1

BIAXIAL BENDING
Consideration of Columns with Axial Load and Biaxial Bending

1. Occurrence. Will be presented in any situations where beams frame into column at
right angles, or bridge pier, etc.

2. Criteria for determining nominal strength are the same as for columns in uniaxial
bending (from material standpoint). Problem is complicated by the fact that the
neutral axis of the bending is no longer parallel to a major axis. Optimum column
dimensions are not likely to be equal if projected eccentricities vary.

3. Graphical presentation of the problem





Figure 1. Interaction surface for compression plus biaxial bending: (a) uniaxial bending about
Y- axis; (b) uniaxial bending about X-axis; (c) biaxial bending about diagonal axis; and (d)
interaction surface.

2


3
Current Methods of Analysis

Bresler, B. Design Criteria for Reinforced Concrete Columns Under Axial Load and Biaxial
Loading. Journal of the American Concrete Institute, Vol. 57, No. 5, November 1960, pp.481-
490.

Bresler based his analysis on an assumption of a number of possible Failure Surfcace in three
dimensions.

Failure Surface 1 - Failure point defined as a function of axial load and eccentricities.

Failure Surface 2 - Similar basis with 1 failure point defined as function of 1/ , ,
n x y
p e e







Bresler reasoned:
1. The failure surface is too complicated to exactly define.
2. An acceptable approximation could be defined by a plane which passes through three
points which could be found by conventional (uniaxial bending) analysis.




4
Reciprocal Load Mehtod
Breslers reciprocal load equation derived from the geometry of the approximate plane:


0 0 0
1 1 1 1
n nx ny
p p p p
= +
where

n
p = Approximate value of ultimate load in biaxial bending with eccentricity of ,
x y
e e .
0 nx
p = Ultimate load when only eccentricity
y
e is present ( 0
x
e = )
0 ny
p = Ultimate load when only eccentricity
x
e is present ( 0
y
e = )
0
p =Ultimate load for concentrically loaded column.

This procedure is acceptably accurate for design purposes provided
0
0.1
n
p P . If
0
0.1
n
P P < , it would be more accurate to neglect the axial force entirely and to calculate
the section for biaxial bending only.


ACI strength reduction factors do not change the development in any fundamental way as long
as the factor is constant for all columns.

0 0 0
1 1 1 1
n nx ny
p p p p
= +

Note that:
It is necessary to use the uniaxial curves without the horizontal cutoff in obtaining values
for the above equation.

0
0
0.8
0.85
n
p Tied Columns
p
p Spiral Columns

5
Load Contour Method
The load contour method is based on representing the failure surface of the Figure 1 give above
by a family of curves corresponding to constant value of
n
p . The general form of these curves
can be approximated by a non-dimensional interaction equation:

2
1
0 0
1.0
ny
nx
nx ny
M
M
M M

| |
| |
+ =
|
|
|
\ .
\ .


where:

nx n y
M Pe =
0 nx nx
M M = when 0
ny
M =

ny n x
M Pe =
0 ny ny
M M = when 0
nx
M =

This equation gives the surface of design strength. The parameter alpha is

1.15 1.55 < < for square and rectangular columns where is tabulated for specific

Strength
Geometry
Material strength



6
Design Example for Biaxial Bending

2
6"
3"
8
275
x
y
st
u
e
e
A in
P kips
=
=
=
=

4
60
c
y
f ksi
f ksi
=
=







Check the adequacy of the trial design
(a) using the reciprocal load method
(b) using load contour method

(a) Using the reciprocal load method - Solution:

About Y-axis
15
0.75
16
8
0.033
240
6
0.30
20
s
t
A
bh
e
h

= =

= = =
`

= =

)
Use Graph A.7

Read from graph and simplify

1.75 1.75 240 420
3.65 3.65 240 876
n
n
g
n
n
g
P
P kips
A
P
P kips
A

= = =

= = =

About X-axis
7
0.58
12
= = say 0.6
15
2.5
2.5
12
2.5
2.5

7
7
0.58
12
8
0.033
240
3
0.25
12
s
t
A
bh
e
h

= =

= = =
`

= =

)
Use Graph A.6

Read from graph and simplify

1.8 1.8 240 432
3.65 3.65 240 876
n
n
g
n
n
g
P
P kips
A
P
P kips
A

= = =

= = =

The reciprocal method gives:
0 0 0
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
0.00356
432 420 876
n nx ny
n
p p p p
p

= +
= + =



281 275
n u
p kips P kips = > =

Therefore the design is adequate.




