DESIGN OF SLENDER

COLUMNS
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN
CE 512

ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO

 DESIGN OF SLENDER COLUMNS
• INTRODUCTION
• NONSWAY AND SWAY FRAMES
• SLENDERNESS EFFECTS
• DETERMINING k FACTORS WITH ALIGNMENT CHARTS
• DETERMINING k FACTORS WITH EQUATIONS
• SLENDER COLUMNS IN NONSWAY AND SWAY FRAMES
• MAGNIFICATION OF COLUMN MOMENTS IN NONSWAY FRAMES
• MAGNIFICATION OF COLUMN MOMENTS IN SWAY FRAMES
• ANALYSIS OF SWAY FRAMES
CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT
DESIGN OF SLENDER
COLUMNS

INTRODUCTION

• When a column bends or deflects laterally an amount ∆, its axial load will
cause an increased column moment equal to P∆.

• Should this P∆ moment be of such magnitude as to reduce the axial load

capacity of the column significantly, the column will be referred to as a
slender column

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

DESIGN OF SLENDER
COLUMNS

NONSWAY AND SWAY FRAMES

• Code provides two ways of making a decision:
• a story in a frame is said to be a nonsway one if the increase in column
end moments from second-order effects is 5% or less of the first-order
end moments.

• If the value of the so-called stability index, Q (which follows) is ≤ 0.05, the
commentary states that the frame may be classified as a nonsway one.
(Should 𝑉𝑢 = 0, this method will not apply.)

𝑃𝑢 ∆𝑜
𝑄=
𝑉𝑢 𝑙𝑐

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

DESIGN OF SLENDER
COLUMNS

NONSWAY AND SWAY FRAMES

• where:
𝑃𝑢 - total factored vertical load for all of the columns on the story in
question

∆𝑜 - the elastically determined first-order lateral deflection from Vu at

the top of the story in question with respect to the bottom of that story

𝑉𝑢 - the total factored horizontal shear for the story in question

𝑙𝑐 - the height of a compression member in a frame measured from

center to center of the frame joints

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

DESIGN OF SLENDER
COLUMNS

SLENDERNESS EFFECTS
• The slenderness of columns is based on their geometry and on their lateral
bracing. As their slenderness increases, their bending stresses increase, and
thus buckling may occur.

• If slenderness effects are considered small, then columns can be

considered “short”

• if the column is “slender,” the moment for which the column must be
designed is increased or magnified.

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

DESIGN OF SLENDER
COLUMNS

SLENDERNESS EFFECTS
• UNSUPPORTED LENGTHS, 𝑙𝑢
- This length is considered to be equal to the clear distance between
slabs, beams, or other members that provide lateral support to the
column. If haunches or capitals are present, the clear distance is
measured from the bottoms of the capitals or haunches.

• EFFECTIVE LENGTH FACTORS, k

- the distance between points of zero moment in the column
- the number that must be multiplied by the column’s unsupported
length
- the concept of effective lengths is simply a mathematical method of
taking a column—whatever its end and bracing conditions—and
replacing it with an equivalent pinned end-braced column.

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

DESIGN OF SLENDER
COLUMNS

SLENDERNESS EFFECTS

• EFFECTIVE LENGTH FACTORS, k

 For braced frames, k values can never be greater than 1.0
 For unbraced frames, the k values will always be greater than 1.0 because
of sidesway.

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

DESIGN OF SLENDER
COLUMNS

DETERMINING k FACTORS WITH ALIGNMENT CHART

𝐸𝐼
ψ=
𝑙

• when column end is fixed

ψ=0
• when column end if pinned
ψ=∞
• Since a perfectly fixed end is practically impossible to have, ψ is usually
taken as 1.0 instead of 0 for assumed fixed ends.
• When column ends are supported by, but not rigidly connected to a
footing, ψ is theoretically infinity but usually is taken as about 10 for
practical design.

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

DESIGN OF SLENDER
COLUMNS

DETERMINING k FACTORS WITH ALIGNMENT CHART

• To calculate the ψ values
• the rigidity of the beams
may be calculated on
the basis of 0.35𝐼𝑔 to
account for cracking
and reinforcement,
while 0.70𝐼𝑔 may be
used for compression
members.

