1

Helsinki University of Technology

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Rak-83.140 Seminar on Steel Structures
Zhang Jing 63864F
Spring 2004










Design of Composite columns











2


CONTENT

1. Introduction....................3

1.1 Types of composite columns....3
1.2 An example of experiment comparison with steel column..4
1.3 Advantages of composite columns...5

2. Composite column design according to Eurocode 45

2.1 Fundamental design requirements....6
2.2 Design methods according to EC 4..6
2.3 The Simplified Method7
2.3.1 The partial safety factors of materials 7
2.3.2 Limitations when using the simplified method..7
2.3.3 Local buckling of steel members. ....9
2.3.4 Second-order effect..10
2.3.5 Plastic resistance to axial force11
2.3.6 Plastic moment of resistance................................................................12
2.3.7 Resistance to combined compression and bending..13
2.3.8 Compression and biaxial bending....17
2.3.9 The influence of shear force.18

3. Compare with other design codes...19

3.1 The building code requirements of reinforced concrete (ACI 318-89)..
19
3.2 Load and resistance factor design method (AISC-LRFD).20
3.3 Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ).20
3.4 British Standard BS 5400-Part 5....20
3.5 European Code EC4...21

4. Reference......21

Appendix: A Design Example of composite column according to Eurocode4.....
..22



3
1. Introduction

The combination of structural steel and concrete in one bearing system is the basis of
composite structures. Nowadays the composite slabs, composite beams and composite
columns are widely used in many countries.

1.1 Types of composite columns

A composite column is defined as a compression member which may either be a
concrete encased section or a concrete filled hollow section. According to the shape of
the cross-section, there are mainly three different types of composite columns are
principally in use, see Fig.1.
Concrete-encased sections (a, b and c)
Concrete-filled hollow sections (f, g and i)
Partly concreted-encased sections (d and e).

Fig.1 Typical cross-sections of composite column

Concrete encased columns generally fulfill the technical requirements for high classes
of fire protection without any additional measures. They can be easily strengthened by
reinforcing bars in the concrete cover. However, they do not present an accessible
structural steel surface for later fastenings and attractive surface treatment. This type
of composite column is the preferred form for seismic-resistant structures. Under
severe flexural overload, concrete encasement cracks resulting in reduction of
stiffness while the steel core can continue providing shear capacity and ductile
resistance to subsequent cycles of overload.
4
Concrete-filled column is used for bridge piers subject to impact from traffic, columns
to support storage tanks, decks of railways, column in high-rise building and as piles
for foundations. In concrete-filled hollow sections, the longitudinal reinforcement
may be not necessary, if design for fire resistance is not required.
Partly concreted-encased columns have high fire resistance, which is due to that the
concrete part prevents the inner steel parts - structural steel as well as reinforcing bars
from heating up too fast. Another significant advantage is that some of the steel
surfaces remain exposed and can be used for connection to other beams.

1.2 An Example of Experiment Comparison with steel column

The basic buckling modes of steel and composite column are illustrated in Fig.2. In
the case of concrete-filled steel tubular column, concrete inside the tube prevents
inward-buckling modes of the steel tube wall, and the tube-wall in turn provides
effective lateral confinement to the concrete inside the tube.

Fig.2 Buckling modes of steel and composite sections

Typical example of load-average strain curves for a steel and concrete-filled column
are shown in Fig.3.


(a) Steel section (b) Composite section

Fig.3 Load average strain curves under cyclic loading
[1]


The unloading response of the tubes becomes rapid in case of composite columns,
5
with increasing tube wall slenderness due to local buckling. The response of
composite tube is similar to that for the bare steel tube. The hysteretic loops in the
concrete filled column were relatively narrow in early cycles, and then become wider
at the later cycles due to strain hardening in the post-ultimate region. The maximum
strength is obtained at about a strain 0f 0.2% in the steel box columns and in the range
of 0.3-0.4% in the concrete-filled columns. Obviously, the maximum strength of
concrete-filled columns was much larger than those of the steel columns. Therefore, it
can be calculated that the concrete-filled column shows good structural performance
through ductility and high strength.

