What is Column: Definition and 333 Discussions

A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member. The term column applies especially to a large round support (the shaft of the column) with a capital and a base or pedestal, which is made of stone, or appearing to be so. A small wooden or metal support is typically called a post, and supports with a rectangular or other non-round section are usually called piers.
For the purpose of wind or earthquake engineering, columns may be designed to resist lateral forces. Other compression members are often termed "columns" because of the similar stress conditions. Columns are frequently used to support beams or arches on which the upper parts of walls or ceilings rest. In architecture, "column" refers to such a structural element that also has certain proportional and decorative features. A column might also be a decorative element not needed for structural purposes; many columns are engaged, that is to say form part of a wall. A long sequence of columns joined by an entablature is known as a colonnade.

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  1. M

    MHB How to Compute Coordinate Column Vectors in Different Bases?

    Hey! :o We have the matrices $E_{k\ell}\in \mathbb{R}^{2\times 2}$ with $1$ iin the position $(k,\ell)$ and $0$ in the other positions and \begin{equation*}\sigma_0=\begin{pmatrix}1&0\\ 0&1\end{pmatrix}, \ \sigma_1=\begin{pmatrix}0&1\\ 1&0\end{pmatrix}, \ \sigma_2=\begin{pmatrix}0&-i\\...
  2. Drakkith

    Does the Null Space of a 2x3 Matrix Determine its Column Space?

    Homework Statement Let ##A## be a 2x3 matrix. If Nul(##A##) is a line through the origin in ℝ3, then Col(##A##) = ℝ2. Explain why. Hint: Think about the number of pivots in ##A##. Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution So, Nul(##A##) is the set of all solutions to the equation ##Ax=0##...
  3. O

    MHB How does the row picture differ from the column picture in linear systems?

    Hi, I hope someone can help. I'm wanting to get a better grasp on the connection between the row picture v.s. the column picture of linear systems and their solutions. In the picture below, the row picture are the three graphs on the top and their corresponding column pictures are below them...
  4. I

    Hydrostatic pressure (infinitesimally small column of water)

    This is a hypothetical question: since hydrostatic pressure is calculated as depth of water times its density, would a column of water less than a square foot in cross section still have a pressure at the bottom of depth*density of water? For example, if I had a 1" thick by 1ft wide by 5' tall...
  5. D

    What would the weight of a column of water be at the center of the Earth?

    In reading Jules Verne's book A Journey to the Center of the Earth I came to a section where one of the characters questions if the massive weight of the air would be fatal at the center of the Earth. I lack the mathematical skills to derive an equation to graphically represent the results. My...
  6. K

    What is the Relationship Between Gas Pressure and Fluid Column Height?

    Homework Statement I need to find the amount of H2 being lost to water by being stored underneath a column of water. About 16 mL of H2 is made and it displaces the column by 16 cm. However the total amount of water is 30 ml/30 cm. I'm not sure which relationship to use to find the pressure of...
  7. A

    Rienforced Concrete Column Cost Optimization with Genetic Algorithm

    Hi, I'm a Civil Engineering student doing my final project for my BE degree. I have developed a software that uses a genetic algorithm for optimizing reinforced concrete columns. I have tested my program with a 17 stories building, and got some very unusual results in the design but much...
  8. Anton Zhyzhyn

    Column of water, vacuum pressure and a one-way valve problem

    A conceptual problem related to a design I'm working on: If I use a pump to suck air out of the top of a vertical pipe, with the bottom of the pipe in water, I can only make the water rise around 10 metres inside the pipe, if I produce a perfect vacuum. Now let's say the pipe was 100m long and...
  9. O

    Any idea how to bake the column of a SEM?

    I am an undergraduate researcher and my university had an SEM donated to us by DOW chemical. It since has been without power and we have to bake the column and the gun chamber. Contacting the company they estimate $17k to send someone out to do it for us. I'm having difficulty finding material...
  10. Rizwan Yaseen

    What is Damping in a distillation column

    Why this troubleshoot occurs and how we can minimize it ??
  11. M

    I Dissolved gas concentration in undersaturated liquid column

    Hi, In an enclosed system - of say Methane & water - in which the water column is sufficiently large to have significant pressure and some modest temperature difference due to gravity and geothermal effects, how would one calculate / predict the changing methane concentration (or partial...
  12. L

    I What is the Basis for the Null Space in Matrix A?