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

DESIGN OF SLENDER
COLUMNS

DETERMINING k FACTORS WITH EQUATIONS

• For braced compression members, an upper bound to the effective length
factor may be taken as the smaller value determined from the two
equations
𝑘 = 0.7 + 0.05 ψ𝐴 + ψ𝐵 ≤ 1.0

𝑘 = 0.85 + 0.05ψ𝑚𝑖𝑛 ≤ 1.0

• ψ𝑚𝑖𝑛 is the smaller of ψ𝐴 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ψ𝐵
• For unbraced compression member restrained at both end
• If ψ𝑚 < 2.0
20 − ψ𝑚
𝑘= 1 + ψ𝑚
20
• If ψ𝑚 ≥ 2.0
𝑘 = 0.9 1 + ψ𝑚
CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT
DESIGN OF SLENDER
COLUMNS

DETERMINING k FACTORS WITH EQUATIONS

• For unbraced compression member that are hinged at one end

𝑘 = 2.0 + 0.3ψ
• The ACI Code states that 𝑘 should be taken to be 1.0 for compression
members in frames braced against sidesway unless a theoretical analysis
shows that a lesser value can be used. In the last paragraph of the
commentary, use of the alignment charts or the equations just presented is
said to be satisfactory for justifying 𝑘 values less than 1.0 for braced frames.

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

DESIGN OF SLENDER
COLUMNS

SLENDER COLUMNS IN NONSWAY AND SWAY FRAMES

• For a compression member in a nonsway frame, the effective slenderness
𝑘𝑙
ratio, 𝑢 , is used to determine whether the member is short or slender.
𝑟

• The radius of gyration, r, is

For round column
𝑟 = 0.25𝑑𝑐
For rectangular column
𝑟 = 0.289ℎ
or
𝑟 = 0.30ℎ
h is the dimension of a rectangular column in the direction that stability
is being considered.
CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT
DESIGN OF SLENDER
COLUMNS

SLENDER COLUMNS IN NONSWAY AND SWAY FRAMES

• For nonsway frames, slenderness effects may be ignored if the following
expression is satisfied:
𝑘𝑙𝑢 𝑀1
≤ 34 − 12 ≤ 40
𝑟 𝑀2
𝑀1 - smaller factored end moment in a compression member
𝑀1
- positive if the member is bent in single curvature (C shape)
𝑀2

- negative if the member is bent in double curvature (S shaped)

• For sway frames, slenderness effects may be ignored if

𝑘𝑙𝑢
< 22
𝑟
CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT
DESIGN OF SLENDER
COLUMNS

SLENDER COLUMNS IN NONSWAY AND SWAY FRAMES

• Example 1:
(a) Using the alignment charts, calculate
the effective length factor for column AB of
the braced frame of the figure shown.
Consider only bending in the plane of the
frame.
(b) Compute the slenderness ratio of
column AB. Isit a short or a slender column?
End moments on the column are 𝑀1 =
45 𝑓𝑡 ∗ 𝑘𝑖𝑝𝑠 and 𝑀2 = 75 𝑓𝑡 ∗ 𝑘𝑖𝑝𝑠, resulting in
single curvature.

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

DESIGN OF SLENDER
COLUMNS

ACI CODE TREATMENTS OF SLENDERNESS EFFECTS

• NONLINEAR SECOND ORDER ANALYSIS
consider nonlinearity of materials, member curvature and lateral drift,
load duration, volume changes in concrete because of creep and
shrinkage, and foundation or support interaction.
• ELASTIC SECOND ORDER ANALYSIS
it uses member stiffness immediately prior to failure.
• MOMENT MAGNIFIER PROCEDURE

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

DESIGN OF SLENDER
COLUMNS

MAGNIFICATION OF COLUMN MOMENTS IN NONSWAY FRAMES

𝑀𝑐 = 𝛿𝑀2
𝑀𝑐 - magnified or increased moment
𝛿 - moment magnifier

𝑀2𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝑃𝑢 0.6 + 0.03ℎ

𝑀2𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝑃𝑢 15 + 0.03ℎ

𝐶𝑚
𝛿= ≥ 1.0
𝑃𝑢
1−
0.75𝑃𝑐

𝑀1
𝐶𝑚 = 0.6 + 0.4
𝑀2
CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT
DESIGN OF SLENDER
COLUMNS

MAGNIFICATION OF COLUMN MOMENTS IN NONSWAY FRAMES

• The Euler Buckling load:

𝜋 2 𝐸𝐼
𝑃𝑐 =
𝑘𝑙𝑢 2
• To account for creeps, cracks and so on
• When column and bar sizes have been selected or estimated
0.2𝐸𝑐 𝐼𝑔 + 𝐸𝑠 𝐼𝑠𝑒
𝐸𝐼 =
1 + 𝛽𝑑𝑛𝑠
• When steel percentages are low
0.4𝐸𝑐 𝐼𝑔
𝐸𝐼 =
1 + 𝛽𝑑𝑛𝑠
• To account for the reduction in stiffness caused by sustained axial loads
𝑚𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑
𝛽𝑑𝑛𝑠 = ≤ 1.0
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT
DESIGN OF SLENDER
COLUMNS