1.3 Advantages of composite columns

There are many advantages associated with the use of composite columns

(1) High load capacity with small cross-section and economic material use
(2) Simple connection to other members, as for steel construction
(3) Possibility of plastic deformation and ductile behavior
(4) Good fire resistance
(5) High resistance to compressive stresses
(6) Reduced the risk of local buckling of the steel section
(7) Advantages in fabrication

For concrete-filled hollow section columns, there are some more special advantages

(1) Steel is placed in its most effective position at the edge of cross-section
(2) Concrete works at higher stresses because of the confinement provided by
the steel tubes
(3) Fire protection is not usually needed, as the concrete core provides good fire
resistance
(4) The steel section serves as formwork during casting


2. Composite column design according to Eurocode 4

The Eurocode 4 gives six typical cross-sections of composite columns. See Fig.4.
6

Fig.4 Typical cross-sections of composite columns


2.1 Fundamental design requirements

A composite column must be designed for the ultimate limit state. The internal
stresses and moments resulting from the most unfavorable load combination may at
no point of the structure exceed the bearing capacity of the cross-section. Effects of
deformation (p- effects) as well as creeping and shrinkage must be considered if
they are significant. The influence of residual stresses and initial deformations must
be considered and reductions of stiffness due to cracking of the concrete in the tensile
area as well as yield of the steel have to be taken into account.

Problems due to local and of overall stability must be prevented. Complete bond up to
failure may be assumed.

Exact allowance for all these requirements is only possible with complex computer
programs, which operate non-linearly and incrementally. For practical design,
simplification must be made so that design can be carried out with minimum effort.

2.2 Design methods according to EC 4

Eurocode 4 provides two methods for calculation of the resistance of composite
columns.

The first is a General Method which takes explicit account of both second-order
effects and imperfections. This method can in particular be applied to columns of
asymmetric cross-section as well as to columns whose section varies with height. It
requires the use of numerical computational tools, and can be considered only if
7
suitable software is available.

The second is a Simplified Method which makes use of the European buckling curves
for steel columns, which implicitly take account of imperfections. This method is
limited in application to composite columns of bisymmetric cross-section which does
not vary with height.

These two methods are both based on the following assumptions:
Plane sections remain plane when the column deforms
There is full interaction between the steel and concrete sections until the failure
occurs
Geometric imperfections and residual stresses are taken into account in the
calculation, although this is usually done by using an equivalent initial
out-of-straightness, or member imperfection

The Simplified Method is discussed in the following part.

2.3 The Simplified Method

2.3.1 The partial safety factors of materials

For the determination of resistance, the following partial safety factors have to be
applied for the different materials:

a
is the partial safety factor of the structural steel

s
is the partial safety factor of for the reinforcement

c
is the partial safety factor of the concrete

Thus
a
y
yd
f
f

is the design value of yield strength of the structural steel

s
s
sd
f
f

is the design value of yield strength of the reinforcement

c
c
cd
f
f

is the design value of yield strength of the concrete

2.3.2 Limitations when using the simplified method

The scope of this simplified method is limited to members of doubly symmetrical and
uniform cross-section over the member length. This method is not applicable if the
component consists of two or more unconnected sections. The following conditions
should also be fulfilled when use this simplified method.

(1)The steel contribution ration should fulfill the following condition

8
9 . 0 2 . 0 (1)

Rd pl
yd a
N
f A
.
(2)
A
a
is the cross-section area of the structural steel section
f
yd
is the design value for the yield strength of the structural steel
N
pl.Rd
is the plastic resistance to compression of the composite cross-section

(2) The relative slenderness
_

0 . 2
.
_

cr
Rd pl
N
N
(3)
N
pl.Rd
is the plastic resistance of composite section to compression
N
cr
is the elastic critical normal force for the buckling mode

b
eff
cr
L
EI
N
2
2
) (
(4)
L
b
is the buckling length of the column
(EI)
eff
is the effective flexural stiffness of the composite cross-section

c cm s s a a eff
I E I E I E EI 6 . 0 ) ( + + (5a)
where I
a
, I
s
and I
c
are respectively the second moment of area for structural
steel section, reinforcing steel section and the uncracked concrete section.
The coefficient 0.6 for the stiffness of the concrete section takes cracking
into account.
The effective flexural stiffness (EI)
eff.II
of the composite cross-section is used to
determinate the internal force and second-order effects.
) 5 . 0 ( 9 . 0 ) (
. c cm s s a a II eff
I E I E I E EI + + (5b)

(3) Other limitations
If the longitudinal reinforcement is considered in design, a minimum percentage of
0.3% of the reinforcement area must be provided while the maximum percentage
should not exceed 6% of the concrete area.

