [d] (Not d/D as per SP
16)
v. Axial Load (Pu) for all the design cases

. Based on the given design input parameters, graph of two nondimensional parameters , Pu/fck*b*d (for axial load) v/s
Mu/fck*b*d2 (for moment) are produced for the given column
section from stress block parameters.
. For given axial load Pu and thus Pu/fck*b*d, corresponding value
of Mu/fck*b*d2 is found out by interpolation. From this value

To find Stress for Steel(fs) and Concrete(fc)

from Strain() values
CONCRETE
Maximum allowable strain in concrete in axial compression is
0.002 while compression plus bending is 0.0035.
Strain due to tension in concrete is zero.(Concrete neglected in
tension zone)
Idealised Stress-strain curve for concrete shows that up to strain
of 0.002, stress varies parabolically with the equation shown in
the picture.
Beyond 0.002, stress is a constant given as 0.446fck.
fc = 446* (1 250*)* fck for
< 0.002
(Simplified formula for curve)
= 0.446*fck
for 0.002.

To find Stress for Steel(fs) and Concrete(fc)

from Strain() values
STEEL
o Fe250 :
Stress is linearly proportional to strain up
to yield point(i.e. 0.87fy = 217.5 mPa).
Therefore for strain up to
(217.5/2x105)=0.0010875, stress is
linear.
For strain beyond 0.0010875, stress is
constant
i.e. fs = x Es
for <
0.0010875
fs = 0.87fy = 217.5 MPa for
0.0010875
o HYSD Bars (Fe415, Fe500, Fe600):
Stress is linearly proportional to strain
up to stress value of (0.8 fyd = 0.8 x
0.87 fy)
From 0.8fyd to 1.0fyd, stress variation is

(Fe250)

Fe415,Fe500,Fe600

To find Stress for Steel(fs) and Concrete(fc)

from Strain() values
e.g. For Fe415, at 0.85 fyd;
Inelastic strain from graph = 0.001 ;
Elastic strain = 0.85x0.87x415 / 2x105 = 0.00153
Total strain = 0.001 + 0.00153 = 0.00163

Table provided in spreadsheet

Table is provided in the spreadsheet with strains corresponding to
stresses varying from 0.8fyd to 1.0fyd for reference .
With the help of these stress-strain relations for concrete and
steel, for any value of strain (), corresponding stress in
concrete (fc) and steel(fs) can be found out.

Limiting Cases depending on Neutral Axis

Depth of neutral axis (xu) is varied with respect to total depth (D)
through ku factor.
o Case 1: Axial Load with zero eccentricity (no Bending moment)
The entire cross-section is under direct compression with max.
Pu
Strain of 0.002
D
Max strain of 0.002 (in red)
allowed
Corresponding max. stress
= 0.446 fck

ku = Infinity (2.5x10

101

Stress Block when ku

=

used in
Source : Design of RCC
Structures by Dr. Shah

Limiting Cases depending on Neutral Axis

o Case 2: Neutral Axis Lying outside the section ( xu > D ; ku > 1)
The tensile strains from bending moments are less than
compression strains.
The entire cross-section is under compression with max.
0.0035 allowed for concrete
mi
Pu +
n
Mu
D

the axial
Strain of
max
(0.003
5)

Max strain of 0.0035 (in red)

allowed
Corresponding max. stress
= 0.446 fck
Strain at 3D/7 (as shown in
fig) is always 0.002 when xu
> D and therefore used as
reference point for
calculations.

Limiting Cases depending on Neutral Axis

o Case 3: Neutral Axis Lying along the Edge (xu = D)
The tensile strains from bending moments are equal to the axial
compression strains in magnitude.
The entire cross-section is under compression with max. Strain of
0.0035 and minimum strain is ZERO

Pu +
Mu

min =
0

max
(0.003
5)

Max strain of 0.0035 (in

red) allowed
Corresponding max. stress
= 0.446 fck

ku = 1

Limiting Cases depending on Neutral Axis

o Case 3: Neutral Axis Lying within the section (xu < D)
The tensile strains from bending moments are more than the axial
compression strains in magnitude.
The strain variation across the section is double triangular with max.
Compressive Strain of 0.0035 and tensile strain(negative strain) at the
other edge
= -ve
max
Pu +
(0.003
Mu
5)
D
Max strain of 0.0035 (in red)
allowed
Corresponding max. stress =
0.446 fck
Tensile strain of concrete
ignored
Strain and therefore stress in
steel bars in tension side are
taken negative (as shown in

Limiting Cases depending on Neutral Axis

o Case 3: Neutral Axis Lying within the section (xu < D)
1) Balanced section point(ku = ku,max) : Both tensile and
compressive strains reach yield
2) Pure flexure point (Pu=0) and
3) Pure tensile axial load point (Ku 0, Pu < 0 , Mu = 0)
Pt. (c) : Pure compression point (ku=
)
Pt. (d) : Compression + Bending (ku=
1)
Pt. (b) : Balanced Section point
Pt. (a) : Pure Flexure Point
Pt(f) : Pure tension point

Hence if ku is varied from 0

to infinity, all the points of
Pu-Mu Interaction Curve
can be plotted for given
cross section

(f)

PROCEDURE ADOPTED TO FIND MOMENT

CAPACITY OF COLUMN SECTION
1) Assume different values of neutral axis with respect to depth of section.
i.e. ku is varied from 0.00001 (pure tension point) to 2.5e101 = infinity (pure
compression)
2)

Depending if ku 1 , or ku > 1 , two formulas to calculate strain value at

different levels of steel bars are used.

ku>1

ku 1

i= 0.002 xi / (xu
3D/7)

i= 0.0035 xi / xu

Where i = strain of steel at ith row ;

xi = distance of ith row from neutral axis

3) With the relationships formulated between strains and stresses before, stresses
for concrete in compression and for each row or section of steel bars are calculated.

