Design of a Rectangular Reinforced Concrete Column to AS 3600:2018

Gain insights into the design of reinforced concrete columns to AS 3600: 2018 Australian Standards, exploring the structural requirements, practical case studies, and a comprehensive comparison between hand calculation and structural analysis software.

Designing a Rectangular Reinforced Concrete Column

When designing a rectangular reinforced concrete column, you can consider the following:

• Design axial load and moments: Determine the design axial load and moments on the column.
• Cross-sectional area: Calculate the required cross-sectional area using the formula A = (P + Mc) / fc, where A is the cross-sectional area, P is the axial load, Mc is the moment due to flexure, and fc is the compressive strength of concrete.
• Reinforcement: A minimum of four vertical reinforcement bars are required, one at each corner. For larger columns, additional bars may be added on the faces between the corners.
• Column type: For design purposes, columns are categorized as short or slender.
• Reinforcement material: The reinforcement is usually steel bars, but post-tensioning can also be used.
• Installation: The installation process includes preparing the area, creating a concrete bed, placing the reinforcement cage, applying slurry, pouring concrete, and curing.

Reinforced concrete is a composite material that combines concrete with reinforcement to compensate for the concrete’s low tensile strength and ductility. When designed correctly, the alkalinity of the concrete protects the steel rebar from corrosion.

Design of a Rectangular Reinforced Concrete Column

Reinforced concrete columns are one of the fundamental components in residential structural design, serving as critical load-bearing elements that support the structure above.

These columns are made by casting concrete around a reinforcement usually made of steel bars or meshes, which work together to resist the forces that act upon the structure, such as compression and bending.

This document outlines the design process for a rectangular reinforced concrete column, following the requirements of AS 3600:2018 (Australian Standard for Concrete Structures). This is a simplified example and may not cover all aspects of a real-world design.

1. Define the Problem

• Loads:
  • Dead Load (DL): 500 kN (from the weight of the roof, floors, and finishes)
  • Live Load (LL): 200 kN (from the weight of people, furniture, etc.)
• Column Dimensions: 400 mm x 600 mm (width x depth)
• Material Properties:
  • Concrete: f’c = 32 MPa
  • Steel: f’y = 500 MPa

2. Calculate Design Loads

• Total Factored Load:
  • DL * 1.5 + LL * 1.5 = 500 * 1.5 + 200 * 1.5 = 1050 kN

3. Determine Axial Load and Bending Moment

• Axial Load (Pu): 1050 kN (Assuming the load is purely axial)
• Bending Moment (Mu): 0 kNm (Assuming no bending moment is present)

4. Design the Column Cross-section

• Calculate the area of concrete: A = 0.4 m * 0.6 m = 0.24 m²
• Determine the required concrete area:
  • Pu = f’c * A * (0.85 * 0.67) (As per AS 3600 Clause 7.2.2)
  • 1050 kN = 32 MPa * A * (0.85 * 0.67)
  • A ≈ 0.57 m²
  • This indicates that the initial assumed cross-section is adequate.

5. Design the Reinforcement

• Calculate the required area of steel (As):
  • As = (Pu / f’y) * (1 – 0.85 * (f’c / f’y)) (As per AS 3600 Clause 7.2.3)
  • As = (1050 kN / 500 MPa) * (1 – 0.85 * (32 MPa / 500 MPa))
  • As ≈ 1900 mm²
• Choose Reinforcement:
  • Select 12 mm diameter bars (As = 1131 mm² per bar)
  • Number of bars required = 1900 mm² / 1131 mm² ≈ 1.68 ≈ 2 bars

6. Design the Reinforcement Layout

• Spacing:
  • Minimum cover: 40 mm (AS 3600 Clause 5.3.3)
  • Maximum bar spacing: 300 mm (AS 3600 Clause 7.3.1)
  • Ensure adequate clear cover and spacing between bars.
• Distribution:
  • Two bars (12 mm diameter) on each face of the column will provide the required reinforcement area (4 bars total).

7. Check Shear Strength

• Shear Force (Vu): 0 kN (Assuming no shear force is present)
• Shear Strength (Vc):
  • Vc = 0.2 * f’c * bw * d (As per AS 3600 Clause 7.5.2)
  • Vc = 0.2 * 32 MPa * 0.4 m * 0.56 m (Assuming an effective depth (d) of 560 mm)
  • Vc ≈ 14.3 kN
• Shear Capacity (V): Vc + Vs (Vs is the shear reinforcement, which is not required in this case due to no shear force)
• Since the shear capacity is significantly greater than the applied shear force, the column is adequate in shear.

8. Check Deflection

• Deflection requirements: AS 3600 Clause 4.1 requires checking deflection limits based on the building’s use and performance requirements. This is not included in this simplified example.

9. Check Minimum Reinforcement

• Minimum Reinforcement (Amin): AS 3600 Clause 7.3.2 specifies minimum reinforcement requirements. Check that the chosen reinforcement meets these requirements.

10. Detailing and Documentation

• Drawings: Prepare detailed drawings of the column showing dimensions, reinforcement layout, bar sizes, spacing, and cover requirements.
• Specifications: Provide written specifications for the concrete mix, steel grade, and other relevant details.

Conclusion

This document has outlined the design process for a rectangular reinforced concrete column to AS 3600:2018. The calculations and considerations provide a basic understanding of the design process, however, the actual design must be carried out by a qualified structural engineer who considers all relevant factors and codes.

Important Note: This is a simplified example and should not be used for actual construction projects. The design process involves various complex factors and requires a thorough understanding of AS 3600:2018 and other relevant codes and standards.