    Hello there. I'm currently trying to come to terms with the aforementioned topics. As I am self studying, a full understanding of these concepts escapes me. There's something I'm not grasping here and I would like to discuss these to clear away the clouds. As I understand it, a basis for some...
  13. D

    Natural frequency of an Oscillating water column device

    Homework Statement Assuming that an OWC device is floating/moored in monochromatic waves. When there isn't air pressure distribution inside (atmospheric condition) the device behaves as an undambed body (with the oscillating chamber open to the atmosphere). When there is air pressure...
  14. aon3t

    Torque applied on a lighting column

    Greetings! I am currently making a program which is about lighting columns. And I am currently at a halt because I need some basic physics done before I can complete it. I have a lighting column which is L = 8 m D = 0.087 m M = 69 kg I have a force, applied from the wind load, at F = 1235...
  15. A

    Understanding Rigid Column Theory in Fluid Mechanics

    Hello, please see attached text below - this concerns ''rigid column theory''. When a valve is closed, the pressure rises at the valve; the pressure rises above the reservoir pressure by ΔP with a height increase ΔH above H. When the valve is opened, this right hand pressure will disappear and...
  16. A

    Fluid mechanics: Rigid column theory

    Hello Please see attached page from a textbook. Can someone explain why H = 4f.le.vo^2/2d.g and why delta H is given by the expression in the book? Note that the figure it mentions is on the top of the page. I have tried for days here. Thanks
  17. F

    Sign of moment in buckling of column

    Homework Statement Can someone explain why the M is assigned to be anticlockwise here ? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution When i assign it as clockwise , i will get -P(δ -v) , which is different from the author ... Can i do so ? Why ?
  18. O

    Column under a concentric axial load (Buckling)

    Hi everyone, I have a cylindrical column under a concentric axial load. The load which is applied in the column is less than the critical buckling force (according to Euler´s formula). Due to this load, the column suffers a displacement (buckling effect), and I would like to determine which is...
  19. P

    Calculating the dimensions of a lever and a column

    Hi, I have a system with a lever arm that's attached to a vertical support at its pivot point. The lever is pushed up by hand and is supported by a stay lid like in the image. I need to calculate the area and thickness of the arm and the column but the only numbers I have is the load attached...
  20. Leonardo Machado

    C/C++ Extracting information of data in column format using C++

    Hello friends, how are you ? Today's question is: How do i choose the data i want to extract from a file in c++ ? I have this data file in columns format, something like: x y z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 I know there is the command file.getline() , and this...
  21. F

    Buckling of column connected to beam

    Homework Statement In this question, we are interested inthe buckling of column, so we should calculate the moment of inertia (Ixx) or (Iyy) at the column,right? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution Why the author calculate (Ixx) and (Iyy) using the cross sectional area of beam? is it...
  22. T

    Standing wave in a column of methane, find gamma of methane

    Homework Statement A standing wave with a frequency of 1100 Hz in a column of methane at produces nodes that are 0.200 m apart. What is the value of γ for methane? (The molar mass of methane is 16.0 g/mol)Homework Equations v = sqrt ( γRT/M) where R is 8.341, T = 20 °C and M = 16.0 g/mol. v=fλ...
  23. Pepper Mint

    Unique_index_id Value in sys.key_constraints & is_unique Column in sys.indexes

    I find in SQL Server, sys.indexes contains an is_unique column and sys.key_constraints contains unique_index_id. Could you help confirm me that the unique_index_id value in the latter is also the index_id value of the former when its is_unique becomes true or 1 ? Thank you.
  24. S

    MHB How to find a non-zero vector in the column space of M

    Let the matrix $M = \begin{bmatrix}-12&-12&16&-15\\-6&-8&-8&-10\\0&20&0&25\end{bmatrix}$ Find a non zero vector in the column space of $M$ Is it not true that $\begin{bmatrix}-12\\-8\\20\end{bmatrix}$ is a non zero vector in the column space of $M$ ? For some reason it keeps telling me "that...
  25. E

    Is a binary distillation column limited by Carnot?

