Types of Columns in building Construction

Hello My Friends, Welcome to the Civil Stunner.

Types of Columns in Building Construction:

Columns are classified based on some conditions which include:

1.     Based on Types of Reinforcement

2.     Based on Types of Loading

3.     Based on Slenderness Ratio

4.     Based on Shape

5.     Based on Construction Material

Based on Types of Reinforcement 

1. Tied Column

This column is usually construction from reinforced concrete. Longitudinal reinforcement is confined closely within spaced tie reinforcement. It is estimated that 95% of all columns used in buildings construction are tied.

2. Spiral Column

This column is also construction from reinforced concrete. In spiral column, longitudinal reinforcement bars are confined within closely spaced and continuously wound spiral reinforcement.

Some lateral restrains (Poisson's effect) and delays axial load failure is provided by Spiral reinforcement.

3. Composite column

In composite column longitudinal reinforcement is in the form of structural steel section or pipe with or without any longitudinal bars.

This type of column consists high strength with small cross section, in addition to exhibit good fire performance too.

Based on Types of Loading

1. Axially Loaded Column

In this column vertical axial loads act on the CG (center of gravity) of the cross-section of the column.

This column is rare in construction since coinciding vertical loads on the center of gravity of column cross section is not practically possible in all structure.

This column is used as interior column in multi-storey buildings with symmetrical load from floor slabs to all sides.

2. Column with Uni-axial Eccentric Loading

In this column vertical loads do not coincide with center of gravity of column cross section, but rather act eccentrically either on X or Y axis of the column cross section.

This column generally come across in the case of columns rigidly connected beam from one side only such as edge columns.

3. Column with Biaxial Eccentric Loading

In this column vertical load on the column is not coincide with center of gravity of column cross section and does not act on either axis (X and Y axis).

This column is common in corner columns with beams rigidly connected at right angles at the top of columns.

Based on Slenderness Ratio

Based on slenderness ratio, (effective length/ least lateral dimension), columns are categorized as follow:

1. Short Column

In this column ratio of effective length of the column and the least lateral dimension is <12. This column is generally fails by crushing (compression failure).

2. Long Column

In this column ratio of effective length of the column and the least lateral dimension exceeds 12. Generally, this column fails by bending or buckling.

Based on Shape

Shape of Reinforced Concrete Column

1. Square or Rectangular Column

This column is used in most of building construction. The construction of this column is easy and casting is also easy compare to other shape because of shuttering and to support it from collapsing due to pressure while the concrete is still in form in flow.

2. Circular column

This column is specially design column. This column is used mostly in piling work.

3. L-Shape Column

Commonly, L-shaped column is and has similar characteristics of a rectangular or square column.This type of column is commonly utilized in the corners of the boundary wall. The characteristics of this column is similar to rectangular or square column.

4. T-Shape column

This column utilized based on design requirements of a structure. In bridge construction this type of column is mostly used.

5.Shape of Steel Column

There are different standard and built up shape of steel columns which you can see below Fig.

   Fig.: Steel column cross section shape (Standard)

                                            Fig.: Steel column cross section shape (built up)

6. Shape of some Composite Column

Some shape of composite columns is shown in Fig.

Based on Construction Material

Types of columns based on construction materials include.

I think no description is needed to understand this type of columns.

1. Reinforced Concrete, Steel, timber, Brick, Block, and Stone Column.

Thank You for Reading,

Don’t Forget to Like and Share