🔹 Introduction
If rafters carry the roof and purlins support the sheets, then pillars (columns) are the vertical backbone of the entire hangar.
👉 Pillars = primary load-bearing members that transfer all structural loads to the foundation
In German-engineered hangars, columns are designed with extreme precision, because any failure here compromises the whole structure.
🔹 What Are Pillars (Columns)?
Columns are vertical structural elements that:
- Support rafters and roof loads
- Transfer forces safely to the foundation
- Resist axial compression, bending, and lateral forces
🔹 Types of Columns in German Hangars
1. 🟫 Built-Up Steel Columns
Technical Features:
- Made by welding steel plates
- Custom-designed cross-sections
Why Used:
✔ Handles heavy loads
✔ Ideal for large-span hangars
2. 🟦 Hot-Rolled I / H Columns
Technical Features:
- Standard I or H sections
- Manufactured in mills
Advantages:
✔ Cost-effective
✔ Easy to install
3. 📦 Box Columns (Closed Sections)
Technical Features:
- Hollow rectangular or square sections
- High torsional resistance
German Engineering Use:
✔ Used where wind loads are high
✔ Better stability
🔹 Load Transfer Mechanism
Columns are designed according to
Eurocode EN 1991
Load Flow:
Roof → Purlins → Rafters → Columns → Foundation → Soil
🔹 Forces Acting on Columns
1. Axial Compression
- Main vertical load from roof
- Most critical force
2. Bending Moment
- Due to:
- Wind loads
- Portal frame action
3. Shear Forces
- Horizontal loads transferred through frame
4. Buckling (Critical Failure Mode)
- Long columns may fail by instability
- Controlled using design and bracing
🔹 Column Base Connection
🔩 Base Plate & Anchor Bolts
Components:
- Base plate (steel)
- Anchor bolts embedded in concrete
- Grouting layer
Engineering Role:
✔ Transfers load safely to foundation
✔ Maintains alignment
🔹 Column-to-Rafter Connection
- Moment-resisting joint
- Uses:
- End plates
- High-strength bolts
- Welded connections
👉 This joint forms the portal frame system, a hallmark of German hangars.
🔹 Design Considerations
1. Slenderness Ratio
- Determines buckling risk
- Lower ratio = safer column
2. Load Combination
Based on
Eurocode EN 1991:
- DL + LL
- DL + WL
- DL + WL + SL
3. Corrosion Protection
- Galvanization
- Protective coatings
4. Alignment Precision
- Even small errors → structural issues
- German systems ensure millimeter accuracy
🔹 Bracing Support (Very Important)
Columns rely on:
- Cross bracing
- Roof bracing
👉 Prevents lateral movement and collapse
🔹 Common Failures (If Poorly Designed)
- Buckling due to high slenderness
- Base plate failure
- Anchor bolt pull-out
- Misalignment leading to uneven load distribution
🔹 Why German Columns Are Superior
✔ Optimized using structural analysis software
✔ Fabricated with high precision
✔ Strong connection detailing
✔ Designed under Eurocode EN 1991
🔹 Final Insight
Columns are not just vertical members—they are:
👉 The primary load path that ensures the entire hangar stands safely
In German engineering, columns are designed to:
- Carry massive loads
- Resist environmental forces
- Maintain long-term structural integrity
Book Event Infrastructure with Siraj Decorators
Siraj Decorators supplies German hanger on rent in Mumbai and across Maharashtra and Gujarat, along with pagoda tents, wooden flooring and stage platforms. Contact us for a free quotation.
Related reading: What is a German hanger? · German hanger technical specifications · German hanger installation process · German hanger rental cost in Mumbai.