What Are Columns | 17 Types of Columns | Different Types of RCC Columns | Round Column Vs Square Column | Pillar Vs Column

Introduction of RCC Column

What Are Columns?

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  • The biaxial column is subjected to the axial compressive force are undergoes to Moments on one or both axes.
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  • The Shape of the Column
  • Size of the Column
  • Length of the Column
  • Cross-Section of the Column
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Types of Columns

  1. Square or Rectangular Column: They are commonly used in the construction of buildings and heavy structures. It is much effortless to construct and cast rectangular or square columns than circular ones because of the ease of shuttering and to support it from collapsing due to pressure while the concrete is still in flowable form.
  2. Circular Column: Circular columns are mostly used in piling and elevation of the buildings for aesthetic purposes. In a circular column, more than 4 longitudinal steel bars are used as a reinforcement bar and its bending resistance is generally higher than the square or rectangular column.
  3. L and T shaped Column: Generally, the L-shaped column is utilized in the corners of the boundary wall and has similar characteristics of a rectangular or square column. The T-shaped column is utilized based on the design requirements of a structure. It is widely used in the construction of bridges.
  4. Tied Column: This is usually constructed from reinforced concrete. Longitudinal reinforcements are confined within closely spaced tie reinforcement. If ties are spaced too far apart, the column will experience shear failure and barreling in between ties. It is estimated that 95% of all columns in buildings are tied columns
  5. Spiral Column: When spiral columns are reinforced with closely and uniformly spaced spiral reinforcement, they are also known as spiral columns. Mostly the spiral columns are providing to support in the transverse direction and prevent the column from barreling. Spirally reinforced columns generally consist of 6 bars as longitudinal reinforcement.
  6. Composite Column: These columns consist of structural steel or cast iron column enclosed with concrete, reinforced with longitudinal as well as spiral reinforcement. Composite columns are widely used in truss structures to avoid the corrosion of steel. This type of column has more adequate strength with a fairly small cross-section, in addition, to exhibit good fire performance.
  7. Axially Loaded Column: If vertical axial loads act on the center of gravity of the cross-section of the column, then it is termed as an axially loaded column. The axially loaded column is rare in construction since coinciding vertical loads on the center of gravity of the column section is not practical.
  8. Uniaxial Eccentrically Loaded Column: The axis of vertical loads doesn’t cross with C.G. (center of gravity) of a cross-section of the column, but rather act eccentrically either on the X or Y axis of the column cross-section, then it is called a uniaxial eccentrically loaded column. A column with this loading system used in the case of columns rigidly connected beam from one side only such as edge columns.
  9. Biaxial Eccentrically Loaded Column: When vertical loads on the column do not coincide with the center of gravity of the column cross-section and do not act on wither axis (X and Y axis), then the column is called a biaxial eccentrically loaded column. Columns with biaxial loading are mostly used in corner columns with beams rigidly connected at right angles at the top of columns. These types of columns are used in special types of construction.
  10. Short Column: If the ratio of the effective length of the column to the least lateral dimension is less than 12, the column is called the short column. A short column fails by crushing of the concrete (pure compression failure).
  11. Long Column: If the ratio of the effective length of the column to the least lateral dimension exceeds 12, it is called a long column. A long column fails by bending or buckling. Long columns are weaker compare to short columns of the same cross-sectional area and not generally preferred.
  12. Reinforced Concrete Column: A column in which is reinforced with steel are known as reinforced concrete column. This column majorly used in building construction. Concrete is strong in compression and weak in tension. Therefore, steel reinforcement is provided to increase its tension capacity.
  13. Steel Column: The column which is made from steel is known as steel column. There are huge trends in steel structure construction in the world. The steel structure is comparatively more flexible, strong, and durable than the concrete structure. There are different types of steel columns like the T section steel column which is most commonly used in steel structures.
  14. Timber Column: A column which is made from timber are known as timber column. Timber columns are popular in the previous century. Timber is mostly seen in the old building because at that time it is only construction materials that are easily available.
  15. Brick Column: Brick masonry types of columns are generally used in the load-bearing structures. It plays a vital role in supporting and increasing the stability of the masonry structure. Sometimes, the construction of brick masonry columns over the concrete column increases its aesthetic appearance. Brick masonry column may have different cross-sections like round, rectangle or square, or elliptical.
  16. Block Column: Block types of columns are constructed from AAC block or cement concrete block. The Block column is structural weight is less compared to a concrete column.
  17. Stone Column: The types of columns in which are made by using stones and rubble are known as the stone column. There are most used to increase the aesthetic appearance of the house.
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Types of Columns in Architecture

  1. Doric
  2. Ionic
  3. Corinthian
  4. Tuscan
  5. Composite
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Different Types of RCC Columns

