How to Calculate Load on Column

In this construction article, you will be familiar with the methods required for measuring the loads
which operate on column, beam, wall and slab in a building.
The total weight of beam, wall and slab is borne by the column and transferred to foundation.
Given below, the details about the types of loads operating on the column:-
The self weight of column x Total number of floors
Self weight of beam per running meter x total length of beam
Load of wall per running meter x total number of meters for wall construction
Total loads operating on slab which involve dead load (generated for storing furniture & other
things), live load (generated for human movement), self weight etc.
Irrespective of above mentioned loads, the bending moment also operates on column, beam, wall
and slab. This should be taken into consideration in final design.
Measurement of loads on column
Self weight of concrete is 2400 kg/m3 (240 KN)
Self weight of steel is 7850 kg/m3 (8000 kg/m3 approx)
Suppose, the size of the column is 230 mm x 600 mm having 1% steel and 3 m standard height.
So, the volume of concrete = 0.600 x 0.23 x 3 = 0.414 m3 (density of concrete).
= 993.6 = 994 kg (approx)
So, the weight of steel (1%) of concrete volume
= 0.414 x 8000 mg/m3 x 1% (0.01)[density of steel = 8000 kg/m3]
So, steel = 33 kg
Therefore, total weight of column = weight of concrete + weight of steel
= 994 + 33 = 1026 kg or 10 KN for each floor
At the time of making measurement, the self weight of column is taken as 10 to 15 KN according to
IS standard.
Measurement of load on beam
Suppose each meter of beam contains dimension 230 mm x 450 mm except slab.
So, volume of concrete in beam:-
= 0.230 x 0.450 x 1 = 0.138 m3
So, weight of beam per running meter should be as follow:-
= volume x density of concrete
= 0.138 x 2400 Kg/m3 = 333 kg
So, the weight of concrete inside beam is 333 kg.
Assume, the quantity of steel in beam as 2% (as per guidelines provided in the book by B.N. Dutta)
So, the weight of steel will be calculated as follow:-
Volume of concrete x density of steel x percentage of steel
= 0.138 x 8000 x 0.02 = 22 kg
So, total load of beam per running meter will be as follow:-
Weight of concrete + weight of steel = 333 + 22 = 355 kg/m = 3.5 KN/m
Load calculation on slab
Here, self weight of the slab should be considered for one square meter
Suppose, the density of slab = 125 mm
The weight of the slab will be as follow:-
Volume x density = 0.125 x 1m2 x 2400 kg/m3 = 300 kg = 3 KN
The load for floor finish is taken as 1 KN per meter and live load is taken as 2 KN per meter.
Therefore, from the measurement provided in above, the slab load should be 6 to 7 KN per square
meter.
Calculation of load for wall
Density of brick generally remains at 1500 to 2000 Kg/m3
Here, the dimension of brick is taken as follow:-
Thickness of brick wall = 6 inch
Height of brick wall = 3 m
Length of brick wall = 1 m
Load of brick masonry work per running meter is as follow:-
= thickness x length x height x density = 0.150 x 1 x 3 x 2000 = 900 kg = 9 KN/m 2 (as 6” = 150 mm =
0.150 m)
For aerated or autoclaved concrete block, the load of the slab should be 550 kg to 700 kg/meter
When, the block is used, the load of the wall is taken as 4 KN/meter (according to IS: 456)
Factor of safety should be considered as 1.5 according to IS: 456: 2000
Load Calculation on Column, Beam and Slab
How to Calculate load on Column, Beam & Slab:

For calculations total load on columns, Beam, Slab we must know about various load
coming on the column.

Various Loads Acting on Column:

1) Column Self Weight X Number of floors

2) Beams Self Weight per running meter

3) Load of walls per running meter

4) Total load on Slab (Dead load + Live load + Self weight)

beside of this above loading, the columns are also subjected to bending moments which
have to be considered in the final design.
The most effective method for designing structure is to use advanced structural design
software like ETABS or STAAD Pro.

These tools are reduced laborious and consuming method of manual calculations for
structural design, this are highly recommended nowadays in field.

for professional structural design practice, there are some basic assumptions we use for
structural loading calculations.

For Colomn:

we know that the Self weight of Concrete is around 2400 kg/m3, which is equivalent
to 240 kN and Self weight of Steel is around 8000 kg/m3.

So, if we assume a column size of 230 mm x 600 mm with 1% steel and 3 meters
standard height, the self weight of column is around 1000 kg per floor, that id equal
to 10 kN.

While doing calculations, we assume self weight of columns are between 10 to 15 kN

per floor.

For Beam:

We adopt same method of calculations for beam also.

we assume each meter of beam has dimensions of 230 mm x 450 mm excluding slab
thickness.

So, the self weight will be around 2.5 kN per running meter.

For Walls:

we know that, the Density of bricks varies between 1500 to 2000 kg per cubic
meter.

For a 6 inch thick Brick wall of 3 meter height and a length of 1 meter,

The load / running meter to be equal to 0.150 x 1 x 3 x 2000 = 900 kg,

which is equivalent to 9 kN/meter.

This method can be adopted for load calculations of Brick per running meter for any
brick type using this technique.

For aerated concrete blocks and autoclaved concrete blocks, like Aerocon or Siporex,
the weight per cubic meter is between 550 to 700 kg per cubic meter.

if your are using these blocks for construction, the wall loads per running meter can be
as low as 4 kN/meter, use of this block can significantly reduced the cost of the
project.

For Slab:

Let, Assume the slab has a thickness of 125 mm.

So, Self weight of each square meter of slab would be

= 0.125 x 1 x 2400 = 300 kg which is equivalent to 3 kN.

Now, If we consider Finishing load to be 1 kN per meter and superimposed live load to
be 2 kN per meter.

So, from above data we can estimate slab load to be around 6 to 7 kN per square
meter.

Factor of Safety:

At the end, after calculating the entire load on a column, do not forget to add in the
factor of safety, which is most important for any building design for safe and convenient
performance of building during his design life duration.

As Per IS 456:2000, the factor of safety is 1.5.