Concrete Pier Design

[miketrags]

I am looking for a good example on how to design a square concrete pier on a isolated square/rectangular footing. The loading would consist of a vertical and horizontal load (typical metal building loading). I am unsure how to analyze the pier due to the horizontal load. Do I treat it as a cantilever beam? Since there is typically reinforcing on all four faces, do you treat it as just a square beam with reinforcing on one side? Thanks...

 

[csd72]

It is a column - design it as such.

 

[Lion06]

csd is right. It is a cantilevered column. Design it as a column, after all the lateral load can change directions, right? You need tension reinforcement on both sides.

 

[jike]

For small buildings, small loads and short piers, you will often find that min. steel in piers is adequate but not knowing your application, you should check it as csd72 and StructuralEIT have said.

 

[csd72]

In concrete, regardless of the application, everything is designed as either a slab, a beam, a column, a wall, or a footing. It is just a case of choosing the most appropriate category for the thing you are designing.

 

[miketrags]

Thanks for the help and insight. I have used so many charts and tables for basic concrete design that it has been a while since I actually had to calc something. Sounds like I'll have to dig out all my old column/beam notes.