Column Analysis and Design Examples

These examples use the NSCP 2015/adopted ACI 318 basis. Compression is positive for section resultants, moments are taken about the section centroid, and every interaction point is obtained from strain compatibility and force equilibrium.

Tied-column strain-compatibility diagram

Concept and model scope

The plotted curve is ϕPn−ϕMn\phi P_n-\phi M_n for uniaxial bending, with each perimeter bar evaluated at its actual depth.

The model uses ϵcu=0.003\epsilon_{cu}=0.003, Es=200,000MPaE_s=200\\,000\\ \mathrm{MPa}, a tied-column strength-reduction transition, and a fixed 60 mm cover-to-bar-centroid distance. Concrete compression uses the rectangular stress block.

This is a teaching interaction surface for one bending axis; it does not replace biaxial interaction, slenderness and second-order effects, confinement detailing, minimum eccentricity, or project-specific code verification.

Controls

Idealized bar layout

Rectangular column section with equally spaced perimeter bars

ρg\rho_g = 2.45%

β1=0.850\beta_1=0.850; bar centroids are 60 mm from the perimeter.

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Balanced strain reference

1029 kN, 230.4 kN-m

c=200.0 mmc=200.0\text{ mm}, ϵt=0.00210\epsilon_t=0.00210, ϕ=0.650\phi=0.650

Pure bending (Pn = 0)

0 kN, 221.7 kN-m

c=93.0 mmc=93.0\text{ mm}, ϵt=0.00797\epsilon_t=0.00797, ϕ=0.900\phi=0.900

Maximum plotted design moment

267.8 kN-m

At ϕPn=461 kN\phi P_n=461\text{ kN}; this is computed independently of the balanced label.

Model scope: rectangular Whitney stress block, tied-columnϕ\phi factors, uniaxial bending, elastic-perfectly plastic steel, equally spaced perimeter-bar idealization, and gross-section geometry. The model omits slenderness/second-order effects, biaxial bending, confinement enhancement, seismic detailing, creep, and construction tolerances. It is a section-learning tool, not a complete column design.

Example 1: Maximum Design Axial Strength of a Short Tied Column

A short tied column is 400 mm×400 mm400\text{ mm}\times400\text{ mm} with eight 25 mm bars (Ast=3927 mm2A_{\mathrm{st}}=3927\text{ mm}^2), fc′=28 MPaf'_c=28\text{ MPa}, and fy=420 MPaf_y=420\text{ MPa}. Determine the maximum factored axial design strength.

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Example 2: Balanced Strain Reference Point

A 400 mm×400 mm400\text{ mm}\times400\text{ mm} tied column has two 25 mm bars at d′=65 mmd'=65\text{ mm} and two at d=335 mmd=335\text{ mm}, so As′=As=982 mm2A'_s=A_s=982\text{ mm}^2. Use fc′=28 MPaf'_c=28\text{ MPa}, fy=420 MPaf_y=420\text{ MPa}, Es=200,000 MPaE_s=200{,}000\text{ MPa}, and β1=0.85\beta_1=0.85. Find the balanced nominal resultants.

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Example 3: Capacity at a Specified Load Eccentricity by Strain Compatibility

Use the section and materials from Example 2 for Pu=1000 kNP_u=1000\text{ kN} and Mu=180 kN-mM_u=180\text{ kN-m}. Check section strength without interpolating between interaction-diagram landmarks.

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Example 4: Pure Bending Is Not the Balanced Point

For the section in Example 2, find the strain-compatible point at zero nominal axial force.

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Example 5: Nonsway Slenderness and Moment Magnification

A braced, nonsway 400 mm×400 mm400\text{ mm}\times400\text{ mm} column is pin-ended for the axis considered, so k=1.0k=1.0. Let Lu=4.0 mL_u=4.0\text{ m}, fc′=28 MPaf'_c=28\text{ MPa}, Pu=3000 kNP_u=3000\text{ kN}, M1/M2=+0.50M_1/M_2=+0.50 for single curvature, and M2=120 kN-mM_2=120\text{ kN-m}. Use EI=0.4EcIg/(1+βdns)EI=0.4E_cI_g/(1+\beta_{dns}) with βdns=0.20\beta_{dns}=0.20.

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Example 6: Bresler Reciprocal Load Check

At the specified eccentricities, a column has Po=4000 kNP_o=4000\text{ kN}, Pnx=1500 kNP_{nx}=1500\text{ kN}, and Pny=1200 kNP_{ny}=1200\text{ kN}. Estimate the nominal biaxial axial capacity within the range where the reciprocal approximation is applicable.

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Example 7: Minimum Spiral Volumetric Ratio

A circular column has overall diameter 400 mm400\text{ mm} and 40 mm40\text{ mm} clear cover to the outside of the spiral, so the core diameter measured outside-to-outside is 320 mm320\text{ mm}. Use fc′=28 MPaf'_c=28\text{ MPa} and fyt=420 MPaf_{yt}=420\text{ MPa}.

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Example 8: Tied and Spiral Axial Caps Are Conditional

Two otherwise comparable short columns each have Po=4000 kNP_o=4000\text{ kN}. Compare their maximum factored axial strengths, assuming the first is tied and the second fully qualifies for spiral-member provisions.

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