Free Tool · EN 1992-1-1 · RC Column · §6.1 + §5.8 · 9 Locales

RC Column P-M Interaction

Axial-moment interaction diagram per EN 1992-1-1:2004 §6.1. Full P-M curve swept from pure tension to pure compression. §5.8 slenderness check, second-order eccentricity e₂ (nominal curvature §5.8.8), design point plotted with utilization ratio.

Presets:
Section & Reinforcement
Symmetric: n top + n bottom. e.g. 4 = 4T+4B = 8 bars total.
Materials
Design Loads
Results
400 × 400 mm
NRd,max (pure compression, kN)
3813 kN
MRd at NEd (kNm)
240.9 kNm
fcd (MPa)
17 MPa
fyd (MPa)
435 MPa
Utilization η = MEd/MRd PASS   η = 82.8%
λ (slenderness) 43.3 Slender
λlim §5.8.3.1 28.47
e₀ = MEd/NEd (mm) 75 mm
emin = max(h/30, 20) (mm) 20 mm
e₂ second-order (mm) 24.7 mm 2nd-order
e_total (mm) 99.7 mm
MEd,total (kNm) 199.4 kNm
§9.5.2 Reinforcement
As,total (mm²) 2513 mm²
As,min §9.5.2 (mm²) 460 mm²
As,max §9.5.2 (mm²) 6400 mm²
Export report
Receive a full calculation report with P-M diagram data and clause references.
P-M Interaction Diagram — EN 1992-1-1 §6.1
NRd (kN) vs MRd (kNm) · design point ●
MRd NRd
Methodology — EN 1992-1-1

Rectangular stress block §3.1.7
λ = 0.8, η = 1.0 (fck ≤ 50 MPa). Depth of stress block = λ·x, intensity = η·fcd.

Strain profile
Plane sections remain plane. εcu3 = 0.0035. ε_i = εcu3·(x−d_i)/x for each bar layer.

Slenderness §5.8.3.1 Eq(5.13N)
λlim = 20·A·B·C/√n, A = 1/(1+0.2φef), B = √(1+2ω), C = 1.7−rm.

Nominal curvature §5.8.8
1/r = Kr·Kφ·eyd/(0.45·d). e₂ = (1/r)·l₀²/10. Kr per Eq(5.36).

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a P-M interaction diagram?

A P-M (or N-M) diagram plots the combination of axial load N and bending moment M that a cross-section can resist at ULS. Points inside the curve are safe; outside means failure. The calculator sweeps the neutral axis depth from near-pure-tension to near-pure-compression to generate ≥ 60 points of the curve.

When are second-order effects required?

Per EN 1992-1-1 §5.8.3.1, second-order effects may be ignored if λ ≤ λlim. The limit λlim = 20·A·B·C/√n accounts for creep (A), reinforcement (B), moment profile (C), and relative normal force n = NEd/(Ac·fcd). If λ > λlim, the nominal curvature method (§5.8.8) computes an additional eccentricity e₂ = (1/r)·l₀²/10.

How is the neutral axis strain profile defined?

Plane sections remain plane. For a given neutral axis depth x, the compressive strain at the top fiber is set to εcu3 = 0.0035 (for fck ≤ 50 MPa, Table 3.1). The strain in each bar at depth d_i is ε_i = εcu3·(x−d_i)/x, capped at εud (design steel fracture strain).

What reinforcement limits apply to columns?

Per §9.5.2, the minimum is As,min = max(0.10·NEd/fyd, 0.002·Ac) and the maximum is As,max = 0.04·Ac (or 0.08·Ac at laps). These limits prevent brittleness at low axial load and prevent congestion at high reinforcement ratios.

What is the minimum eccentricity?

EN 1992-1-1 §6.1(4) requires a minimum eccentricity e₀,min = max(h/30, 20 mm) to account for construction tolerances and unintentional eccentricity. The design moment includes this even if the calculated eccentricity is smaller.

How does this relate to the RC Beam tool?

The RC Beam tool (§6.1 + §6.2) covers pure bending and shear in beams. This column tool adds the axial-moment interaction diagram needed when significant compression (NEd) is present. Together they cover the basic EN 1992-1-1 member set for columns and beams.