Sr.No.Base of ColumnTypes of Column
1Classification of the Column based on its Cross Section.Square Column or Rectangular Column
Circular Column
T Shape Column
L Shape Column
Y Shape Column
2Classification of the Column based on its Loading.Axially Loaded Column
Axially Loaded and Uniaxial Bending Column
Axially Loaded and Biaxial Bending Column
3Classification of the Column based on its Length and Behaviour.Short Column
Long Column
4Classification of the Column based on its Longitudinal Reinforcement.Tied Column
Spiral Column
Composite Column
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  • Classification of the Column based on its Cross Section.
  • Classification of the Column based on its Loading.
  • Classification of the Column based on its Length and Behaviour.
  • Classification of the Column based on its Longitudinal Reinforcement.
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1. Classification of the Column Based on Its Cross Section.

  • Square Column or Rectangular Column
  • Circular Column
  • T Shape Column
  • L Shape Column
  • Y Shape Column
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1.1. Square Column or Rectangular Column

  • Square columns or rectangular columns are commonly used in the construction of buildings.
  • The construction of the rectangular or square columns is easier and less costly to cast.
  • Square or rectangular columns constructed in most of the building structure.
  • Significantly both are having the same components, and it differs based on its architect view.
  • This type of column was economically good and easy to do shuttering, placing reinforcement & concrete.
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1.2. Circular Column

  • Circular columns are specially design and widely used in the filing and elevation of the structures.
  • Circular columns give a good aesthetical appearance to the structure.
  • Circular columns are commonly used in the construction of bridge pillars.
  • The circular columns are used when there is no need to construct walls on either side of the column
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1.3. T-Shape Column

  • T-column is used as per the design requirements of the structure.
  • Mostly  T-Shape columns will be provided along with retaining wall or boundary wall based on the design requirement.
  • We knew that the brick or concrete wall-length should not be prolonged more than 6m without placing a column in between.
  • If a boundary wall constructed by masonry, then a square or rectangular column is placed in every 6 m. At the same time if it is an RCC type wall, then the column was designed as a T- Shape Column 
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1.4. L-Shape Column

  • The L-columns is not commonly used in the structure. It is used at the corner of the frame structure.
  • L type column was used in boundary wall construction and used in the turning of metro rail or bridge construction.
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1.5. Y-Shape Column

  • Generally, these types of columns are mostly used for bridge construction.
  • The bridge is designed to sustain the dead load of the structure & live load of the vehicle motion, and the load was eventually distributed to the column.
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#2. Classification of the Column Based on Its Loading.

  • Axially Loaded Column
  • Axially Loaded and Uniaxial Bending Column
  • Axially Loaded and Biaxial Bending Column
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2.1. Axially Loaded Column

  • Axially loaded columns are subjected to the loading which is acting along the longitudinal axis or centroid of the column section.
  • A reinforced concrete column is said to be subjected to an axial load when the line of the resultant thrust of loads supported by the column is coincident with the line of C.G. of the column in the longitudinal direction.
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2.2. Axially Loaded and Uniaxial Bending Column

  • The axially loaded and uniaxial bending column subject to the loads which do not act on the longitudinal axis of the column section.
  • If the column is axially loaded then the steel bar provided in any pattern no matter. But if the column is in uniaxial bending it needs to place the steel bar in the two faces parallel to the axis of bending (strong axis).
  • In the case of biaxial bending, we need to place the steel bar all the four faces.
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2.3. Axially Loaded and Biaxial Bending Column

  • Biaxial bending of columns occurs when the loading causes binding on the principal Axis simultaneously.
  • Biaxial bending of columns occurs when the loading causes bending simultaneously about both principal axes.
  • The biaxial bending resistance of an axially loaded column can be represented schematically as a surface formed by a series of uniaxial interaction curves drawn radially from the P axis.
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#3. Classification of the Column based on its Length and Behaviour.

  • Short Column
  • Long Column
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3.1. Short Column

  • short column is the one whose ratio of effective length to its least lateral dimension is less than or equal to 12.
  • Then it is termed as a short column.
  • lef / b ≤ 12, lef = effective length, b = least lateral dimension of the column.
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3.2. Long Column

  • Long Column - A long or slender column is the one whose ratio of effective length to its least lateral dimension is not less than 12.
  • Then it is termed as a long column.
  •  lef / b ≤ 12. lef = effective length, b = least lateral dimension of column.
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#4. Classification of the Column based on its Longitudinal Reinforcement.

