Reinforced Concrete Design IV- Fourth Year-Civil Engineering

CHAPTER 1 SLENDER COLUMN

1.1 Slender column

A column is said to be slender if its cross-sectional dimensions are

small compared with its length. The degree of slenderness is generally
expressed in terms of the slenderness ratio 𝒌𝒍𝒖 /𝒓.

where

𝑘: effective length factor

𝑙 : unsupported column length

𝑟: radius of gyration of cross

section 𝑟 = 𝐼/𝐴

1
Reinforced Concrete Design IV- Fourth Year-Civil Engineering

1.2 Concentrically loaded columns

Slender column fail by buckling at critical buckling compression load

(𝑃 ).
𝜋 𝐸𝐼 𝑃 𝜋 𝐸𝐼 𝜋 𝐸
𝑃 = 𝑂𝑟 = =
(𝑘𝑙 ) 𝐴 𝐴(𝑘𝑙 ) 𝑘𝑙
𝑟
buckling slenderness
Euler formula compression stress ratio

 For short column, the value of

buckling stress exceeds the 𝑷𝒐
(direct crushing strength)
𝑷𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒍 𝑨
direct crushing strength. 𝑨

 When ≤ , (buckling
𝑷𝒄
compression
𝑨
failure occurs by simple stress)
Crashing Buckling
crushing regardless of .

 When > ,
𝒌𝒍𝒖 𝒌𝒍𝒖
failure occurs by buckling 𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈
𝒓

𝝅𝟐 𝑬𝑰
𝑷𝒄 =
(𝒌𝒍𝒖 )𝟐
𝑷𝒐 = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟓𝒇𝒄 𝑨𝒄 + 𝑨𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒚

Short 𝑷𝒐 Long 𝑷𝒄
compression Failure by compression Failure by
member crushing member buckling

It is seen that the buckling stress (or load) decreases rapidly

with increasing slenderness ratio .
2
Reinforced Concrete Design IV- Fourth Year-Civil Engineering

Buckling failure (slender column)

Crushing failure (short column)

In this bent configuration of the slender column,

bending moment (py) act at any section. The
deflection (y) increases until the bending stress
together with the original compression stress
overstresses and fail the member.

3
Reinforced Concrete Design IV- Fourth Year-Civil Engineering

1.3 Nonsway and sway frames.

A compression member may be assumed braced by inspection if it is

located in a story in which the bracing elements (shear walls, shear
trusses or other types of bracing) provide substantial drift control
and lateral bracing, so that any lateral deflections occurring will be
too small to affect the strength of the column.

Braced (non-sway) frame Unbraced (sway) frame

If we cannot tell by inspection whether we have a non-sway

frame or a sway frame, the ACI Code provides a way of making a
decision as follows;
∑ 𝑷𝒖 ∆𝒐
𝒊𝒇 𝑸= ≤ 𝟎. 𝟎𝟓 →→ 𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒆
𝑽𝒖 𝒍𝒄

where

𝑄: stability index,
∑ 𝑃 : total factored vertical load for all of the columns on the story,
∆ : relative lateral deflection between the top and bottom of a story
due to 𝑉 ,
𝑉 : factored horizontal shear in a story,
𝑙 : length of compression member in a frame measured center to
center of the joints in frame.

4
Reinforced Concrete Design IV- Fourth Year-Civil Engineering

1.4 Effective Length Factor (𝒌)

Effective length factor (𝑘) is the distance between points of zero

moment in the column (the inflection points - IP).

Buckling and effective length of column in braced frames

Buckling and effective length of column in unbraced frames

5
Reinforced Concrete Design IV- Fourth Year-Civil Engineering

Notes//

 In columns of figure (a), (b) and (c), it was assumed that one end
was prevented from moving laterally relative to the other end
(columns are braced against sidesway). In this case, it is seen that
the effective length (𝑘𝑙 ) ≤ real length (𝑙 ).

 In columns of figure (d), (e) and (f), it was assumed that the upper
end moves with respect to the lower end (sidesway movement is not
prevented).

 Euler formula shows that the columns when fixed at both ends,
carries 4 times as much load as when hinged as shown below.
- columns fixed at both ends (𝑘 = 1/2)
𝜋 𝐸𝐼 𝜋 𝐸𝐼
𝑃 = =4
1 (𝑙 )
𝑙
2
- columns hinged at both ends (𝑘 = 1)
𝜋 𝐸𝐼
𝑃 =
(𝑙 )

 𝑘 depend on the ratio of rigidity (𝐸𝐼/𝑙) of the column to the sum of

the rigidities of the restraining members at both ends.

