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INTRODUCTION
The purpose of a column base is mainly to transfer the column

load to the foundation, which in turn transfer the load to the soil.
As the transfer of load is from the steel column to the steel base

plate resting on the concrete block, the base plate requires a

larger area to distribute the load on the weaker area of concrete.
The same is the phenomenon when the concrete block transfer

the load to the soil.

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As the load is transferred from the column to the base plate and

the base plate to the concrete block, the plan area requirements
of the base plate and the concrete block depends on the bearing
strength of concrete and soil respectively.
The load on the column is not always pure axial. Many times

the column is subjected to axial load along with bending due to

eccentric load, producing either uniaxial or biaxial load.
It becomes necessary to check the minimum stresses developed

due to the combined action of the axial load and moments.

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These stresses should not exceed the design bearing strength of

the materials. Secondly, it is also necessary to see that uplift

does not take place in the case of overturning.
Care needs to be taken to secure the base plate by effectively

anchoring it by means of bolts embedded sufficiently in

concrete, either during casting or by providing a pocket for
grouting with bolts.

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Another important consideration is whether the structural

arrangement of the column base is commensurate with what was

considered in analysis.
If the column base is taken as a hinge, then the column base must

have rotational freedom.

In hinged condition the base is subjected to direct load and shear.

Direct load produces uniform pressure on the base plate, but at

the same time the concrete block produces non-uniform pressure
on the soil. This is due to horizontal shear at hinged end.

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This transfers its effect to the soil as shear along with moment

due to depth of concrete block.

Moment = shear x Depth of concrete block.
The fixed end base for the column reduces structural actions in

the member of the frame, while it increases the cost of

foundation by providing a larger area for the no uplift
conditions.
For large span structures it becomes ultimately economical to

provide a hinged column base, even if it requires compromise in

the form of a slightly heavier member design.
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Slab Base

In this type of base, steel plate of sufficient thickness is placed

below steel column.

Column is connected to the base plate using fillet weld all around

the column to the ground.

Normally, slab base foundation is provided for columns subjected

to axial load only.

To connect the base plate to the foundation concrete, four 20 mm

diameter and 300 mm long anchor bolts are provided.

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This is used for column carrying either axial load or axial load

with moderate bending moment, so that the pressure

distribution is wholly compressive.
A thicker base plate is required under pure axial load on the

column. The actual base plate area is more than that required
for bearing, the effective area of the base plate is found by
considering the shaded area as shown in fig. for various crosssections of the column.

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Minimum thickness of
slab base

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Gusset Base

When load on column is heavy or when the column is subjected to

axial load and moment , gusseted base is provided. It consists of,

Base plate
Gusset plate
Connecting angles (cleat angles)
Web cleat angles.

In case of gusseted base foundation due to gusset plates, bearing area

of base plate gets increased. Hence, the thickness of base plate will
be less than the thickness of slab base for the same axial loads.
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Gusset plates are connected generally to the flanges of the

column. At the lower end the width of the gusset is equal to the
width of the base plate.
Hence the base plate is subjected to bending due to the

pressure below about one axis only.

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Codal Provisions (cl.- 7.4,

Pg.-46)

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In such cases the effective plan area of the base plate is

obtained by taking equal projection c from the face of the

column such that the bearing pressure on the effective area
does not exceed the bearing capacity of concrete.

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Design of slab base

Area of base plate
foundation
Thickness of base plate
Weld connecting column to base plate
Size of concrete block.

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