For a fully encased steel section, see Fig.5, limits to the minimum and maximum
thickness of concrete cover that may be used in calculation are:
h c mm
z
3 . 0 40
b c mm
y
4 . 0 40
The ratio of the cross-sections depth h
c
to width b
c
, see Fig.5, should be within the
limits 0,2 h
c
/ b
c
5.0.
9


Fig.5 Encased sections

2.3.3 Local buckling of steel members

For sections completely encased in concrete, local buckling need not be checked.

The other types of cross-sections must have certain minimum wall thicknesses in
order to prevent local buckling before reaching the ultimate loads of the system. This
can be ensured by maintaining a certain limit ratio of depth to thickness of the section.
Using the notation of Table.1

Table.1 Maximum values (d/t), (h/t) and max (b/t
f
) with f
y
in N/mm
2

Cross-section Max (d/t), max (h/t) and max (b/ t
f
)

Circular hollow
steel sections



2
90 ) ( max d/t

Rectangular hollow
steel sections


52 ) ( max h/t

Partially encased
I-sections




44 ) ( max
f
b/t
accounts for the influence of different yield strengths f
y
with
y
f / 235
10


2.3.4 Second-order effect

The influence of second order effects may be neglected in the analysis of bending
moments for braced and non-sway systems, provided that:

(1) the normal force N
Ed
is smaller than 10% of the critical load N
cr

1 . 0
.

eff cr
Ed
N
N
(6)
N
Ed
is the total design normal force
N
cr.eff
is the critical normal force calculated using effective stiffness (EI)
eff.II
(2) the slenderness of the column is
) 2 ( 2 . 0 r (7)
r is the ratio of the smaller to the larger end moment(see Fig.6)

Fig.6 Ration r of the end moment

If the conditions above are not satisfied, second-order should be taken into account by
multiplying the maximum first order bending moment by a factor k:
0 . 1
1
.

eff cr Ed
N N
k

(8)
is the equivalent moment factor
For columns with transverse loading within the column length the value for
must be taken as 1.0. For pure end moments, can be determined from:
11
44 . 0 44 . 0 66 . 0 + r (9)
2.3.5 Plastic resistance to axial force

The plastic resistance to axial force is give by Eq.(10), which includes the individual
resistances of the steel profile, the concrete and the reinforcement.
For fully or partially concrete-encased steel section:

sd s cd c yd a Rd pl
f A f A f A N + + 85 . 0
.
(10)
For concrete-filled hollow sections the coefficient 0.85 should be replaced by 1.0.
This increase is due to the state of tri-axial compressive stresses in concrete resulting
from the confinement provided by the steel section.

For composite column with circular hollow sections (CHS), account may be taken of
increase in strength of concrete caused by confinement provided that the relative
slenderness does not exceed 0.5 and e/d<0.1, where e is the eccentricity of
loading given by M
Ed
/N
Ed
and d is the external diameter of the column. The plastic
resistance to axial force N
pl.Rd
can be calculated from the following expression:

sd s
ck
y
c cd c yd a a Rd pl
f A
f
f
d
t
f A f A N +
]
]
]
,

,
+ + 1
.
(11)
where the coefficient
a
and
c
depend on the eccentricity e of the normal force N
and relative slenderness as given from Eq.(12a) to Eq.(12f)
For members with e=0
0 . 1 ) 2 3 ( 25 . 0
0
+
a a
(12a)
0 ) ( 17 5 . 18 9 . 4
2
0
+
c c
(12b)
For members with 1 . 0 / 0 < d e
(
,
\
,
(
j
+
d
e
a a a
10 ) 1 (
0 0
(12c)
) 10 1 (
0
d
e
c c
(12d)
For members with 1 . 0 / > d e
0 . 1
a
(12e) 0
c
(12f)

For members in pure axial compression, the design value of N
Ed
should satisfy the
buckling condition
12
0 . 1
.