8
Using load contour method Solution
About Y-axis
275
275
1.15
240
u n
n
g
P P kips
P
A

= =

`
= =

)
Use Graph A.7



0
0
0.62
0.62 240 20 2980
nx
g
nx
M
A h
M in kips

=
= =

About X-axis
275
275
1.15
240
u n
n
g
P P kips
P
A

= =

`
= =

)
Use Graph A.6



0
0
0.53
0.53 240 12 1530
nx
g
nx
M
A h
M in kips

=
= =


275 6 1650
275 3 825
uy u x
ux u y
M Pe in kips
M Pe in kips
= = =
= = =


The reciprocal method:

2
1
0 0
1.0
ny
nx
nx ny
M
M
M M

| |
| |
+ =
|
|
|
\ .
\ .

1.15 1.15
825 1650
0.491 0.507 0.998 1.000
1530 2980
| | | |
+ = + = <
| |
\ . \ .
This column is adequate.


From Bresler
log0.5
log

=
log0.5
0.56 1.19
log0.56
= = =
Note: Consider consider biaxial bending when estimated eccentricity ratio approaches or exceed
0.2.

9
Design Example
Problem: Select a tied column cross-section to resist factored loads and moments of P
u
= 420
kips, M
ux
= 70 ft-kips, and M
uy
= 80 ft-kips. Use 8#8 bars in each face and No. 3 ties.

4
60
c
y
f ksi
f ksi
=
=


Solution:

8 No. 8 bars
2
8 0.79 6.32
s
A in = =

0.8 0.85
0.8 0.65 0.85(4)( 6.32) (6.32)(60) 420
u c c s y
u g
P f A A f
P A
( = +

( = + =



Solve for gross cross sectional area

2
132
g
A in =

Select:
11.45 12 b h use b h in = = = =

Try a 12 inch by 12 inch column, use 1.5 inch cover, No. 3 ties, and assume No. 8 bars:

12 2(1.5 0.375 0.5)
0.60
12
6.32
0.044
12 12
s
t
A
bh

+ +
= =

= = =

)



70 12
0.486
144 12
0.044
0.60
ux
g
t
M
A h

= =

=
`

)
Graph A.6
0
0
2.4 2.4 144 345.6
4.15 4.15 144 517.6
ux
ux
g
g
P
P kips
A
P
P kips
A

= = =

= = =

10
80 12
0.555
144 12
0.044
0.60
uy
g
t
M
A h

= =

=
`

)
Graph A.5
0
0
1.75 1.75 144 252
4.15 4.15 144 517.6
uy
ux
g
g
P
P kips
A
P
P kips
A

= = =

= = =

The reciprocal method gives:
0 0 0
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
345.6 252 597.6
n nx ny
n
p p p p
p

= +
= +



195 420
n u
p kips P kips = < = ---- This column is not adequate.



Try a 14 inch by 14 inch column, use 1.5 inch cover, No. 3 ties, and assume No. 8 bars:

14 2(1.5 0.375 0.5)
0.66
14
6.32
0.032
14 14
s
t
A
bh

+ +
= =

= = =

)


0
0
70 12
0.3
2.9 14 14 14
0.032 .7
3.6
0.75
0.66
2.84 2.
70 12
0.3
2.8 14 14 14
0.032 .6
3.6
0.60
ux
ux
g
g
t
g
ux
ux
g ux
ux
g
g
t
g
M
P
A h
A
Fig A
P
A
P
P
A M
P
A h
A
Fig A
P
A

= =


=




=
`


=
=
=

)
= =
`


= =

=

`

=
=

) )
0
84 14 14 557
3.6 3.6 14 14 713.4
ux
g
kips
P
P kips
A

= = =

11
0
0
80 12
0.35
2.75 14 14 14
0.032 .7
3.6
0.75
0.66
2.69
80 12
0.35
2.65 14 14 14
0.032 .6
3.6
0.60
uy
ux
g
g
t
g
ux
u
g uy
ux
g
g
t
g
M
P
A h
A
Fig A
P
A
P
P
A M
P
A h
A
Fig A
P
A

= =

=



=
`


=
=
=

)
=
`


= =


=



=
`

=
=

) )
0
2.69 14 14 528
3.6 3.6 14 14 713.4
x
ux
g
kips
P
P kips
A

= =

= = =

The reciprocal method gives:
0 0 0
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
557 528 717.4
n nx ny
n
p p p p
p

= +
= +



435 420
n u
p kips P kips = > = ---- This column is adequate.


Need to finish detailing