ECCENTRICALLY LOADED

COLUMNS

 Impossible for a column to be

perfectly axially loaded
Even if loads could be perfectly centered
at one time, they would not stay in place
Columns may have other flaws with the
result that lateral bending will occur
Wind and other lateral loads
Cause columns to bend and columns in rigid
frames are subjected to moments even
when the frame is supporting gravity loads
alone.

 In actual construction
Columns and beams monolithic
Moments of varying sizes are present in the joints
Because of frame action under both applied loads and
deformations induced by temperature, shrinkage and
settlement

Columns
Always subject to some bending moments as well
as axial loads
Will bend under the action of moments and those
moments will tend to produce compression on one
side and tension on the other side.

 Eccentrically loaded
When a combination of axial load and moment
are present

Eccentricity
Represents the distance the axial load
P, would have to be off center of the
column to produce M.

Columns subject to Load with Larger

and Larger e
Illustration

Description

a.)

Pn

Large axial load causes a crushing

failure of the concrete with all bars
reaching their yield point in
compression.

b.)

e Pn

Large axial load and small moment

but entire cross section in
compression. Failure occurs by
crushing of the concrete, all bars in
compression.

c.)

e Pn

Large axial load, moment larger in

(b), bars on far side in tension but
have not yielded, failure occurs by
crushing of the concrete.

Columns subject to Load with

Larger and Larger e
Illustration
d.)
Pn

e.)
Pn

f.)
Mn

Description
e

Balance loading condition bars on

tensile side yield at the same time
concrete
on
compression
side
crushes.

Large moment, relatively small axial

load failure initiated by yielding of
tensile bars. If eccentricity is further
increased, failure will be initiated by
yielding of tensile bars.
Large bending moment, failure occurs
as in a beam. Large moment with no
appreciable axial load.

Eccentrically loaded columns:

Bending in one direction only
When actual e < eb , compression
controls
Values of eb:

 Symmetrical tied column

column
t

Symmetrical spiral
d

Ds

square section

 Symmetrical spiral column:

column
d

Ds

Unsymmetrical tied
Y

D
t

X
d

Round section

d
b

Unsymmetrical tied column

y

= ratio
of the area of
compression reinforcement to
the effective area of concrete.
x

d
d'

= ratio of area of tension

reinforcement to the effective
area of concrete.

Eccentrically Loaded Column:

Bending in one direction
Tied Column
When eb > e, compression controls
eb = (0.67gm + 0.17) (t-d)
Use interaction equation:

fa=actual axial stress

Fa = allowable axial stress
fb=actual bending stress
Fb= allowable bending stress

There are two

columns

Sample Problem:
A short tied column has a crosssection of 380 mm x 380 mm with
8-32 mm diameter bars placed at
an eccentricity of 178 mm from
the center of the column section.
fc=27.5 MPa, fy=345.5 Mpa, n =
8.
Determine the value of eb
Determine the moment of inertia of
the concrete composite section
Determine the safe load that it could
carry

1. Determine the safe load that the

short tied column can carry if it has a
cross section of 380 mm x 380 mm
with 8-32 mm bars. The load is
placed at an eccentricity of 178 mm
from center of the column section.
fc=27.5 Mpa, fy = 345.5 Mpa, n = 8.