Rd pl
Ed
N
N

(13)
is the reduction factor, for the relevant buckling mode given in terms of
the slenderness, column section type and the relevant buckling curve. Eurocode 4
has adopted the European buckling curve a, b and c (see Fig.7), which are
originally established for bare steel column (Eurocode 3)

Fig.7 European buckling curves according to EC 3

The factor can be described mathematically as following:
0 . 1
) (
1
2 2

+

(14)
] ) ( ) 2 . 0 ( 1 [ 5 . 0
2
+ + (15)
The factor is used here to allow for imperfections in the cross-sections. Table 2
gives the value of appropriate for each buckling curve.
Table 2: Imperfection factor a for the buckling curves according to Eurocode 3
European buckling curve a b c
Imperfection factor 0.21 0.34 0.49

2.3.6 Plastic moment of resistance

The plastic moment resistance against bending of the cross-section M
pl.Rd
may be
considered to correspond to a full plastic stress distribution according to Fig.8.
Concrete under tension is neglected.
13

Fig.8 Full plastic stress distribution for a concrete-encased profile

The determination of M
pl.Rd
is explained in the following section.

2.3.7 Resistance to combined compression and bending

It is necessary to satisfy the resistance requirements in each of the principal planes,
taking account of the slenderness, the bending moment diagram and the bending
resistance in the plane under consideration. The cross-sectional resistance of a
composite column under axial compression and uniaxial bending is given by an
interaction curve as shown in Fig. 9.

0
Npl.Rd
Mpl.Rd
Mmax.Rd
Npm.Rd
0,5 Npm.Rd
M
N
A
E
C
D
B

Fig.9 Interaction curve with linear approximation

The point D on this interaction curve corresponds to the maximum moment resistance
M
max,Rd
that can be achieved by the section. This is greater than M
pl.Rd
because the
compressive axial force inhibits tensile cracking of the concrete, thus enhancing its
flexural resistance.

The above interaction curve can be determined point by point, by considering
different plastic neutral axis positions in the principal plane under consideration.
The concurrent values of moment and axial resistance are then found from the stress
blocks, together with the two equilibrium equations for moments and axial forces.

Fig.10 illustrates this process for the example of a concrete-encased section, for four
14
particular positions of the plastic neutral axis corresponding respectively to the points
A, B, C, D marked on Fig.9.



Fig.10 Development of stress blocks at different points on the interaction curve

Point A: Axial compression resistance alone
Rd pl A
N N
.
0
A
M
Point B: Uniaxial bending resistance alone
0
B
N
Rd pl B
M M
.

Here it can be seen, that in the determination of the resistance of the cross-section,
concrete regions in tension are taken as being cracked and ineffective

Point C: Uniaxial bending resistance identical to that at point B, but with non-zero
resultant axial compression force:

section) hollow filled - (concrete
section) encased - (concrete 85 . 0 .
.
cd C
cd C Rd pm C
f A
f A N N

(16)

Rd pl C
M M
.
(17)
15
[Note: f
cd
may be factored by ] 1 [
ck
f
y
f
d
t
c
+ for a circular concrete-filled hollow section.]

Point D: Maximum moment resistance
section) hollow filled - (concrete 5 . 0
section) encased - (concrete 85 . 0
2
1
2
1
.
cd c
cd c Rd pm
f A
f A N N
D

(18)
[Note: f
cd
may be factored by ] 1 [
ck
f
y
f
d
t
c
+ for a circular concrete-filled hollow section.]
section) encased - (concrete 85 . 0 5 . 0 .
. max cd pc sd ps yd pa Rd D
f W f W f W M M + +
(19a)
section) hollow filled - (concrete 5 . 0 .
. max cd pc sd ps yd pa Rd D
f W f W f W M M + +
(19b)

W
pa
, W
ps
, and W
pc
are the plastic modular respectively of the steel section, the
reinforcement and the concrete.

Point E: Situated midway between A and C.
The enhancement of the resistance at point E is little more than that
given by direct linear interpolation between A and C, and the calculation
can therefore be omitted.

It is usual to substitute the linearised version AECDB (or the simpler ACDB) shown
in Fig.9 for the more exact interaction curve, after doing the calculation to determine
these points.

