Concrete Column Design Series was being developed to provide rigorous solutions to the ever-increasing complexity of the concrete design provisions. The heart of the concrete column program is a sophisticated non-linear equation solver that finds the depth and orientation (angle) of the neutral axis when the column is subject to biaxial moment and axial forces. The routine is unsurpassed in the industry and unmatched by most.

The programs are written with simplicity and compatibility in mind. Inputs are concisely organized using a minimum of dialog boxes. Like other Digital Canal products, reports are created in Rich Text Format (RTF) and automatically displayed in Microsoft Word Viewer or any user selected word processor.

Key program features include:

• Checks existing and designs new concrete columns with rectangular, square or circular cross sections. Lateral reinforcement can be spirals or ties.
• Column design includes the number, size and orientation of the reinforcement as well as the required section dimensions. Compare that to many competing programs only give you the required area of steel!
• Loads include axial tension or compression and biaxial moments. The program allows three types of second order analysis when slenderness of column needs to be considered. They are: a. Nonlinear Second Order Analysis (Refined Analysis) b. Elastic Second Order Analysis (P delta Analysis) c. Moment Magnification Procedure (Linear Analysis) It is made sure that the moments including second order effects is not greater than 1.4 times the moment due to first order effects as per ACI 2011 (10.10.2.1).

• Calculations are performed in accordance to the latest version of the ACI code (ACI 318-2011). The provisions for computing the strength reduction factors (phi) and the moment magnifiers are used in lieu of the old “permitted” values.
• Moment input and output is in terms of moments about both axes—the moment components are not combined into a resultant moment. Keeping the moment components separate is not only more accurate but easier to understand and interpret.
• Graphic output includes interaction diagrams for moments about both axes and a drawing of the final section. Graphic output can be viewed on the screen, printed and saved to a DXF file.
• Digital Canal’s Concrete Column Design can be bought separately—you don’t need to buy a “structural system” or “engineering library” to design a concrete column. Digital Canal’s Concrete Column Design program provides all the functionality you’ll need at just a fraction of the cost of other ‘stand alone’ programs..
• Reports are in Microsoft Word format (RTF) giving you unequalled compatibility with other software.
• Flexible unit controls allow for US or metric designs.
• User defined “default data” lets you reduce the design of a column to simply inputting the loads.
• Graphic “backgrounds” illustrate program inputs.
• Simple file format—only one file per project that can be opened and saved in typical Windows fashion.