International Research Journal of Education and Technology

Floating column is a vertical member, which at its lower level rests on a beam which is a horizontal member. The beam in turn transfers load to the column below it, thus load transfer path in the discontinuous frame changes from vertical to horizontal. Floating columns are a representative feature in the recent multi-story construction in metropolitan India and are highly unwanted in buildings constructed in seismically active areasnumerous structures in current times have designed and constructed for architectural complexities such as structure with floating columns at various levels and places. These floating columns are extremely harmful in structure which is constructed in seismically prone areas. The lateral forces which are developed at different levels in structure require to be carried down along the height to ground by through path, but due to floating column there is discontinuity in the load transfer passageway which results in unfortunate performance of structure.  In this study the analysis of 13 story floating column structure is considered and analysis is done using STAAD Pro. This study is also to find whether the structure is safe or unsafe with floating column is built in seismically active areas with various cases where the floating column is provided on different floors.

Keywords: Floating column, High rise Structure, Residential Building, Stress.