Design of RC Columns

CE A433 RC Design
T. Bart Quimby, P.E., Ph.D.
Spring 2007
(Updated Spring 2009)
The Basic Design Inequality

P
u
< fP
n
or M
u
< fM
n


AT THE SAME ECCENTRICTY

P
u
, M
u
vs. fP
n
, fM
n
P
n
, M
n

1/e = P
n
/M
n
fP
n
, fM
n
1/e = fP
n
/fM
n
P
u
, M
u
1/e = P
u
/M
u
Failure Interaction Diagram
C
o
m
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n

T
e
n
s
i
o
n

P
u
< fP
n
is not sufficient
In this case P
u
is less
than fP
n
, however it
falls outside of the
curve
BOTH P
u
< fP
n
and
M
u
< fM
n
at the
same eccentricity
must be true

fP
n
, fM
n
P
u
, M
u
Finding P
u
, M
u
P
u
is the computed internal axial force
determined by structural analysis of the
structure using factored loads
M
u
is the computed internal moment
determined by structural analysis of the
structure using factored loads
If the moment is not about a principle axis
then it can be expressed by its components
about the principle axis, M
ux
and M
uy
Plotting For Biaxial Bending
+ Axial Force

For the case
of biaxial
bending the
condition is:
P
u
< fP
n

at same e
AND at same
rotation angle
f f f
Finding P
n
, M
nx
, and M
ny
Use the principles of strain compatibility
and equilibrium introduced at the start of
the semester
A SURFACE of failure, or 3D interaction
diagram, can be developed to for any RC
section.
M
nx
M
ny
P
n
Finding fP
n
, fM
nx
, and fM
ny
Each P
n
, M
nx
, and M
ny
combination
(each is a unique point on the 3D
interaction surface) is multiplied by f
to generate a fP
n
, fM
nx
, and fM
ny

surface.
ACI 318-08 9.3.2 lists applicable
values of f

Determination of f
(ACI 318-08 9.3.2)
For COMPRESSION CONTROLLED
conditions:
Spirally Reinforced members: f = 0.75
Other Reinforced members: f = 0.65
For TENSION CONTROLLED conditions:
f = 0.90
Between Tension and Compression
controlled:
Linearly interpolate
Confinement Steel
Confinement steel is
required to provide
lateral support to
rebar after the cover
spalls off and to
contain the rubble,
thus increasing the
ductility of the
column
See pages 434-435 of
text to see examples
of column failure

Confinement Steel Types
Spirals (read text pg 442-444 for more detail)
are like a big slinky
Spirals work for round reinforcing patterns
ACI 318-08 7.10.4 covers design requirements for
spirals
Ties (read text pg 440-442 for more detail) are
generally triangular or rectangular
Can be used with all reinforcing patterns
Review ACI 318-08 7.10.5 for rules pertaining to tie
design
More on Confinement Steel
All RC columns MUST have either spirals
or ties extending the full height of the
column (ACI 318-08 7.10.4.6 & 7.10.5.4)
Confinement steel and the enclosed rubble
provide lateral support for the longitudinal
bars so that they can continue to support
axial force after the cover spalls off
Keeps the slenderness (KL/r) small enough
that the bars can still carry significant force
Tie Design
Must follow all of ACI 318-08 7.10.5 rules for
layout and spacing.
There is frequently more than one way to
achieve an acceptable design
Typical Tied Columns
If you look real
close you can see
the cross ties
Column cages can be
pre-fabricated off site
Accidental Eccentricity
ACI 318-08 10.3.6 provisions recognize the fact
that few columns ever have truly concentric
loadings, even if analyzed that way.
Consequently this section puts an upper limit on
the axial force to be equal to that of a load at a
small eccentricity.
For tied columns: P
nmax
= 0.80P
o
For spiral columns: P
nmax
= .85P
o
Where P
o
= maximum concentric capacity (i.e. the
strain across the section = 0.003)
P
o
= .85f
c
(A
g
A
s
) + A
s
f
y
Capacity Interaction Diagram
3D Capacity Surface
f modified
Interaction Surface
Limits on Reinforcing
ACI 318-08 10.9.1: 0.01A
g
< A
s
< 0.08A
g

Limit on longitudinal steel
ACI 318-08 10.9.2: minimum number of
bars is:
(3) if triangular ties are used
(4) if square or circular ties are used
(6) if spirals are used.

Summary
Design inequality: P
u
< fP
n
at same e and angle of
N.A. rotation
Determination of f:
Compression controlled:
f = 0.65 for tied or 0.75 for spiral
Tension controlled: f = 0.90
Interpolate between tension & compression
Accidental eccentricity
fP
nmax
= f(0.80 or 0.85)P
o
Limit on longitudinal reinforcing
0.01A
g
< A
s
< 0.08A
g
Min # bars: (3) for triangular ties, (4) for square or circular ties,
or (6) for spirals
Design Ties or Spirals to meet the requirements of ACI
318-08 7.10
Design Methods
Hand calculations
Always an option but are very time consuming if you have to look at
multiple options
Make a spreadsheet
Takes the repetitiveness out of hand calculations
Good for well defined problems (rectangular sections with a given
number of bar sets
Use Tables of problems already solved
CRSI produces some of these
Limited to the shapes analyzed
Extrapolation or interpolation not really an option
Limited to using their assumptions as part of your design
Write or purchase a program that can handle random shapes (both
cross section and rebar layout)
The only practical option for random shapes.
Good for quick solution to any column problem
CRSI Tables
Use a Program
CONSTREN is an example of such a
program
Can download a sample version of the
program via a link on the class website
Example
Compute the 2D
interaction curve for
the given column (M
uy

= 0).
Assume: f
c
= 6 ksi,
f
y
= 60 ksi
All longitudinal bars
are #7
Are other applicable
requirements met?
Other Requirements
0.01 < A
s
/A
g
= 0.012 < 0.08 OK
Tie layout meets requirements
tie spacing < min(16d
b,long
, 48d
b,tie
, least
column dimension)
tie spacing < min(16(7/8), 48(3/8), 20)
tie spacing < min(14, 18, 20) = 14