  • Tied Column
  • Spiral Column
  • Composite Column
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4.1. Tied Column

4.2. Spiral Column

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4.3. Composite Column

  • A composite column is a column which is made of structural Steel shape or pipe which are surrounded by or filled by the concrete with or without longitudinal reinforcement.
  • Composite columns are a combination of two traditional structural forms: structural steel and structural concrete.
  • As composite columns were generally developed after steel columns and reinforced concrete columns, their design approach could have been based on either steel or concrete design methods.
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Round Column Vs Square Column

Sr.No.Round ColumnSquare column
1Round columns are symmetric about centroidal Axis.Square columns have four-axis of symmetry.
2The minimum number of bars which are required in the round columns are 6m.The minimum number of bars which are required in the square columns are 4m.
3A special type of formwork is required for the construction of Round column.Simple formwork is required for the Construction of square column.
4The Construction of the round column is expensive as compared to the square column.The Construction of square column is economical as compared to the round column.
5There are no weak points in the round column due to its circular shape.The square column has four weak points due to the corner edges.
6Round columns are strong in compression so they can carry more load.Square columns can carry less load as compared to round columns.
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Pillars Vs Columns

Difference Between Pillars and Columns

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Sr.No.ColumnPillar
1Column is a structural member which transmit the total load of the superstructure to the underground Strata.Pillar is the Structural vertical element which is designed to bear the weight of building roof.
2Columns are used to support the load-bearing wallsPillars are used for the decorative purposes.
3In the construction of columns, steel is used.Steel is not used in the construction of pillars.
4All columns are not the pillarsAll pillars are the columns
5Columns are use to support the load of the component members such as beam and slab.Pillar can be stand alone or support the roof of the Buildings.
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Round Column Vs Square Column

  • Circular column occupies a smaller area; If you construct a circular column having the same diameter of a square column's side length, the circular column holds only 0.785 times of the square column area.
  • The reason we choose rectangular or square columns is because of our wall construction.
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Pillar Vs Column

Different Types of Pillars

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Column

Types of Column in Construction

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  • Tied Column.
  • Spiral Column.
  • Composite column.
  • Axially Loaded Column.
  • Column with Uniaxial Eccentric Loading.
  • Column with Biaxial Eccentric Loading.
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Reinforced Concrete Columns for High-Rise Buildings

Design and Construction of Circular RCC Columns

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  • Determine the loads: Identify the loads that the column will need to support, including dead loads (weight of the structure), live loads (occupancy loads), and any other applicable loads.
  • Determine the column dimensions: Decide on the diameter and height of the column based on architectural and structural requirements.
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  • Choose the grade of concrete: Select an appropriate concrete mix that meets the required strength and durability criteria.
  • Select the reinforcement: Decide on the type, size, and spacing of reinforcing bars (rebars) to be used in the column. This should be based on the structural design requirements and the anticipated loads.
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  • Analyze the column loads: Determine the axial load (compression or tension) and any bending moments acting on the column. This can be done using structural analysis software or manual calculations.
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Square Rcc Column Design

  • Load requirements: Identify the design loads, including dead loads, live loads, and any other relevant loads for the structure.Material properties: Determine the properties of the concrete and reinforcement materials, such as compressive strength and yield strength.
  • Design code: Consult the relevant design code or standards for your region to ensure compliance with local regulations.
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  • Determine the axial load on the column using the applied loads and load combinations specified in the design code. This will give you the total load that the column needs to support.
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  • Determine the required column size based on the axial load and the permissible stress limits defined in the design code. The column dimensions include the length, width, and height.
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Circular Rcc Column Construction

  • Design and planning: Determine the column's diameter, height, and reinforcement details based on structural requirements and design calculations. Consider factors such as the load-bearing capacity, column spacing, and overall structural stability.
  • Site preparation: Prepare the construction site by clearing the area, ensuring proper access, and setting up necessary formwork and scaffolding.
  • Formwork installation: Circular formwork is required to shape the concrete into a circular column. Typically, a wooden or steel formwork system is used, consisting of circular panels, wedges, and supporting structures. Ensure that the formwork is sturdy, properly aligned, and securely fastened.
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Tapered Rcc Column Details

Pillar Types

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Circular Pillar Structure

How Many Types of Column?

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What Are Square Columns Called?

Why Circular Column Is Preferred?

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Pillar Vs Column

Roman Columns Vs Greek Columns

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What Are Columns in Construction?

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  • Stone Vs Brick
  • Lime Vs Cement
  • Types of Pitched Roof
  • Live Load vs Dead Load
  • Column Load Calculation
  • Luminous Flux Vs Lumens
  • What Is Bridge Abutment | Types of Abutments
  • What Are Planted  Column, Floating Column, Hanging Column, and Stub Column
  • What Is Mix Design of Concrete | Nominal Mix | Design Mix| Difference Between Nominal Mix and Design Mix
  • Meaning | What Is Waterlogging | How to Prevent Waterlogging | Effect of Waterlogging | Causes of Waterlogging
  • How to Build a Suspension Bridge | Suspension Bridge Facts | Suspension Bridge-Strength & eaknesses | Advantages and Disadvantages of a Suspension Bridge
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