Design of

Precast Concrete
Columns in Simple
Construction
Dr Ahmad Baharuddin Abd. Rahman,
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi
Malaysia, Skudai, Johor.
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 Skeletal Structures

Rigid Construction Simple Construction

(Braced Frame)

2
• EC2 Part 1-1:
• 5.8 Analysis of second order effects with axial load
• 5.8.1 Definitions
• Braced members or systems: structural members or
subsystems, which in analysis and design are assumed not
to contribute to the overall horizontal stability of a
structure
• Bracing members or systems: structural members or
subsystems, which in analysis and design are assumed to
contribute to the overall horizontal stability of a structure

3
This section discusses the aspects of analysis and design of
columns in the case of braced frames with simple beam-to-column
connections.
4
 BACKGROUND
Column Failure Mode
• EC2 Part 1-1
• 5.8.1 Definitions
• Buckling: failure due to instability of a
member or structure under perfectly axial
compression and without transverse load
• Buckling load: the load at which buckling
occurs; for isolated elastic members it is
synonymous with the Euler load
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 Buckling Load

Buckling Load

• Dr. Nader Okasha

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• Column Buckling
• J.P. Bardet on November 5, 2004 NIIGATA-KEN CHUETSU 7
EARTHQUAKE
 PRECAST CONCRETE COLUMN

Source: Dr Kim Elliot

• Columns with pinned connections

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Analysis of Forces (Actions) in
the Column

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10
Columns should be designed for the combined effects
of axial load, NEd and bending moment, MEd.

The bending moments, MEd may consist of:

1. First order moments
due to eccentric application of load in the case of
columns with pinned connections or
due to continuity in the case of columns with rigid
connections
2. Moments due to geometrical imperfections
3. Second order moments if the column is slender.
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First order moment due to eccentric load

• Load distribution from slab to beam

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• Load transmission from beams to columns
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In case of columns in
simple construction
(pinned beam-to-column
connections):
gravity loads from slab are
transferred to beams,
subsequently beam end
reactions are transferred to
to columns with
eccentricity resulting in
first order moment due to
load eccentricity

Ref: Precast Eurocode 2: Design

Manual, British Precast
14
Precast beam supported by
simple connection

Beam will be
simply
supported and
the support
reactions act
eccentricly to
the column
centroid
Column with Pinned Connection

R1

M=R1 x e

R2

R3 N=R1+R2+R3+column
selfweight

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 R1

Mi=R1xe

N1 N1 = R1 + column
selfweight

R2
e

N2
Mi=R2xe

Forces due to vertical loads

N2 = R2 + N1
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• First order moment
due to eccentric
loads in columns
with simple pinned
connections

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COLUMN MOMENTS
Moment due to Geometric Imperfection
based on EC2 Part 1-1 clause 5.2

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25
Column Resistance

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27
The section is subject to an axial force N acting along the centre
line, and a bending moment M acting about the centroidal axis.
Assumptions:
(a) rectangular stress block,
(b) the neutral axis is within the section,
(c) both sets of reinforcement are in compression,
(d) compressive stress and strain are positive.
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- Lawrence Martin and John Purkiss
29
Total axial load resistance

Moment resistance

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Where:

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The above equations have unknowns of f1, f2, x and AS and
require trial and error method to solve for As.

Alternatively, the area of steel required, As can be solved by

design charts

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 Column Slenderness
Based on clause 5.8.3.2 EC2
The column slenderness ratio, which influences
the column capacity, is defined as

Where
lo is the effective length
i is the radius of gyration
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Column effective length, lo

Clause 5.8.3.2 (2) EC2 Part 1-1

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35
5.1.4 Second order effects
(1)P Second order effects (see EN 1990 Section 1) shall be
taken into account where they are
likely to affect the overall stability of a structure significantly
and for the attainment of the ultimate limit state at critical
sections.
(2) Second order effects should be taken into account
according to 5.8.
(3) For buildings, second order effects below certain limits
may be ignored (see 5.8.2 (6)).