We may notice that the stress distribution type C provides the same value for the
moment of resistance as B, since the moment from the stress resultants in zone 2h
n
,

cancel each other. However, the resulting resistance to axial force is of the same
magnitude as the axial force resistance from the pure concrete part N
pm.Rd
.This can be
seen from adding up the stress distributions in B and C, with regard to the equilibrium
of forces, i.e. the resulting axial force. This follows because the resistance to axial
force in B is zero. Thus, the concrete under compression and that under tensile stress
are complementary to each other; the stress blocks for the reinforcement provide no
axial load. A distribution according to Fig.11(a) results. In the same way, subtracting
the stress distributions of B from that of C analytically produces the stress blocks
shown in Fig.11(b). The stress resultant in Fig.11(b), only dependent on h
n
, is
generally quite simple. The sum of the horizontal force must lead to N
pm.Rd
. As a
result an equation for h
n
, the neutral axis at M
pl.Rd
is obtained. This equation is
16
different for various types of section. For example of a concrete encased I-profile with
bending about the major axis in Fig.11(b), h
n
is expressed like this

) 2 ( 2 2
.
cd fd w cd
Rd pm
n
f f t bf
N
h
+
(20)



Fig.11 Combination of the stress distribution at point B and C considering
normal force only (a)adding the components; (b) subtracting the components


Fig.12 shows how the cross-section of a composite column can be checked, by means
of the interaction curve M-N. The resistance of the column under axial compression is
defined by the reduction factor . For the factor , a value for the moment
k

representing the moment due to imperfection, can be read off the interaction curve.
The influence of this moment is assumed to decrease linearly to the value
n
.



Fig.12 Design procedure for compression and unaxial bending

For a normal force
Rd pl Sd d
N N
.
/ (21)
17

In certain regions of the interaction curve, the normal force increases the moment
resistance ( > 1.0). If bending moment and normal force are independent of each
other, the value of must be limited to 1.0. The value
n
accounts for the fact that
imperfection and bending moment do not always act together unfavourably.
For end moments,
n
may be calculated as:
(
,
\
,
(
j

4
1 r
n
(22)
r is the ratio of end moments according to Fig.6
If transverse loads occur within the column length, then
n
=0, i.e. r = 1.
The value of moment factor could be obtained from the ineraction curve.
) (
n
n d
k d

(23)
The moment factor represents the remaining moment resistance. It can be shown as:
Rd pl Sd
M M
.
9 . 0 (24)

2.3.8 Compression and biaxial bending

For the design of a column under compression and biaxial bending the load resistance
for each axis has to be evaluated separately. It will then be clear which of the axes is
more likely to fail. The imperfection then needs to be considered for this direction
only (see Fig.13).
18


Fig.13 Verification for compression and biaxial bending
The combined bending must also be checked using the relative values of moment
resistance
y
and
z
, and a new interaction curve (see Fig.13). This linear interaction
curve is cut off at 0.9
y
and 0.9
z
; the existing moments M
y.Sd
and M
z.Sd
, related to
the respective resistance, must lie within the new interaction curve. The following
equations result:
0 . 1
. .
.
. .
.
+
Rd z pl z
Sd z
Rd y pl y
Sd y
M
M
M
M

(25)
and
9 . 0
. .
.

Rd y pl y
Sd y
M
M

(26a) 9 . 0
. .
.

Rd z pl z
Sd z
M
M

(26b)

2.3.9 The influence of transverse shear force

For simplicity, the design transverse shear force V
Ed
is assumed to be resisted by the
steel section only. The design shear resistance V
pl.a.Rd
of the steel section can be
calculated as Eq.(27)
19
3 /
. . yd v Rd a pl
f A V (27)

v
A is the shear area of the structural steel cross-section
For RHS profile
-if the shear force parallel to the height ) /( h b h A A
a v
+ (28a)
-if the shear force parallel to the width ) /( h b b A A
a v
+ (28b)
For CHS profile / 2
a v
A A (28c)

The influence of transverse shear force on the resistance to bending and normal force
should be considered if
Rd a pl Ed
V V
. .
5 . 0 > , and a reduced design strength (1-)f
yd

should be used in the shear area A
v
of the steel section for the determination of
bending resistance.

2
) 1 / 2 (
Rd Ed
V V (29)
If
Rd a pl Ed
V V
. .
> the design shear force V
Ed
may be distributed into the component,
V
a,Ed
acting on the structural steel section and V
c,Ed
acting on the reinforced concrete
section.