 In comparing columns of figure (b) with column of figure (e), it is

seen that the buckling strength of the former column is 4 times
that of the later column.
- Fig. (b) columns fixed at both ends but braced against sidesway (𝑘 = 1/2)
𝜋 𝐸𝐼 𝜋 𝐸𝐼
𝑃 = =4
1 (𝑙 )
𝑙
2
- Fig. (e) columns fixed at both ends but free to sway (𝑘 = 1)
𝜋 𝐸𝐼
𝑃 =
(𝑙 )

Therefore, compression members free to buckle in a sidesway

mode are always weaker than when braced against sidesway.
6
Reinforced Concrete Design IV- Fourth Year-Civil Engineering

1.4.1 Determining 𝒌 factor using the alignment chart

The preliminary procedure used for estimating effective lengths

involves the use of the alignment charts shown below;

The effective length for a compression member depend on the

end- restrained coefficient (𝛹). The 𝛹 coefficient at one end of the
column equals:

𝐸𝐼
∑ 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛𝑠
𝑙
Ψ=
𝐸𝐼
∑ 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚𝑠
𝑙
where
𝑙 : span length of flexural member measured
center to center of joints.

- For braced columns (𝟏/𝟐 ≤ 𝒌 ≤ 𝟏)

- Fore unbraced columns (𝟏 ≤ 𝒌 ≤ ∞)

7
Reinforced Concrete Design IV- Fourth Year-Civil Engineering

In determining 𝜳 for use in evaluating the effective length

factor (𝒌), the 𝑬 and 𝑰 may be calculated as given in ACI Code section
10.11.1 to account for the effect of cracking and reinforcement on
relative stiffness as follows:

a) Modulus of elasticity ---------- 𝐸 = 4700 𝑓

b) Moment of inertia:
Beams--------------------------- 0.35 𝐼
Columns------------------------- 0.7 𝐼
Walls-Uncracked -------------- 0.35 𝐼
- Cracked ----------------- 0.25 𝐼
c) Area ---------------------------- 1.0 𝐴

Some examples of columns end conditions

Flat plate
b
s
b
c Fixed
joint Partially
c Partially c
(b > c) fixed joint
fixed joint
(s < c)
Fixed joint (b < c)
(Foundation)

Neoprene
Free end
plate Hinged
joint

Hinged joint

8
Reinforced Concrete Design IV- Fourth Year-Civil Engineering

1.5 Unsupported Length (𝒍𝒖 )

The unsupported length (𝑙 ) of a column is measured as the clear

distance between the underside of the beam, slab, or column capital
above, and the top of the beam or slab below

𝒍𝒖 𝒍𝒖

𝒍𝒖𝒙
𝒍𝒖
𝒍𝒖𝒚

9
Reinforced Concrete Design IV- Fourth Year-Civil Engineering

1.6 Radius of Gyration (r)

The radius of gyration introduces the effects of cross-sectional size

and shape to slenderness. The radius of gyration r is defined below.

𝑰
𝒓=
𝑨
Axis of
𝒉
bending

𝑏ℎ
𝒃 𝐼 12 = ℎ
𝑟= = = 0.29ℎ ≈ 0.3ℎ
𝐴 𝑏ℎ 12

𝜋𝐷
𝐼 64 = 𝐷
𝑫 𝑟= = = 0.25𝐷
𝐴 𝜋𝐷 16
4

It is permissible to use the approximations of 𝑟 = 0.3ℎ for square

and rectangular sections, and 𝑟 = 0.25𝐷 for circular sections, where
“ℎ” is the overall sectional dimension in the direction stability is being
considered.

Axis of bending

𝑫 𝒉 𝒉 Direction in which
stability is being
considered

𝒓 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓𝑫 𝒓 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟎𝒉 𝒓 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟎𝒉

10
Reinforced Concrete Design IV- Fourth Year-Civil Engineering

1.7 Consideration of slenderness effect

 For compression members braced against sidesway, effects of

slenderness may be neglected when

𝑘𝑙 𝑀
≤ 34 − 12 … … . . 𝐴𝐶𝐼 𝐶𝑜𝑑𝑒 (10.12.2)
𝑟 𝑀
where
𝑀
34 − 12 ≤ 40 .
𝑀
𝑴𝟏 : Value of smaller factored end moment, 𝑀 is taken positive
when the column is bent in single curvature, and 𝑀 is taken
negative when the column is bent in double curvature.

