Comparison of different codes in the design of steel column base plates

Column base plates are important connections in structures that help to safely transfer horizontal and vertical loads from the structure to the foundation, as well as to increase the contact area between the column and the foundation, reducing and evenly distributing the stress applied from the column to the foundation and ultimately ensuring the stability of the structure. In fact, the applied stress must be reduced enough that the foundation can withstand the reduced stresses, so the area of the column base plate must be large enough to transfer the compressive stress due to the column force to the foundation with sufficient reliability. The base plate does not directly resist tensile forces, this function is carried out by the anchor rods. However, in order to ensure the safe transfer of these forces, the plate must possess adequate rigidity and structural integrity. Different geographical, climatic and operational conditions have led to the emergence of different standards, resulting in each standard having its own rules and regulations for the design of structures, especially the column base plate. Based on the evaluation and comparison of these standards, structural design plays an important role in ensuring safety, economic optimization of structures and international coordination and harmonization. In this thesis, three standards, namely American (AISC), European (Eurocode) and Turkish (Turkish Standards) are analyzed for the design of column bases when the same type of static loads are acting on a 1000x1000x406 mm foundation. In order to obtain accurate results in the evaluation of the above three standards, it was assumed that all parameters, including the type and amount of loads applied to the column, the type of column profile, the concrete compressive strength of the foundation, the type of connection (rigid) between the column and the column base plate, and the application and construction conditions, are exactly the same or in accordance with the alternative standard. Considering the above conditions, the results obtained show that the minimum thickness required for the column base according to the AISC standard is 50 mm, while the minimum thickness according to Eurocode and Turkish Standards for the same conditions is 32 mm. The evaluation results show that the minimum anchor rod diameter according to the AISC standard is 16 mm, while according to the Turkish Standards and Eurocode it is 22 mm and 24 mm, respectively.