Column Design

The Criteria > Column Design command is used to define the criteria by which a concrete column will be designed. This dialog consists of three tabs, each of which is explained below.

Reinforcement Tab

The reinforcement tab allows the user to edit design criteria for bar spacing checks, reinforcing ratio checks, and clear bar cover.

The following criteria can be set to be checked according to the design code in use, or according to a value specified by the user:

Max/min bar spacing for shear/transverse ties
Max/min bar spacing for shear/spirals
Max/min bar spacing for flexure + axial/longitudinal
Longitudinal reinforcement ratio
Clear cover

In all cases if the Code option is selected the program will calculate the appropriate code-specified value. If the User option is selected the provided value will be used as long as it is within the code specified limits (when applicable). If the user-specified values are not within the code limits the code limits will be used.

Bar Selection Tab

The Bar Selection Tab is where various parameters are defined to fine-tune the reinforcement selection:

Transverse design spacing, including Segment Spacing Increment and Transverse Bar Spacing Increment.
Number of shear legs in both the major and minor direction.

Design Checks/Forces Tab

Setting	Description
Design Checks	An option is provided to perform the Torsional Capacity check per ACI 318-99/02, Section 11.6.1. Also, an option is provided to include the Maximum Axial Load Limit check for both Intermediate and Special Moment Frames as outlined in ACI 318-99, Sections 21.4.1 and 21.10.2 (21.12.2 for 318-02).
Gravity Forces on Lateral Columns	For concrete columns with a lateral member assignment, two sets of gravity force analysis results will be available to the user: one set from RAM Concrete Analysis and another set from RAM Frame. The user has the option to consider either set of forces in RAM Concrete Column. See Section 2.3.1 for further discussion of this option.