𝑴𝟐 : Value of larger factored end moment, always positive

𝐌𝟐 > 𝐌𝟏

 For compression members not braced against sidesway, effects

of slenderness may be neglected when
𝑘𝑙
≤ 22 … … . . 𝐴𝐶𝐼 𝐶𝑜𝑑𝑒 (10.13.2)
𝑟

 For all compression members with 𝑘𝑙 /𝑟 > 100, a second order

analysis shall be made, 𝐴𝐶𝐼 𝐶𝑜𝑑𝑒 (10.11.5).
11
Reinforced Concrete Design IV- Fourth Year-Civil Engineering

1.8 Design of slender reinforced concrete braced columns

𝑷𝒏 (𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕) 𝑷𝒏 (𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓)
𝑷𝒏
𝒆𝒐
𝑴𝒏 𝑴𝒐

𝑴𝒏 =𝑷𝒏 (𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕) × 𝒆𝒐 𝑴𝒐 =𝑷𝒏 (𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓) × 𝒆𝒐

𝒉

𝑴𝒏
𝒆𝒐
𝑷𝒏 (𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕) 𝑷𝒏 (𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓)
𝑷𝒏
Short column Slender column

Slender columns shall be design

using the factored axial load 𝑷𝒖
obtained from conventional frame
analysis and a magnified moment 𝑴𝒄
defined for non-sway frames as:
𝑴𝒄 = 𝜹𝒏𝒔 𝑴𝟐 … … . . (𝟏𝟎 − 𝟗)

where

𝜹𝒏𝒔 : moment magnification factor for frames braced against sidesway

to reflect effects of member curvature between ends of compression
member.

𝑴𝟐 : value of larger factored end moment on compression member

12
Reinforced Concrete Design IV- Fourth Year-Civil Engineering

The moment magnification factor for frames braced against

sidesway is given by:
𝐶
𝛿 = ≥ 1.0 … … . . (10 − 10)
𝑃
1−
0.75𝑃
The critical column load, 𝑃 (Euler buckling load) is;

𝜋 𝐸𝐼
𝑃 = … … . . (10 − 11)
(𝑘𝑙 )

𝐸𝐼 in Eq. (10 − 11) is computed either with due considerations

given to the presence of reinforcement in the section as below;

0.2 𝐸 𝐼 + 𝐸 𝐼
𝐸𝐼 = … … . . (10 − 12)
1+𝐵
or approximately using the following equation;
0.4 𝐸 𝐼
𝐸𝐼 = … … . . (10 − 13)
1+𝐵
where

𝐸 : modulus of elasticity of concrete, 𝑀𝑃𝑎 (4700 𝑓 )

𝐼 : moment of inertia of concrete gross cross-section, 𝑚𝑚

𝐸 : modulus of elasticity of reinforcement, 𝑀𝑃𝑎 (200,000𝑀𝑃𝑎)

𝐼 : moment of inertia of reinforcement about centroidal axis of

cross-section, 𝑚𝑚

𝐵 : ratio of maximum factored axial dead load to maximum total

( . )
factored axial load 𝐵 = .
( )

Note// 𝑬𝑰 values given in ACI Code Sections 10.11.1 should not be

used to compute 𝑬𝑰 for use in Euler equation (10-11) because those
values are assumed to be average values for an entire story in a frame.
13
Reinforced Concrete Design IV- Fourth Year-Civil Engineering

In Eq. ( 10 − 10 ) for members braced against sidesway and

without transvers loads between supports, the factor 𝐶 may be
taken as;
𝑀
𝐶 = 0.6 + 0.4 ≥ 0.4 … … . . (10 − 14)
𝑀
where

𝑴𝟏 : Value of smaller factored end moment, 𝑀 is taken positive

when the column is bent in single curvature, and 𝑀 is taken negative
when the column is bent in double curvature.

𝑴𝟐 : Value of larger factored end moment, always positive

Note // For all other cases, 𝐶 shall be taken as 1.0 (for example,
𝐶 = 1.0 for member with transvers load)

Minimum moment (code 10.12.3.2)

The factored moment 𝑀 in Eq. (10 − 9) shall not be taken less than
𝑴𝟐(𝒎𝒊𝒏.) .
𝑴𝟐(𝒎𝒊𝒏.) = 𝑃 (15 + 0.03ℎ) … … . . (10 − 15)
in (mm)
where

ℎ : the cross-sectional dimension in (mm) in the direction of the

eccentricity of load.

For columns for which 𝑀 ( .) is higher than 𝑀 , the values of 𝐶

in Eq. (10 − 9) should either be taken 1.0 or determined based on the
computed ratio of end moments 𝑀 and 𝑀 .

14