    Hi Physics Forums, I'm wondering if a distillation column is limited by the carnot efficiency and, if so, how this limitation can be used to determine the maximum efficiency of a distillation column with particular hot and cold side temperatures. A distillation column has a hot and cold side...
  26. kelvin490

    MATLAB How can I append new columns to an existing Excel file with MATLAB?

    I would like to ask how to use MATLAB to append new columns into existing excel file without altering the original data in the file? In my case I don't know the original number of columns and rows in the file and it is inefficient to open the files one by one and check in practice. Another...
  27. A

    Does the height of the water column on top of this pump matter?

    We are using the following pump to measure the strain on a special tube. http://www.instechlabs.com/Support/manuals/HABP.pdf This special tube is connected on each side to another tube that is connected to one of the two connectors on the pump. (The two connectors of the pump were put parallel...
  28. G

    Water column pressure question

    In the diagram I included, I was curious as to a this situation. The columns of water are all connected and there is a hollow object that is buoyant and it's walls hug up against the walls of the left side of the 2 middle columns so that no water cannot pass between the two walls --- the hollow...
  29. N

    MHB Word problem: Finding The Length Of A Column Of Marching Soldiers

    An army of soldiers is marching down a road at 5 mi/hr. A messenger on horseback rides from the front to the rear and returns immediately, the total time taken being 10 minutes. Assuming that the messenger rides at the rate of 10mi/hr, determine the distance from the front to the rear. Can you...
  30. Q

    Max height of a concrete column

    Homework Statement For a concrete column of constant cross sectional area, what is the maximum possible height if the compressible strength is 2.0 x 107 N/m2? The density of concrete is 2.3 x 103 kg/m3. Homework Equations \frac{F}{A} The Attempt at a Solution I am not really sure what I am...
  31. Vigardo

    Column buckling under axial+transverse combined load

    Dear experts, Do you know the buckling load of a column (one end clamped one end free) under axial compressive and transverse lateral forces (applied combined at top free end)? Does the lateral load reduce the critical load or just reduces the stiffness of the column? Would you help me? -Thanks!
  32. SimOpera

    MATLAB Pdepe solver for diffusion equation in a packed column

    Consider I have a packed column of length L filled with known characteristic adsorbent. I am putting a mixture of N components in it and I am solving for concentration of each component in mobile phase at the outlet of the column. The equations which are to be generalised are as follows: An...
  33. gfd43tg

    Distillation Column Sieve Tray

    I'm reading McCabe and Thiele's classic "Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering" section about the design of sieve-plate columns. Below is a figure showing a column. I have a few questions and some clarification would be great. 1. Isn't the weir for plate n-1 simply the downcomer for plane n...
  34. W

    Can I ORDER BY an Alias Column (MSSQL)?

    Hi All, I am doing a query in which I am ALIASING a column name, say 'column name' AS x Can I , at the end of the query ORDER BY x, or must I ORDER BY the given initial 'column name'? (Still having trouble downloading free copy of MSSQL2012, so I cannot test the query). I know this has to see...
  35. W

    MySQL DDL Column Edit is Disabled. Why?

    Hi All, I am using MySQL in order to design an ERD (Entity Relation Diagram) , and I can make use of indexes, triggers, etc. but for some reason, the columns tab , which allows me to add data or just edit the tables is disabled. I have searched online without success. Any ideas on how to enable...
  36. E

    Calculating to mass of a water column above a specific point

    Part D. I looked up the answer and input it already, which is why it says correct, but i am beyond stumped. No idea how to do this. I know the pressure at the dotted lines are equal and that pressure=force/area. I also know the pressure at an area is equal to whatever is above it so the pressure...
  37. H

