Which structural element is a vertical member that is loaded axially in compression?

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Multiple Choice

Which structural element is a vertical member that is loaded axially in compression?

Explanation:
Vertical members that carry load along their length in compression transfer those forces straight down to the foundation. This is exactly what a column does: it resists axial compression along its axis and supports loads from floors and roofs. Beams are horizontal and resist bending and shear; slabs are horizontal floor panels; pillar is a more general term used in everyday language, but in structural engineering the precise term for this function is column. So, the best fit for a vertical member loaded axially in compression is the column.

Vertical members that carry load along their length in compression transfer those forces straight down to the foundation. This is exactly what a column does: it resists axial compression along its axis and supports loads from floors and roofs. Beams are horizontal and resist bending and shear; slabs are horizontal floor panels; pillar is a more general term used in everyday language, but in structural engineering the precise term for this function is column. So, the best fit for a vertical member loaded axially in compression is the column.

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