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• In clause 5.8.3.1.(1) EC2 , the column is
considered short and second order effects may
be ignored if the slenderness λ is below λlim ,
The factors A for creep, B for reinforcement, C for
curvature of bending and n for load relative to capacity
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 Second Order Moment
Second order moment need to be added if the column is
slender. The second order moment can be obtained from
clause 5.8.5 EC2

EC2 Part 1-1, clause 5.8.5 Methods of analysis

(1) The methods of analysis include a general method, based
on non-linear second order analysis, see 5.8.6 and the
following two simplified methods:
(a) Method based on nominal stiffness, see 5.8.7
(b) Method based on nominal curvature, see 5.8.8
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42
 Short Column
• If the column is short, then it should be
designed to carry for axial loads and first
order moments, including geometrical
imperfection, using design charts.
• In short column, the strength is governed by
the strength of the materials and the
dimensions of the cross section

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For short column, the effect of second order moment in the
column can be neglected, therefore factor Kr in the design chart
can be omitted. 44
Other rules for area of steel, As to be provided
in the column section

EC2 Part 1-1, Clause 9.5.2:

• Minimum area of longitudinal steel
As,min=0.10 NEd/fyd or 0.002Ac
whichever is the greater.

• Maximum area of longitudinal steel

As,max=0.04Ac
with twice this value at laps.
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• Short Column - the strength is governed by
the strength of the materials and the
dimensions of the cross section

• Slender Column - the strength may be

reduced by geeometrical deformation such
as lateral deflections due to buckling.

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Design Example

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EXAMPLE 1
The four storey column shown below supports beams
on two opposite sides.
E
400mm

3000mm
D
500mm

3000mm
C
500mm

3000mm
B
500mm

3600mm
A

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49
The characteristic beam end reactions in (kN) are:
Roof beams: Dead load= 80 kN, Live load= 27 kN
Floor beams: Dead load= 108 kN, Live load= 90 kN
Gk=80kN Gk=80kN
Qk=27kN Qk=27kN

Gk=108kN,
Gk=108kN, Qk=90kN
Qk=90kN

Gk=108kN, Gk=108kN,
Qk=90kN
Qk=90kN

Gk=108kN,
Gk=108kN, Qk=90kN
Qk=90kN

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The distance from the face of the column to the centre
of beam bearing is 60 mm.
The construction tolerance is 10 mm.

Construction tolerance=10 mm

60mm Centre of
bearing

Corbel

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Determine the suitable size of the precast column and
main reinforcement bar.

Column size:
The column cross-section should be square.

Concrete:
Use fck=C40/50 N/mm2

Steel reinforcement:
Link and main steel bar, fyk=500 N/mm2.
Cover to centre of bars=35 mm.
Link diameter = 10 mm

yo = 1.0
fef = 1.0 52
SOLUTION
Select an initial column size.
Try b = 300 mm, h = 300 mm (self weight = 1.5 kN/m height).
d = h-cover - link dia. - main bar dia./2
= 300 – 10 - 35 300mm
= 255 mm
e
d/h = 255/300 = 0.85 Construction
tolerance=10mm

60mm
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55
56
Load Case 1:
Patch loading of maximum load on both spans:
1.35Gk + 1.5Qk & 1.35Gk +1.5Qk

1.35Gk + 1.5Qk 1.35Gk + 1.5Qk

1.35Gk + 1.5Qk 1.35Gk + 1.5Qk

1.35Gk + 1.5Qk 1.35Gk + 1.5Qk

1.35Gk + 1.5Qk 1.35Gk + 1.5Qk

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COLUMN AXIAL LOAD

Axial load from column self-weight

Column self-weight for storeys 2, 3 and 4 with 3m high:
= 1.35 (concrete density x column area x column height
= 1.35 (25 kN/m3 ) (0.3m x 0.3m) (3m)
= 9.11 kN