    Length of a Closed Air Column

    Homework Statement The resonant length of a closed air column at the first resonance is 0.375m, what is the wavelength when at 4th reasonance Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution 1/4λ=0.375m λ=1.5m 1.5m/7 = 0.214m
  38. K

    Column analogy (Hardy Cross) - Carry Over Factor and stiffness

    Hi all, 1. Homework Statement Book example: Determine using the column analogy method, the carry over factor from A to B and the stiffness at A for a propped cantilever. (Propped end is defined as A, and fixed end is defined as B) 2. Relevant principles 1. Moment at any point M = M_{s} -...
  39. T

    Density of a liquid above a column of water

    Homework Statement A column of water 40 cm high supports a 30 cm column of an unknown liquid.What is the density of the liquid? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution As per the instruction of the teacher I equated their pressures. h1ρ1g=h2ρ2g. And hence arrived at the...
  40. ognik

    MHB Null Column Vector vs $ |0 \rangle$

    Hi - is there any difference between 'null column vector' and $ |0 \rangle $? Ta
  41. evinda

    MHB The column gets out of the basis

    Hello! (Wave) Find the basic feasible solutions of the system of restrictions: $$2x_1+x_2+x_3=10 \\ 3x_1+8x_2+x_4=24 \\ x_2+x_5=2 \\ x_i \geq 0, i=1,2,3,4,5$$ We notice that the rank of the matrix $A=\begin{pmatrix} 2 & 1 & 1 & 0 & 0\\ 3 & 8 & 0 & 1 & 0\\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix}$ is...
  42. J

    Slenderness ratio, mode of failure

    Homework Statement Hi guys (first post here let me know if I can fix anything that I've done wrong), I'm struggling a little with the second part of this question and seem to be going round in circles A column has the dimensions shown in the diagram below. (a) What is the minimum length of...
  43. H

    Euler's column Formulae application in aluminum cans?

    Maximum axial load is proportional to the second moment of area. Thus can we reason that aluminium cans are cylindrical because they have a high second moment of area(mr^2) compared to other shapes(Which gives it a higher max axial load.)?
  44. kostoglotov

    Column space and nullspace relationship?

    I have just been studying Nullspaces... I want to make the following summary, will it be correct? C(A) is all possible linear combinations of the pivot columns of A. N(A) is all possible linear combinations of the free columns of A (if any exist). edit: I have a feeling these are...
  45. S

    Total column water calculation from radiosonde data

    hello, i want to calculate total column water from a radiosonde station data. data are relative humidity, pressure and temperature in various altitude. my course is not physics or meteorology. please help me. is there a free software?
  46. G

    Can a Negative AST Occur If PU Is Too Small in Column Design?

    what should I do if I get too small PU making my "AST" (area of steel bars) negative in designing of column?Pls. help thanks a lot.
  47. JN Morris

    Calculating Pressure Exerted on A Gasoline Column

    I am requesting for another set of eyes to double check my work, I believe my answer is correct but I am not sure. I also do not understand why 0.75 is the specific gravity of gasoline in this equation when it actually can range from 0.71-0.77 1. Homework Statement Calculate the pressure...
  48. F

    Buckling and column effective length question

    Homework Statement If I have a column, fixed at both ends, i am aiming to work out the minimum length where buckling is likely to occur. I know this is a similar question to that asked before, however please bear with me. Column outer diameter 100mm, inner diameter 60mm Youngs modulus...
  49. A

    MHB Basis for column and null space

    Please help me with these three questions. I'm really struggling to understand these concepts and I think that with an understanding of these three, I will be able to tackle the rest before my test on Wednesday. Thank you. http://www.texpaste.com/n/g4rwmzzw 1) $$ A = \left[\begin{matrix} -6 &...
  50. Dethrone

    MHB Relation between null and column space

    Is there a relationship between 1 and 2. If so, is it 1 implies 2, 2 implies 1, or if and only if. 1) $\operatorname{null}A=\operatorname{null}B$ 2) $\operatorname{col}\operatorname{rref}A=\operatorname{col}\operatorname{rref }B$
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