MAGNIFICATION OF COLUMN MOMENTS IN NONSWAY FRAMES

• Moment of inertia of reinforcing

𝐼𝑠𝑒 = 𝑎𝑠 𝑦

• Steel modulus of elasticity

𝐸𝑠 = 29 𝑥 106 𝑝𝑠𝑖
• Gross moment of inertia, 𝐼𝑔 , of the column section about centroidal axis
• Concrete modulus of elasticity
• For normal weight concrete
𝐸𝑐 = 57,000 𝑓𝑐′
𝑙𝑏𝑠 𝑙𝑏𝑠
• For other densities (90 𝑓𝑡 3
≤ 𝑤𝑐 ≤ 155 𝑓𝑡 3)
𝐸𝑐 = 𝑤𝑐 1.5 33 𝑓𝑐′
CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT
DESIGN OF SLENDER
COLUMNS

MAGNIFICATION OF COLUMN MOMENTS IN NONSWAY FRAMES

• Example 1:
The tied column shown has been
approximately sized to the
dimensions 12" 𝑥 15". It is to be used in
a frame braced against sidesway.
The column is bent in single curvature
about its y-axis and has an 𝑙𝑢 = 16 𝑓𝑡.
If 𝑘 = 0.83, 𝑓𝑦 = 60,000 𝑝𝑠𝑖i, and
𝑓𝑐 ′ = 4,000 𝑝𝑠𝑖, determine the
reinforcing required. Consider only
bending in the plane of the frame.
Note also that the unfactored dead
axial load 𝑃𝐷 = 30 𝑘𝑖𝑝𝑠, and concrete
is normal weight.
CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT
DESIGN OF SLENDER
COLUMNS

MAGNIFICATION OF COLUMN MOMENTS IN SWAY FRAMES

• Moment magnifier
1
𝛿𝑠 = ≥ 1.0
𝑃𝑢
1−
0.75 𝑃𝑐
𝑃𝑢 - summation of all the vertical loads in the story in question
𝑃𝑐 - sum of all the Euler buckling loads for all of the sway-resisting
columns in the story

𝑀1 = 𝑀1𝑛𝑠 + 𝛿𝑠 𝑀1𝑠

𝑀2 = 𝑀2𝑛𝑠 + 𝛿𝑠 𝑀2𝑠

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

DESIGN OF SLENDER
COLUMNS

MAGNIFICATION OF COLUMN MOMENTS IN SWAY FRAMES

• Example 1:
Select reinforcing bars using the moment magnification method for the
18 𝑖𝑛 𝑥 18 𝑖𝑛 unbraced column shown if 𝑙𝑢 = 17.5 𝑓𝑡, 𝑘 = 1.3, 𝑓𝑦 = 60 𝑘𝑠𝑖, and
𝑓𝑐 ′ = 4 𝑘𝑠𝑖. A first-order analysis has resulted in the following axial loads and
moments:
𝑃𝐷 = 300 𝑘𝑖𝑝𝑠, 𝑀𝐷 = 48 𝑓𝑡 ∗ 𝑘𝑖𝑝𝑠, 𝑃𝐿 = 150 𝑘𝑖𝑝𝑠, 𝑀𝐿 = 25 𝑓𝑡 ∗ 𝑘𝑖𝑝𝑠, 𝑃𝑊 = 272 𝑘𝑖𝑝𝑠,
𝑀𝑊 = 32 𝑓𝑡 ∗ 𝑘𝑖𝑝𝑠
The loading combination assumed to control for the case with no sidesway is
𝑃𝑈 = 1.2𝑃𝐷 + 1.6𝑃𝐿 and 𝑀𝑈 = 1.2𝑀𝐷 + 1.6𝑀𝐿 = 𝑀2𝑛𝑠 .
The loading combination assumed to control with sidesway is
𝑃𝑈 = 0.9𝑃𝐷 + 1.0𝑃𝑊 , 𝑀𝑈 = 0.9𝑀𝐷 + 1.0𝑀𝑊 and 𝑀2𝑠 = 1.0𝑀𝑊
𝑃𝑈 = 12,000 for all columns on floor and 𝑃𝑐 = 60,000 for all columns on floor
CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT
DESIGN OF SLENDER
COLUMNS

MAGNIFICATION OF COLUMN MOMENTS IN SWAY FRAMES

• Example 1:
Column cross - section

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

DESIGN OF SLENDER
COLUMNS

ANALYSIS OF SWAY FRAMES

• Example 2:
Determine the moments and axial
forces that must be used for the
design of column CD of the unbraced
frame shown. Consider only bending
in the plane of the frame. The
assumed member sizes shown in the
figure are used for the analyses given
in the problem. 𝑓𝑦 = 60 𝑘𝑠𝑖, and
𝑓𝑐 ′ = 4 𝑘𝑠𝑖. Consider the load factor
cases of ACI Equations 9-2, 9-4, and 9-
6. For other situations, other
appropriate ACI load factor
equations will have to be considered.
CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT