Column

Question 1

A rigid, relatively slender structural member designed primarily to support compressive loads applied at the member ends

Answer 1

Column

Question 2

An upright, relatively slender shaft or structure, usually of brick or stone, used as a building support or standing alone as a monument

Answer 2

Pillar

Question 3

A stiff vertical support, especially a wooden column in timber framing

Answer 3

Post

Question 4

The critical point at which a column, carrying its critical buckling load, may either buckle or remain undeflected. The column is therefore in a state of neutral equilibrium

Answer 4

Bifurcation

Question 5

The critical buckling load for a column divided by the area of its cross section

Answer 5

Critical Buckling Stress

Question 6

The sudden lateral or torsional instability of a slender structural member induced by the action of a compressive load. It may occur well before the yield stress of the material is reached

Answer 6

Buckling

Question 7

The axial load at which a column begins to deflect laterally and becomes unstable

Answer 7

Buckling load

Question 8

The maximum axial load that can theoretically be applied to a column without causing it to buckle. It is inversely proportional to the square of its effective length, and directly proportional to the modulus of elasticity of the material and to the moment of inertia of the cross section

Answer 8

Critical Buckling Load, Euler Buckling Load

Question 9

A thick column subject to failure by crushing rather than by buckling. Failure occurs when the direct stress from an axial load exceeds the compressive strength of the material available in the cross section. An eccentric load, however, can produce bending and result in an uneven stress distribution in the section

Answer 9

Short Column

Question 10

A column having a mode of failure between that of a short column and a long column, often partly inelastic by crushing and partly elastic by buckling

Answer 10

Intermediate Column

Question 11

The ratio of the effective length of a column to its least radius of gyration

Answer 11

Slenderness Ratio

Question 12

A slender column subject to failure by buckling rather than by crushing

Answer 12

Long Column

Question 13

The radial distance from any axis to a point at which the mass of could be concentrated without altering the moment of inertia of the body about that axis. For a structural section, the radius of gyration is equal to the square root of the quotient of the moment of inertia and the area

Answer 13

Radius of Gyration

Question 14

The amount by which an axis deviated from another parallel axis

Answer 14

Eccentricity

Question 15

An additional moment developed in a structural member as its longitudinal axis deviates from the line of action of a compressive force, equal to the product of the load and the member deflection at any point

Answer 15

P-delta Effect

Question 16

The proposition that a compressive load should be located within the middle third of a horizontal section of a column or wall to prevent tensile stresses from developing in the section

Answer 16

Middle-Third Rule

Question 17

The distance between inflection points in a column subject to buckling. The effective length of a column determines its critical buckling load. When this portion of a column buckles, the entire column fails

Answer 17

Effective Length

Question 18

A coefficient for modifying the actual length of a column according to its end conditions in order to determine its effective length. Fixing both ends of a long column reduces its effective length by half and increases its load-carrying capacity a factor of 4

Answer 18

Effective Length Factor

Question 19

A set of tensile and compressive stresses resulting from the superposition of axial and bending stresses at a cross section of a structural member, acting in the same direction and equal at any point to their algebraic sum

Answer 19

Combined Stresses

Question 20

The central area of any horizontal section of a column or wall within which the resultant of all compressive loads must pass of only compressive stresses are to be present in the section. A compressive load applied beyond the area will cause tensile stresses to develop in the section

Answer 20

Kern, Kern Area

Question 21

A point on either side of the the centroidal axis of a a horizontal column or wall section defining the limits of the kern area

Answer 21

Kern Point

Question 22

The bracing of a column or other compression member to reduce its effective length. It is the most effective when the bracing pattern occurs in more than one plane

Answer 22

Lateral Bracing

Question 23

The distance between the points at which a structural member is braced against buckling in a direction normal to its length

Answer 23

Unbraced Length