Behavior under Combined

Bending and Axial Loads

Interaction Diagram Between Axial Load and Moment
( Failure Envelope )

Concrete crushes
before steel yields

Steel yields before

concrete crushes

Note: Any combination of P and M outside the envelope will cause failure.
Example: Axial Load Vs. Moment
Interaction Diagram

Consider an square column (20 in x 20 in.) with 8 #10

(ρ = 0.0254) and fc = 4 ksi and fy = 60 ksi. Draw the
interaction diagram.
Example: Axial Load Vs. Moment
Interaction Diagram
Point c (in) Pn Mn e
1 - 1451 k 0 0
2 17.5 1314 k 351 k-ft 3.2 in
3 12.5 841 k 500 k-ft 7.13 in
4 10.36 585 k 556 k-ft 11.42 in
5 8.0 393 k 531 k-ft 16.20 in
6 6.0 151 k 471 k-ft 37.35 in
7 4.5 0k 395 k-ft infinity 8

8 0 -610 k 0 k-ft
Example: Axial Load Vs. Moment
Interaction Diagram
Use a series of c
values to obtain the Column Analysis

Pn verses Mn. 2000

1400
1500

1000

P (k) 500

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600

-500

-1000
M (k-ft)
 Example: Axial Load Vs. Moment
Interaction Diagram
Max. compression
Column Analysis

1200

1000
Location of the 800

linearly varying φ. 600

400 Cb
φ Pn (k)

200

0
0 100 200 300 400 500
-200

-400

-600
Max. tension
-800

φ Mn (k-ft)
Design for Combined Bending
and Axial Load (short column)
Column Types
3) Tied Column - Bars in 2 faces (furthest from axis
of bending.

- Most efficient when e/h > 0.2

- rectangular shape increases efficiency
Design for Combined Bending
and Axial Load (short column)
Spices

Typically longitudinal bars spliced just above

each floor. (non-seismic)
Type of lap splice depends on state of stress
(C.12.17)
 Design for Combined Bending
and Axial Load (short column)
Spices
All bars in compression Use compression lap splice
(C.12.16)
0 ≤ f s ≤ 0.5 f y on tension face → Class A tension lap 
(< 1/ 2 bars splice) 

→ Class B 
 C.12.15
( > 1/2 bars spliced) 
fs > 0.5 f y → Class B tension lap splice 


Design for Combined Bending
and Axial Load (short column)
Column Shear

 Nu 
Recall Vc = 0.17 1 +
 14 A  λ f c
'
bw d ( C.11-4 )
( Axial  g 
Compression )

If Vu > 0.5φVc ⇒ Ties must satisfy C.7.10

 Design for Combined Bending
and Axial Load (short column)
Additional Note on Reinforcement Ratio

Recall 0.01 ≤ ρ ≤ 0.04 ( C.10.9.1)

(C.10.8 ) For cross-section larger than required for
loading:
Min. reinforcement may be computed for
reduced effective area, Ag, ( ≥ 1/2 Ag (total) )
∗⇒ Provided strength from reduced area and
resulting Ast must be adequate for loading.
Non-dimensional Interaction
Diagrams
Pn Mn
versus
f c Ag f c Ag h

Pn Pn e
or K n = versus Rn =
f c Ag f c Ag h

See Figures B-12 to B-26

or ACI Common 340 Design Handbook Vol 2
Columns (ACI 340.2R-91)
Non-dimensional Interaction
Diagrams
Design using non-dimensional
interaction diagrams

1.) Calculate factored loads (Pu , Mu ) and e for

relevant load combinations
2.) Select potentially governing case(s)
3.) Use estimate h to calculate γh, e/h for governing
case(s)
Design using non-dimensional
interaction diagrams

4.) Use appropriate chart (App. A) target ρg

Pn Pf
Read ⇒ Calculate Ag = u c
f c Ag required  φ Pn 
 
(for each governing case)  f c Ag 

5.) Select b & h ⇒ Ag = b * h

Design using non-dimensional
interaction diagrams

6.) If dimensions are significantly different from

estimated (step 3), recalculate ( e / h ) and redo
steps 4 & 5.
Revise Ag if necessary.
7.) Select steel ⇒ Ast = ρ Ag
Design using non-dimensional
interaction diagrams

8.) Using actual dimensions & bar sizes to check all

load combinations ( use charts or “exact:
interaction diagram).

9.) Design lateral reinforcement.

Example: Column design using
Interaction Diagrams

Determine the tension and compression

reinforcement for a 16 in x 24 in. rectangular tied
column to support Pu= 840 k and Mu = 420 k-ft. Use
fc = 4 ksi and fy = 60 ksi. Using the interaction
diagram.
 Example: Interaction Diagrams
Compute the initial components

Pu 840 kips
Pn = = = 1292 k
φ 0.65

 12 in. 
420 k-ft  
en =
Mu
=  ft  = 6.0 in.
Pu 840 k
Example: Interaction Diagrams
Compute the initial components
γ h = 24 in. − 5.0 in. = 19.0 in.

