Column Starter/ Kicker

[Annie124]

Hello, I want to ask if Column Starter does affect structural integrity of a structure?

 

[1503-44]

What are you calling a column starter? Not familiar with that term.



--Einstein gave the same test to students every year. When asked why he would do something like that, "Because the answers had changed."

 

[psmart]

Try the structural engineering forum.


Peter Smart
HydroCAD Software

http://www.hydrocad.net

 

[swazimatt]

provided you prepare the kicker surface properly before casting the column it will be fine. I am sure there is some effect, but you do not have any alternative, you cannot cast the foundation and column at the same time and a kicker just makes erecting and securing the formwork easier it also ensures you have your column starter bars in the correct place with correct cover when you cast the foundation.

with regards the effect, thinking about it, your steel carries the tension and doesn't really matter if the concrete is "cracked" on the tension side and as compression is vertical there should be no affect to the compressive resistance of the concrete (even if there is a joint at the kicker) (a brick column with no tension forces works fine and that is effectively made of multiple "kickers"