Rd pl
Rd a pl
Ed Ed a
M
M
V V
.
. .
,
> (30)
Ed a Ed Ed c
V V V
, ,
> (31)
Where the plastic moment M
pl.a.Rd
and M
pl.Rd
refer to the the relevant bending axis.
The resistance to shear of the concrete part should be verified in accordance with
Part 1 of Eurocode 2.

3. Compare with other design codes

Over the last two decades, researchers have suggested analytical methods and design
procedures for composite columns and design codes have been formulated. Each of
these codes is written so as to reflect the design philosophies and practices in the
respective countries. Over the last two decades, different specific codes for the design
of concreted filled steel tubular column have been used.

3.1 The building code requirements of reinforced concrete (ACI
[2]
318-89)

According to ACI 318-89, a composite column is a concrete column reinforced with a
structural steel shape or tubing in addition to reinforcing bars. In order to consider the
slenderness effects, an equivalent radius if gyration and flexural stiffness are used
20
with a parameter of sustained load ratio, and hence without any sustained load, radius
of gyration should be taken as zero. The limiting thickness of steel tube to prevent
local buckling are based on achieving yield stress in a hollow steel tube under
monotonic axial loading which is not necessary requirement for in-filled composite
column. A parameter for the softening influence of creep in concrete that is subjected
to sustained compressive loading is included.

3.2 Load and resistance factor design method (AISC
[3]
-LRFD)

This is based on the same principle as ACI code. Design is based on equations for
steel columns. Nominal strength is estimated on the basis of ultimate resistance to the
load, and reduction factor are then applied. The nominal axial load capacity is reduced
according to the slenderness ratio. Neither the ACI-318 nor the AISC-LRFD
provisions explicitly consider confinement effects on the strength or ductility of
member analyzed. ACI provisions for calculating the strength interaction between
axial and flexural effects are essentially the same as those for reinforced concrete
column, whereas AISC-LRFD are based on the bilinear interaction formulae which
have the same form as those of steel columns. In the above design methods, flexural
stiffness is underestimated and confining effect of the steel tube on the concrete core
is ignored. The influence of creep is ignored for concrete in composite column
according to AISC-LRFD specification.

3.3 Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ)

A composite structural system using concrete and steel shape is called steel
reinforced concrete (SRC) in Japan. The allowable stress design is primarily
employed, in which working stresses are calculated based on the elastic stiffness of
members and allowable strength by the superposed strength formulae. Cross-section
strength is calculated by superimposing the strength of both the steel and concrete
sections, thereby neglecting the interaction between steel and concrete and the effect
of confinement. Euler buckling load is used with a reduced concrete stiffness and
factors of safety for both concrete and steel. The method is applicable to asymmetrical
sections and column under biaxial bending.

3.4 British Standard BS 5400-Part 5

Code provisions in BS 5400 are based on limit state design with loading factors and
materials safety factors. The ultimate moment is calculated from plastic stress
distribution over the cross-section, and an approximation for the interaction curve for
axial load and moment is used. Reduced concrete properties are used to account for
the effects of creep and the use of uncracked concrete section in stiffness calculation.
This method is applicable to symmetrical sections only and restricted to the range of
section catered for in the European buckling curves. It underestimates the capacity of
in-filled composite column with high-strength concrete.
21
3.5 European Code EC4

EC4 covers concrete encased and partially encased steel section and concrete filled
sections with or without reinforcement. This code uses limit state concepts to achieve
the aims of serviceability and safety by applying partial safety factors to loads and
materials properties. Based on experimental results, it was recommended that the
regulations of EC4 concerning the factor of 0.85 should not be applied to hollow
sections filled with strength concrete. This is the only code that treats the effect of
long-term loading separately.

All codes assume full interaction, but some impose restrictions on the shear stress at
the steel-concrete interface. It is customary to use direct bearing or provide shear
connectors, if used were the specified limiting shear stress is exceeded.


