Engineering and Construction

These are generally standard, universal column, hot-rolled sections. They provide a compact, efficient section for normal building storey heights. Also, because of the section shape, they give unobstructed access for beam connections to either the flange or web. For a given overall width and depth of section, there is a range of weights which enable the overall dimensions of structural components to be nominally maintained for a range of loading intensities.

Where the loading requirements exceed the capacity of standard sections, additional plates may be welded to the section to form plated columns, or fabricated columns may be formed by welding plates together to form a plate-column (Fig.2.14).

The use of circular or rectangular tubular elements marginally improves the load-carrying efficiency of components as a result of their higher stiffness-to-weight ratio.

Concrete filling significantly improves the axial load-carrying capacity and fire resistance.

Fig. 2.14 Types of column: (a) plated (by addition of plates to U.C. section); (b) universal; (c) tubular; (d) fabricated plate