19.0 in.
γ= = 0.79
24 in.
Example: Interaction Diagrams
Compute the coefficients of the column
Pn 1292 k
Kn = =
Ag f c (16 in.)( 24 in.)( 4 ksi )
= 0.84

Rn =
Pn e
=
(1292 k )( 6 in.)
Ag f c h (16 in.)( 24 in.)( 4 ksi )( 24 in.)
= 0.21
 Example: Interaction Diagrams
Using an interaction
diagram, B-13
( Rn , K n ) = ( 0.21, 0.84 )
γ = 0.7
f c = 4 ksi f y = 60 ksi
ρ = 0.042
 Example: Interaction Diagrams
Using an interaction
diagram, B-14
( Rn , K n ) = ( 0.21, 0.84 )
γ = 0.9
f c = 4 ksi f y = 60 ksi
ρ = 0.034
Example: Interaction Diagrams
Using linear interpolation to find the ρ of the column
ρ0.9 − ρ0.7
ρ = ρ0.7 + (γ − 0.7 )
( 0.9 − 0.7 )
( 0.034 − 0.042 )
= 0.042 − ( 0.79 − 0.7 )
( 0.9 − 0.7 )
= 0.0384
Example: Interaction Diagrams
Determine the amount of steel required
Ast = ρ Ag = ( 0.0384 )(16 in.)( 24 in.)
= 14.75 in 2
Select the steel for the column, using #11 bars
Ast 14.75 in 2
= 2
= 9.45 bars ⇒ 10 bars
Ab 1.56 in
Example: Interaction Diagrams
The areas of the steel:
Ast = 15.6 in 2
As1 = 7.8 in 2 , At = 7.8 in 2
The loading on the column
Example: Interaction Diagrams
The compression components are
Cs1 = As1 ( f y − 0.85 f c ) = 7.8 in 2 ( 60 ksi − 0.85 ( 4 ksi ) )
= 441.5 k
Cc = 0.85 f cba = 0.85 ( 4 ksi )(16 in.)( 0.85 ) c
= 46.24c
 Example: Interaction Diagrams
The tension component is
T = As1 fs = 7.8 in 2 fs
 d −c  21.5 in. − c 
fs = Es   ε cu = 29000 ksi   ( 0.003)
 c   c 
 21.5 in. − c 
= 87 ksi  
 c 
Example: Interaction Diagrams
Take the moment about the tension steel

 a
Pn ( e′ ) = Cs1 ( d − d ′ ) + Cc  d − 
 2

e′ = 6 in. + 9.5 in.

= 15.5 in.
Example: Interaction Diagrams
The first equation related to Pn

Pn (15.5 in.) = 441.5 k ( 21.5 in. − 2.5 in.)

 0.85c 
+ 46.24c  21.5 in. − 
 2 
= 8388.5 k-in. + 994.2c − 19.65c 2

Pn = 541.2 k + 64.14c − 1.27c 2

 Example: Interaction Diagrams
The second equation comes from the equilibrium
equation and substitute in for Pn

Pn = Cs1 + Cc − T
541.2 k + 64.14c − 1.27c = 441.5 k + 46.24c − 7.8 fs
2

7.8 f s = 1.27c − 17.9c − 99.7

2

f s = 0.1628c − 2.282c − 12.782

2
Example: Interaction Diagrams
Substitute the relationship of c for the stress in the
steel.
 21.5 in. − c 
87   = 0.1628c 2
− 2.282c − 12.782
 c 
The problem is now a cubic solution
c fs RHS
15 in. 37.7 -10.38
19 in. 11.45 2.64
19.5 in. 8.92 4.63
20.0 in. 6.52 6.70
19.98 in. 6.62 6.62
Example: Interaction Diagrams
Compute Pn

Pn = 541.2 k + 64.14 (19.98 in.) − 1.27 (19.98 in.)

2

= 1313.7 k > 1292 k

Compute Mn about the center

h   h a  h
M n = Cs1  − d ′  + Cc  −  + T  d − 
2  2 2  2
 Example: Interaction Diagrams
Compute Mn about the center

M n = 441.5 k (12 in. − 2.5 in.)

 0.85 (19.98 in.) 
+46.24 (19.98 in.) 12 in. − 
 2 
+ ( 7.8 in 2
) ( 6.62 ksi )( 21.5 in. − 12 in.)
= 4194.25 k-in. + 3241.4 k-in. + 490.54 k-in.
= 7926.2 k-in. ⇒ 660.5 k-ft.
Example: Interaction Diagrams
Check that Mn is greater than the required Mu

φ M n = 0.65 ( 660.5 k-ft.)

= 429.33 k-ft. ≥ 420 k-ft.
Check the Pn is greater than the required Pu

φ Pn = 0.65 (1313.7 k )
= 853.9 k ≥ 840 k
Example: Interaction Diagrams
Determine the tie spacing using #4 bars

 16d b

spacing = smallest  48dstirrup
smallest dimension

16 (1.41 in.) = 22.56 in.

=  48 ( 0.5 in.) = 24 in.
 16 in. Use 16 in.