PROCEDURE ADOPTED TO FIND MOMENT CAPACITY OF COLUMN

SECTION
4) For equilibrium, equating external axial load to the internal axial resistance of
the section.

And, equating external moment with the moment of internal forces about
centroidal axis
c

Where
Pu = External axial compressive load ;
Mu = External moment

AREA OF STRESS BLOCK and ITS CENTROID FOR THE

Puc = axial compressive resistanceTWO
offered
by concrete
CASES
= area of stress block x width
Puc = 0.36*fck*
xu*b
Case 1 : When neutral axis lying within the section (same as beam)
[ku
=
0.36fck*b*ku*D
1]

Source : IS 875:2000

Centroid from
compressed edge

PROCEDURE ADOPTED TO FIND MOMENT CAPACITY OF COLUMN

SECTION
Case 2 : When neutral axis lying outside the section [ku > 1]

Puc = Area of stress

block*b
= {0.446(1-C3/6)}

*fck *D
= C1*fck*D
Where C3 formula is as

PROCEDURE ADOPTED TO FIND MOMENT CAPACITY OF COLUMN

SECTION
Case 2 (Contd) : When neutral axis lying outside the section [ku > 1]
For finding centroid from highly compressed edge

Centroid from compressed

edge
= C2*D
Where C2 formula is as
shown in the picture
above

PROCEDURE ADOPTED TO FIND MOMENT CAPACITY OF COLUMN

SECTION
4)

= Moment of resistance offered by concrete in compression

= Puc x lever arm
Depending if ku 1 , or ku > 1 , two formulas are used to calculate lever arm.

ku>1
Lever arm = (0.5D C2D)

ku 1
Lever arm = (0.5D .416ku)

PROCEDURE ADOPTED TO FIND MOMENT CAPACITY OF COLUMN

SECTION
4)

= Total axial compressive resistance offered by steel at different levels in the

section
(same for both cases of ku)
= Pus1 + Pus2 + .. + Pusn
=
Where
i = serial number of the row of reinforcement
n = number of rows of steel bars
= cross-sectional area of steel in the ith row
fsi = stress in steel in the ith row ( Calculated from stress-strain relation)
(Compressive stress taken as positive and tensile stress taken negative)
fci = Compressive stress in concrete at the ith row of reinforcement
= Algebraic sum of the moments of resistance offered by steel at different levels
(same for both cases of ku)
= * yi)
the section)

( where yi = distance of the ith row from the centroid of

PROCEDURE ADOPTED TO FIND MOMENT CAPACITY OF COLUMN

SECTION
5) For different values of ku starting from 0.0001 ( almost zero = pure tension case)
till
2.5x10101(infinity = pure compression case), values of Pu and Mu are found out
for the given section.
ku
Trial
k
Trial
k
Trial
ku
Trial
6) The intervals
taken between theseu two extreme valuesuare as follows.
1

0.00001

0.10

17

0.60

25

1.2

0.00005

10

0.20

18

0.65

26

1.33

0.0001

11

0.30

19

0.70

27

1.5

0.001

12

0.35

20

0.75

28

0.005

13

0.40

21

0.80

29

2.5x105

0.01

14

0.45

22

0.90

0.05

15

0.50

23

1.0

0.075

16

0.55

24

1.1

7) Finer intervals are taken from 0.30 to 0.7 to get closer to the balanced section
point which usually lies in this range for any section.
8) From Pu , we get values of Pu/fck*b*D.
2

PROCEDURE ADOPTED TO FIND MOMENT CAPACITY OF COLUMN

SECTION
10) Both these series are plotted as a curve on a graph with increasing ku.
Y-axis --- Pu/fck*b*D;
X-axis --- Mu/fck*b*D2

This curve is the Pu-Mu Interaction Curve for that particular section.
11) The given axial load (Pu) for a load case is matched with the values of Pu from
the series.
12) The corresponding interpolated value of Mu/fck*b*D2 is calculated.

From this value, the moment capacity of the section can be easily found out.

Formulation for Distribution of the Provided Steel Bars

Moment

BARS EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED ON FOUR

SIDES

For the given moment, no. of rows

Moment

BARS EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED ON

OPPOSITE SIDES

rows is taken as two only (i.e.

is taken as provided.

middle rows are neglected).

e.g. for the above section, no. of rows

is taken as 3

e.g. for the above section, no. of

rows is taken as 2 and not 3.

All the bars in each row are

accounted for calculating internal
forces

e.g. for the above section, 3 bars for

1st and 3rd row and 2 bars in 2nd row

For the given moment, no. of

All the bars in only extreme rows

are accounted for calculating
internal forces

e.g. for the above section, 2 bars for