INTRODUCTION TO

COLUMNS
DEFINITION OF
COLUMNS
• A column or pillar in architecture
and structural engineering is
a structural element that
transmits, through compression, the
weight of the structure above to
other structural elements below.
In other words, a column is a
compression member.
CONCRETE COLUMNS CAN BE ROUGHLY DIVIDED
INTO THE FOLLOWING THREE CATEGORIES:
• Short compression blocks or
pedestals—If the height of an upright
compression member is less than
three times its least lateral
dimensions, it may be considered to
be a pedestal.
CONCRETE COLUMNS CAN BE ROUGHLY
DIVIDED INTO THE FOLLOWING THREE
CATEGORIES:

• Short reinforced concrete columns—Should a

reinforced concrete column fail due to initial
material failure, it is classified as a short column.
CONCRETE COLUMNS CAN BE ROUGHLY
DIVIDED INTO THE FOLLOWING THREE
CATEGORIES:

• Long or slender reinforced concrete columns—As

columns become more slender, bending
deformations will increase, as will the resulting
secondary moments.
TYPES OF
COLUMNS
• Tied columns
• Spiral columns
• Composite columns
AXIAL LOAD CAPACITY OF COLUMNS

• In actual practice, there are no perfect axially loaded columns, but a discussion of such
members provides an excellent starting point for explaining the theory involved in
designing real columns with their eccentric loads.
ANALYSIS COLUMNS TIED AND SPIRAL

Tied Columns Spiral Columns

• Where: Ø = 0.65 • Where: Ø = 0.75

Ast = area of steel Ast = area of steel
Ag = area gross Ag = area gross

The equations presented here are applicable only for situations where the moment is
sufficiently small so that e is less than 0.10h for tied columns or less than 0.05h for
spiral columns.
CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR CAST-IN-PLACE
COLUMNS
1. ρmin = 0.01 5.1 Min Spacing of ties:
2. ρmax = 0.08 16db
3. Min No. of bars: 48dt
1. 3 for triangular tied columns least column dimension
2. 4 for regular tied columns
3. 6 for spiral columns
4. Min size of columns
5. Ties should not be less than #10 for
longitudinal bars #32 or smaller and #13 for
larger longitudinal bars.
CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR CAST-IN-PLACE
COLUMNS
5.2 Min Pitch for spiral: as is the cross-
sectional area of
the spiral bar, Dc is
the diameter of the
core out to out of
the spiral, and db is
the diameter of the
spiral bar
Clear spacing s between spirals shall not exceed 75mm, nor less
than 10mm.
Anchorage of spiral reinforcement shall be provided by 1.5 extra
urns of spiral bar
Splices of spiral reinforcement shall be lap splices of 48db but
not less than 300mm or welded.
CODE
REQUIREMENTS FOR
CAST-IN-PLACE
COLUMNS
 SAMPLE PROBLEMS

Design columns for axial load only for the conditions described. Include the design of ties or
spirals and a sketch of the cross sections selected, including bar arrangements. All columns are
assumed to be short and not exposed to the weather. Form sizes are in 50-mm increments.

• Problem 9.16 Square tied column: PD = • Problem 9.18 Round spiral column: PD
600 kN, PL= 800 kN, fc = 24 MPa, and fy = 500 kN, PL = 650 kN, f ’c = 35 MPa, and
= 420 MPa. Initially assume ρg = 0.02. fy = 420 MPa. Initially assume ρg = 0.03.
SEAT WORK

• Smallest possible square tied column:

PD = 700 kN, PL = 300 kN, f ’c = 28 MPa, and fy = 300 MPa.