4. References
1. prEN 1994-1-1: Design of composite steel and concrete structures. Part 1-1:
General rules and rules for buildings. Final draft, 1 January 2002.European
Committee for Standardization.
2. prEN 1994-1-2: Design of composite steel and concrete structures. Part 1-2:
Structural rules-Structural fire design. Final draft, 14 January 2002.European
Committee for Standardization.
3. ESDEP Course: WG10:Composite construction. Lecture10.8.1: Composite
Columns I ; Lecture10.8.1: Composite Columns II
4. SSEDTA: Structural Steelwork Eurocodes Development of A Trans-national
Approach. Lecture 8: Composite Columns. @SSEDTA 2001 Last modified
24/02/04.
5. Dowling, P. J., Harding, J. E. & Bjorhovde, R.: Constructional Steel Design: an
international guide. Chapter 4.2 Composite column. Elsevier Applied Science,
1992.
6. N.E. Shanmugam & B.Lakshmi: State of the art report on steel-concrete
composite columns. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Volume 57, Issue
10, Pages 1041-1119 (October 2001)
7. Aki Vuolio: Design of concreted-filled hollow section columns. (Seminar on steel
structures, Helsinki University of Technology Laboratory of steel structures)

[Notes]
[1]. This figure is based on experiments carried by CFT working group, Japan, 1993. The
cross-section is circular concrete-filled section, and the load is eccentric, the strength of the
in-fill concrete is 41Mpa.
[2]. ACI is the abbreviation of American Concrete Institute.
[3]. AISC is the abbreviation of American Institute of Steel Construction.

22
Appendix: A Design Example of composite column
according to Eurocode4
kN 1000 newton : kNm kN m : MPa
N
mm
2
:
Structure model and loads see Fig. A
A composite column pin-supported at both ends , with normal force and bending momen
about one axis.
length of the column
L
c
10 m :

design value of normal force
N
sd
2000 kN :
design value of bending moment
M
sd
100 kNm :




W
p.a
966.8 10
3
mm
3
:
plasticity modulus
I
a
13201 10
4
mm
4
:
moment inertia
cross section area
A
a
8736 mm
2
:
t 8 mm :
wall thickness
D 355.6 mm :
diameter of profile
f
yd
3.227 10
8
Pa f
yd
f
y

a
:
design strength

a
1.10 :
partical safety factor
E
a
210000 MPa :
modulus of elasticity
yield strength
f
y
355 MPa :
1. Structural steel section
see Fig. B Cross section properties


23









2. Reinforced concrete section
yield strength of reinforcement(A500HW)
f
s
500 MPa :
modulus of elasticity of reinforcement
E
s
210000 MPa :

s
1.15 :
partial safety factor of reinforcement
e
s2
91.8 mm :
moment of inertia of reinforcement
I
s
2 A
s1
e
s1
2
2 A
s1
e
s2
2
+
j
(
\
,
:
I
s
2.118 10
5
m
4

plastic modulus if reinforcement

W
p.s
2 A
s1
e
s1
2 A
s1
e
s2
+
( )
:
W
p.s
1.969 10
4
m
3

compressive strength of concrete (C40/50)

f
ck
40 MPa :
secany modulus of elasticity of concrete
E
cm
35000 MPa :
partial safety factor of concrete

c
1.50 :
f
cd
f
ck

c
: f
cd
2.667 10
7
Pa
design strength of concrete
moment of inertia of concrete
I
c

D 2 t ( )
4
64

,
,

]
]
]
I
s
:
I
c
6.317 10
4
m
4

f
sd
f
s

s
: f
sd
4.348 10
8
Pa
design strength of reinforcement
number and diameter of reinforcing bars
n
s
8 :
s
20 mm : A
s1

s
2
4
:
cross section area of reinforcing bars
A
s1
3.142 10
4
m
2
A
s
n
s
A
s1
:
A
s
2.513 10
3
m
2

A
c
D 2 t ( )
2

4
,
,

]
]
]
A
s
:
cross section area of concrete
A
c
0.088m
2

ration of reinforcement (max value is 6%)

s
A
s
A
c
:
s
0.029
s

max
<
distances of the bars from neutral axis
e
s1
129.8 mm :
24

OK !
0.2 < 0.9 <
0.45 A
a
f
yd
N
pl.Rd
:
steel contribution ratio
Limitations
N
pl.Rd
6.26 10
6
N N
pl.Rd
A
a
f
yd
A
c
f
cd
+ A
s
f
sd
+ :
design value of plastic resistance to compression
enhancement of concrete strength is not allowed
_ 0.5 >
_ 2.0 < _ 1.326 _
N
pl.Rk
N
cr
:
relative slenderness
Plastic resistance to compression
N
cr
4.484 10
6
N N
cr

