Column Optimiser – User Guide

The Column Optimiser is a batch design tool used to size multiple reinforced concrete columns under consistent design parameters.

Two optimisation methods are available:

• Find Minimum Dimension – Column width is fixed and the program solves the required depth to achieve approximately 85–90% utilisation under ULS loading, with target reo %.
• MinReo – Column dimensions are fixed and the program determines the required reinforcement % to achieve approximately 85–90% utilisation.

Common input parameters:

• Concrete strength (f’c)
• Effective height
• Target reinforcement percentage (Minimum Dimension mode)
• Preferred reinforcement bar diameter
• User data can be pasted directly from Excel

Column Types

• Rectangular (Rec) – Width and/or depth depending on optimisation mode.
• Circular (Cir) – Enter diameter in the Width field.

For circular columns, the Width value is treated as the diameter.

Outputs

• Required depth (Min Dim Mode) or required reinforcement (Required Reo Mode)
• Reinforcement layout (number of bars and diameters in each direction for rectangular, and number of bars in case of circular)
• Batch results table - includes all design paramters for transparency

Results can be exported to Excel or printed as a formatted design report.

Typical Workflow

1. Select optimisation method (MinDim or MinReo).
2. Paste column data.
3. Set design parameters (f’c, height, reo %, bar size).
4. Run optimiser.
5. Export or print results.
6. Click a column tag to review detailed design results and interaction diagrams.