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Short column 400x500, 1600 kN

Short answer

Column is short. Minimum eccentricity raises Mux to 36.3 kNm, Muy is 150 kNm. Provide 12-16 mm bars (Asc 2413 mm2, 1.21%) and 8 mm ties at 250 mm c/c; biaxial check is safe.

Design the longitudinal reinforcements to be provided for a short column 400 x 500 mm subjected to the following forces: Pu = 1600 kN, MuxM_{ux} = 20.0 kN-m, MuyM_{uy} = 150 kN-m. Use M25 concrete and Fe415 steel. Unsupported length = 3 m.

Data and assumptions

  • Column 400 mm (width bb) × 500 mm (depth DD); Pu=1600P_u = 1600 kN; fck=25f_{ck} = 25 MPa, fy=415f_y = 415 MPa. Clear cover 40 mm (IS 456 cl. 26.4.2.1), 8 mm ties.
  • Moments: about major axis (x-x) MuxM_{ux} = 20 kN·m; about minor axis (y-y) MuyM_{uy} = 150 kN·m.
  • Sizes are given as b×Db \times D with D≥bD \ge b; moments MuxM_{ux} act about the major axis (depth DD) and MuyM_{uy} about the minor axis (depth bb).

Slenderness

Axislel_e (mm)Dimension (mm)le/l_e/dimType
x-x (about major)30005006.00short
y-y (about minor)30004007.50short

Both ratios are below 12, so the column is short; no additional moment is required.

Minimum eccentricity (cl. 25.4)

emin=max⁡(L500+D30, 20)e_{min} = \max\left(\frac{L}{500} + \frac{D}{30},\ 20\right)
  • About x-x: ex=3000/500+500/30=22.7e_x = 3000/500 + 500/30 = 22.7 mm (min. 20 mm); adopt 22.7 mm; Mux,min=Pue=36.3M_{ux,min} = P_u e = 36.3 kN·m
  • About y-y: ey=3000/500+400/30=19.3e_y = 3000/500 + 400/30 = 19.3 mm (min. 20 mm); adopt 20.0 mm; Muy,min=32.0M_{uy,min} = 32.0 kN·m

Design moments

  • Design moments: Mux=36.3M_{ux} = 36.3 kN·m (the given 20 kN·m is less than Puex,minP_u e_{x,min}, so the minimum-eccentricity moment governs) and Muy=150.0M_{uy} = 150.0 kN·m.

Longitudinal reinforcement

PufckbD=160000025×400×500=0.320\dfrac{P_u}{f_{ck} b D} = \dfrac{1600000}{25 \times 400 \times 500} = 0.320 Bars are chosen so that pp lies between 0.8% (minimum) and 4% (practical maximum; IS 456 cl. 26.5.3.1 allows 6%). The uniaxial capacities Mux1M_{ux1}, Muy1M_{uy1} at PuP_u are read from the SP-16 interaction charts for rectangular sections; here they are computed by strain compatibility with the IS 456 stress block and the design stress-strain curve of steel (same basis as the charts), with effective cover d′=40+8+ϕ/2d' = 40 + 8 + \phi/2.

Trialpp (%)d′/Dd'/DMux1M_{ux1}Muy1M_{uy1}Pu/PuzP_u/P_{uz}αn\alpha_n(Mux/Mux1)αn+(Muy/Muy1)αn(M_{ux}/M_{ux1})^{\alpha_n}+(M_{uy}/M_{uy1})^{\alpha_n}
8-16 φ0.800.112180.1139.60.5861.641.197 ✗
10-16 φ1.010.112191.9155.90.5611.601.010 ✗
12-16 φ1.210.112214.7165.00.5381.560.924 ✓

Check

Puz=0.45fckAc+0.75fyAsc=0.45×25×197587+0.75×415×2413=2974P_{uz} = 0.45 f_{ck} A_c + 0.75 f_y A_{sc} = 0.45 \times 25 \times 197587 + 0.75 \times 415 \times 2413 = 2974 kN PuPuz=16002974=0.538\dfrac{P_u}{P_{uz}} = \dfrac{1600}{2974} = 0.538, so αn=1.56\alpha_n = 1.56 (IS 456 cl. 39.6; linear between 1.0 at 0.2 and 2.0 at 0.8).

(MuxMux1)αn+(MuyMuy1)αn=(36.3214.7)1.56+(150.0165.0)1.56=0.924≤1.0\left(\frac{M_{ux}}{M_{ux1}}\right)^{\alpha_n} + \left(\frac{M_{uy}}{M_{uy1}}\right)^{\alpha_n} = \left(\frac{36.3}{214.7}\right)^{1.56} + \left(\frac{150.0}{165.0}\right)^{1.56} = 0.924 \le 1.0

The interaction condition is satisfied; the section is safe.

Provide 12-16 mm bars (Asc=2413A_{sc} = 2413 mm², p=1.21%p = 1.21\%), within 0.8% to 4%.

Lateral ties

  • Diameter ≥max⁡(ϕmax/4, 6)=max⁡(16/4,6)=6\ge \max(\phi_{max}/4,\ 6) = \max(16/4, 6) = 6 mm → provide 8 mm.
  • Pitch ≤min⁡\le \min(least lateral dimension, 16ϕmin16\phi_{min}, 300 mm) =min⁡(400,256,300)=256= \min(400, 256, 300) = 256 mm → provide 8 mm ties @ 250 mm c/c.

Detailing

CROSS-SECTION 400 x 500
    +-------------------------+
    |   o     o     o     o   |
    |                         |
    |                         |
    |   o                 o   |
    |                         |
    |                         |
    |                         |
    |   o                 o   |
    |                         |
    |                         |
    |   o     o     o     o   |
    +-------------------------+
   o = 16 mm bars, ties 8 mm @ 250 c/c

Answer: 400 × 500 mm column with 12-16 mm longitudinal bars (p=1.21%p = 1.21\%) and 8 mm ties @ 250 mm c/c.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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