Column self-weight for storey 1 with 3.6m high

= 1.35 (25 kN/m3 ) (0.3m x 0.3m) (3.6m)
= 10.94 kN
 148.5kN 148.5 kN
Axial load from summation
of beam reactions at each
level. 280.8kN 280.8kN

Total axial load in

280.8kN 280.8kN
the lowest column
= 2 (148.5) + 9.11 C
280.8kN 280.8kN
+ 2 (280.8) + 9.11
+ 2(280.8) + 9.11 B
+ 2(280.8) + 10.94
= 2020.07 kN
A

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COLUMN MOMENT

Eccentricity of beam reaction to column centroid

emax = 150 + 60 + 10 = 220 mm
emin =150 + 60 - 10 = 200 mm,

Beam Reactions
Vmax at roof = (1.35 x 80) + (1.5 x 27) = 148.5 kN;
Vmax at floors = (1.35 x 108) + (1.5 x 90) = 280.8 kN;

Nominal moments due to eccentricity,

transferred to column
Mnet at roof = (148.5 x 0.22) - (148.5 x 0.20) = 2.97 kNm;
Mnet at floors = (280.8 x 0.22) – (280.8 x 0.20) = 5.62 kNm
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Moment distribution factor

At first floor
kBA
kBA =
kBA + kBC 3000mm

(4EI/L)BC
= 3000mm
(4EI/L)AB + (4EI/L)BC C

1/3.6 3000mm
=
B First floor
1/3.6 + 1/3
3600mm
= 0.454
A

At foundation
kAB = 0.5 kBA=0.227 (50% carry over).
Load Case 2:
Patch loading on adjacent span, in which maximum load
on one span and minimum load on the other span.

1.35Gk + 1.5Qk
1.0Gk

1.35Gk + 1.5Qk
1.0Gk

1.35Gk + 1.5Qk
1.0Gk

1.35Gk + 1.5Qk 1.0Gk

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Eccentricity of beam reaction to column centroid
emax = 150 + 60 + 10 = 220 mm
emin =150 + 60 - 10 = 200 mm,

Beam reaction
Vmax at roof = (1.35 x 80kN) + (1.5 x 27kN) = 148.5 kN;
Vmin at roof = 1.0 x 80kN = 80 kN

Vmax at floors = (1.35 x 108kN) + (1.5 x 90kN) = 280.8 kN;

Vmin at floors = 1.0 x 108kN = 108 kN

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Net moment due to eccentricity

At roof level
Mnet
= (148.5kN x 0.22m) - (80kN x 0.20m)
= 16.7 kNm

At floor level
Mnet
= (280.8kN x 0.22m) – (108kN x 0.20m)
= 40.2 kNm

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Axial loads in columns
At roof N = 148.5 + 80 = kN
At 3rd floor N = 538 + 288 + (1.4 x 1.5 x 3.3) = 833 kN
At 2nd floor N = 833 + 538 + 7 = 1378 kN
At 1st floor n = 1378 + 538 + 7 = 1923 kN
At foundation N = 1923 + 9 = 1932 kN
192kN 96kN

394kN 144kN

394kN 144kN

394kN 144kN

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 Moment distribution factors
At 3rd floor
4
kDE = 3.350 = 0.44 and k 1 - 0.44 = 0.56
3 4 DC
+
3.350 3.500

kDC = 1 - 0.44 = 0.56

At 2nd floor, kCD = kCB 0.5 by inspection

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 At 1st floor
4
kBC = 3.350 = 0.55
3 4
+
3.350 3.500
kBA = 0.45

At foundation
kAB = 0.5 kBA=0.225 (=50% carry over).

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 24kNm
400mm

288kN 2900mm 3350mm

26.09 33.21
500mm

833kN 3000mm 3500mm

29.65 29.65
500mm

1378kN
3000mm 3500mm
32.62 26.68
500mm

1932kN 4000mm 4000mm

13.3

Bending moment (kNm)

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Example from: Dr Kim Elliot