2
EI
eff
L
c
2
:
Critical buckling load
EI
eff.II
0.9 E
a
I
a
E
s
I
s
+ 0.5 E
cm
I
c
+
( )
:
EI
eff
E
a
I
a
E
s
I
s
+ 0.6 E
cm
I
c
+ :
Effective flexural stiffnesses
N
pl.Rk
7.881 10
6
N N
pl.Rk
A
a
f
y
A
c
f
ck
+ A
s
f
s
+ :
Characteristic vlue for slenderness evaluation
Plastic resistance to compression, preliminary evaluation
W
p.c
6.331 10
3
m
3

W
p.c
D 2 t ( )
3
6
,
,

]
]
]
W
p.s
:
plastic modulus of concrete
25

Moment amplification factor
ratio of end moments
r 0 :
equivalent moment factor
0.66 0.44 r + : 0.66
moment amplification factor
k

1
N
sd
N
cr.eff

:
k 1.378
the design bending moment should be amplificated by factor k
M
sd_
k M
sd
:
Design for axial compression
imperfection factor
0.21 :
curve a because

s
3% <
0.5 1 _ 0.2 ( ) + _
2
+
,

]
]
:
check for creep and shrinkage
_
lim
0.8
1
: _
lim
1.455 _
lim
_ >
OK !
no influence on the bearing capacity
local buckling
D
t
44.45 90
235 MPa
f
y
59.577
D
t
59.577 <
local buckling can be neglected
validity of first order analysis
N
cr.eff

2
EI
eff.II
L
c
2
: N
cr.eff
3.839 10
6
N
N
sd
N
cr.eff
0.521
N
sd
N
cr.eff
0.1 >
second order effects need to be checked
26

the assumption for
A
sn
is verified
plastic section modulus of steel and concrete in the region of
2h
n
W
p.an
2 t h
n
2
: W
p.an
4.132 10
5
m
3

W
p.cn
D 2 t ( ) h
n
2
: W
p.cn
8.77 10
4
m
3

bending resistance of the cross section with the depth of

2h
n
M
n.Rd
W
p.an
f
yd
0.5 W
p.cn
f
cd
+ : M
n.Rd
2.503 10
4
J
plastic bending resistance (point C and B)
M
pl.Rd
M
D.Rd
M
n.Rd
: M
pl.Rd
4.57 10
5
J
non_dimensional interaction curve
N
A.Rd
N
pl.Rd
: N
B.Rd
0 :

1

2
_
2
+
:
0.456 1.0
N
sd
2 10
6
N N
pl.Rd
2.856 10
6
N
N
sd
N
pl.Rd
<
OK !
Resistance to combined compression and bending
interaction curve piont D
M
D.Rd
W
p.a
f
yd
W
p.s
f
sd
+ 0.5 W
p.c
f
cd
+ : M
D.Rd
4.82 10
5
J
N
D.Rd
0.5 A
c
f
cd
: N
D.Rd
1.174 10
6
N
interaction curve point C and B
N
C.Rd
2 N
D.Rd
: N
C.Rd
1.97 10
3
kN :
it is assumed that no reinforcement lies within the region of
2h
n
h
n
N
C.Rd
2 D f
cd
4 t 2 f
yd
f
cd

( )
+
: h
n
0.051m
27































N
sd
N
pl.Rd
0.319
N
C.Rd
N
pl.Rd
0.315
N
D.Rd
N
pl.Rd
0.188
M
A.Rd
0 : M
B.Rd
M
pl.Rd
: M
C.Rd
M
pl.Rd
:
M
D.Rd
M
pl.Rd
1.055
M
sd_
M
pl.Rd
0.301
M
sd_ is the ampilificated bending moment according to second order effect
check for utilization ratio of compression and bending
moment

n

1 r ( )
4
:
n
0.114

d
N
sd
N
pl.Rd
:
d
0.319
drawing the curve of compression and uniaixal bending see Fig.C

d
1
d

( )
1 0.315
:
k
1 ( )
1 0.315
:

d

k

d

n

( )

n

( )
: 0.517
n max
M
sd
0.9 M
pl.Rd

N
sd
N
pl.Rd

,
j
,
,
(
\
,
: n 0.7
0.5 n < 1.0 <
OK !