# Rigid Columns in RF-/JOINTS Steel - Column Base

### Technical Article

001430 04/13/2017

A structural analysis does not only determine and design internal forces and deformations. It also ensures that the forces and moments in a structure are generated in a reliable way and applied to the foundation. Dlubal Software provides a wide range of products for structural analysis and design of steel and timber connections. The RF‑/JOINTS Steel - Column Base add‑on module allows you to design footings of hinged and restrained column bases. The design can be performed for both column base plates with or without stiffeners.

This article presents an example of cross‑section designs of a column set in a concrete bucket foundation. This example is also described in [1].

#### System

The column is a cross‑section HEB 280 made of steel S 235 JR.

Geometry parameters of the column base are set in Window 1.4 of RF‑/JOINTS in compliance with [1]. The selected restraining depth is 65 cm.

Base plate parameters are defined in Window 1.5.

#### Internal Forces

 NEd = 396.0 kN VEd = 21.5 kN MEd = −118.0 kN

#### Design of Required Bucket Depth

The governing value is the minimum restraining depth based on the concrete strength.

The minimum restraining depth of 54.86 cm is required. This is provided by the selected depth of 65 cm.

#### Design of Column Section Resistance

The force and moment distribution in the column corresponds to the following distribution, according to [1].

Normal stress from the maximum moment is calculated as follows:

$${\mathrm\sigma}_\mathrm{Ed}\;=\;\frac{\mathrm N}{\mathrm A}\;+\;\frac{\max\;{\mathrm M}_{\mathrm e,\mathrm d}}{{\mathrm W}_\mathrm y}\;=\;\frac{396.0}{131.0}\;+\;\frac{11,818.7}{1,380.0}\;=\;11.6\;\mathrm{kN}/\mathrm{cm}²$$

For the maximum shear stress, the following applies:

$${\mathrm\tau}_\mathrm{Ed}\;=\frac{\max\;{\mathrm V}_{\mathrm e,\mathrm d}\;\cdot\;{\mathrm S}_\mathrm y}{{\mathrm I}_\mathrm y\;\cdot\;\mathrm t}\;=\;\frac{310.18\;\cdot\;767.00}{19,270.00\;\cdot\;1.05}\;=\;11.76\;\mathrm{kN}/\mathrm{cm}²$$

The corresponding stresses and design details can also be found in the result table under Cross‑section resistance.

#### Design of Column Inside Bucket

Figure 05 shows the design-relevant locations. The section B‑B on the compression side is governing:

The normal stress in the X‑direction is calculated as follows:

$${\mathrm\sigma}_{\mathrm X,\mathrm d}\;=\;\frac{-\mathrm N}{\mathrm A}\;-\;\frac{{\mathrm M}_{\mathrm e,\mathrm b,\mathrm d}}{{\mathrm l}_\mathrm y}\;\cdot\;{\mathrm z}_1\;=\;\frac{-396.0}{131.0}\;-\;\frac{3,897.3}{19,720.0}\;\cdot\;9.8\;=\;-5.0\;\mathrm{kN}/\mathrm{cm}²$$

The following normal stress acts in the Z‑direction:

$${\mathrm\sigma}_{\mathrm Z,\mathrm d}\;=\;0.45\;\cdot\;\frac{{\mathrm p}_\mathrm{Rd}}{\mathrm t}\;\cdot\;{\mathrm\alpha}_\mathrm b\;=\;0.45\;\cdot\;\frac{12.34}{1.05}\;\cdot\;0.55\;=\;2.90\;\mathrm{kN}/\mathrm{cm}²$$

The maximum shear stress is:

$${\mathrm\tau}_\mathrm{Ed}\;=\;\frac{\max\;{\mathrm V}_{\mathrm e,\mathrm d}\;\cdot\;{\mathrm S}_{\mathrm y,1}}{{\mathrm I}_\mathrm y\;\cdot\;\mathrm t}\;=\;\frac{310.18\;\cdot\;716.58}{19,270.00\;\cdot\;1.05}\;=\;10.99\;\mathrm{kN}/\mathrm{cm}²$$

Design Details of Window 3.1 include the corresponding stresses and ratios:

The program completes the design by analyzing the joint in compression and the welds. However, these are not explained in this article.

#### Summary

RF-/JOINTS Steel - Column Base allows you to design footings of hinged and restrained column bases. In the case of a column set in a concrete bucket, the add‑on module analyzes the required depth of the bucket, the resistance of the column section, and the resistance of the column inside the footing with regard to the arising tension and compression stresses. The analysis is completed by the design of the concrete under the base plate in compression as well as the design of welds between the base plate and the column.

#### Reference

 [1] Kahlmeyer, E., Hebestreit, K., & Vogt, W. (2012). Stahlbau nach EC 3 (6th ed.). Cologne: Werner. [2] Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures - Part 1‑1: General rules and rules for buildings; EN 1993‑1‑1:2005 + AC:2009 [3] Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures - Part 1‑8: Design of joints; EN 1993‑1‑8:2005 + AC:2009 [4] Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures - Part 1‑1: General rules and rules for buildings; EN 1992‑1‑1:2004 + AC:2010 [5] Manual RF-/JOINTS. (2015). Tiefenbach: Dlubal Software. Download