BEAM & COLUMN

1.

In

a building beams are normally provided over the columns,

under the walls and under heavy concentrated loads to avoid

these loads directly coming on slabs. Columns are provided at
spacing of 12, 15,18,20 and 24 intervals.
2.

In general, maximum span of beams carrying live loads up to

4 KN / m2 may be limited to the following values:
Supported

Simply

Fixed /

supported
6.0 M
10.0 M

continuous
8.0 M
12.0 M

Cantilevers
condition
Rectangular
Flanged
3.

3.0 M
5.0 M

Practical Depth Beam:

Loading

Span in metre

Span/Depth ratio
L/d

Light
Medium to Heavy
Heavy

3m to 4m
5m to 10m
10m

4. Beam section at support

Beam section at mid span :

15 to 20
12 to 15
10 to 12

Rectangular
T beam for interior beams and L

beam for exterior beams

5.

If Mu < Mr -

Tee beam requires 9% lesser reinforcement as

required for rectangular beam.

6.

If Mu = Mr. The beam requires 20% lesser than that required for
rectangular beam.

For span > 4 m where there is appreciable B.M., it is advisable to

design beam at mid span as Tee or Ell beam.

Based on support condition beam depth can be assumed as follows:

Support condition
Depth of beam
Simply supported and continuous 1/10 to 1/12 of clear span
beams
Tee beams
Cantilever beams

1/12 to 1/15 of clear span

1/5 to 1/6 of clear span

COLUMNS:1.

The spacing of columns shall be such that the span of the beam
is not less than 2.5M nor greater than 10.0M. Spans of 4 M to 6
M give normal sizes of beams. Single bay Portal frames may be
adopted for spans ranging from 6.0m to 12.0m. The spacing of
frame may vary from 3.50m to 4.0m.

2.

Columns are having width equal to width of wall or beam.

Usually 9. Depth may be taken as 9, 12, 15,18, 21, 24
and so on in multiples of 3.
Projections of columns outside the wall should be avoided as far
as possible.

3.

4.

The columns should be so oriented that the depth of column

should be perpendicular to the major axis of bending.
b

D
X

X
Y

XX

Major axis of bending

YY

Minor axis of bending

1r to axis of bending

11 to axis of bending

5. When the effective length of column in one plane is greater than

that in the orthogonal plane, the greater dimensions shall be in the
plane, having larger effective length so as to reduce leff/D ratio to
increase the load carrying capacity of the column.
COLUMN TRIAL SECTION
1. The column section can be assumed by any one of the method:
(a)
Based on Load:
Ag (Gross area) required = 80 to 100 mm2 per every 1KN
ultimate load carried by the column depending on the grade of
concrete used.
Ac= C.s. area of column
D= large dimension of column =Ac/b
b=width of column.
For 600KN ultimate load, area required= 80x 600 =48000 mm2
If b=230mm, D=48000/230=209mm say 230mm.
Size of column is 230 x 230mm.
(b)
Based on tributary load carried by the column:
Area required is mm2/m2 of area covered by the column
Grade of concrete
M15
M20
M25

External column

Internal column

2500

1800

2000

1500

1800

1200

For example for 3 storey building interior column with M20

concrete with 3m by 4m grid

Area required = (3 storey) x tributary area (3x4)x 1500 mm2

=54000mm2
Assuming width of column b=230 mm
Depth required
D = 54000/230 =235mm say 300mm
The size of column to be adopted is 230 x 300 mm.
Rough guidance for load carrying capacity of column:
Load carried by concrete =
4t for M15, 5t for M20 and 6t for M25 for 100 cm2 of concrete area.
Load carried by steel (for each bar) =
12mm rod =2.03t; 16mm=3.62t; 20mm= 5.65t; 25mm=8.83t
28mm=11.08t; 32mm=14.47t
Total load= load carried by concrete+ load carried by steel
E.g 230 x 230 with 4 Nos. 12mm rod ={(23x23)/100}x 5t +(4 x
2.03) =34.57t.
This is the minimum capacity that the column can safely carried.
(c)Estimation of Load on column by thumb rule:
Column Position
Interior column
Side or end column
Corner column

Residential
building
1.2t/m2
1.7t/m2
2.2t/m2

Office/commercial
building
1.4t/m2
1.9t/m2
2.4t/m2

Size of column assumed based on loads

Load (tons)

Column size
(mm)

Up to 45
46 to 80
81 to 110
111 to 150
151 to 195
Above 195

230 x 230
230 x 450 or 300x 300
230 x 600
300 x 600 or 230 x 750
300 x 750 or 450 x 450
300 x 830

(d)
Based on thumb rule :
(i)Based on height or span of the beam
Column depth is 3 to 5% of total height of building
For example 8 storeyed building with 3m height
The depth of column is (8x3=24m )x3/100= 0.72m say 750mm.
If the beam span is 4.5m, along transverse direction,
width (b) = 1/12 of span of beam
b= 1/12x4.50 =0.375m say 380 mm.
(ii)Based on storey/ span of beam
If building height is 3 storeys or less:
If beam span is < 6m, D=300mm;
If beam span is between 6.0 to 9m, D=350mm
If the beam span is more than 12.0m, D=400mm.
If the building height is 4 to 9 storeys:
If beam span is < 6m,
D=400mm;
If beam span is between 6.0 to 9m, D=500mm
If the beam span is more than 12.0m,D=600mm