What is a short column?

A short column is a structural member whose relatively short length practically ensures that it fails in compression if it is evenly loaded along its axis. The columns can be classified as short, medium or long, depending on their lengths, their material properties and lengths of other columns in the same structure. The short column differs from the middle or long column, each of which can fail by bending when it is evenly loaded along the axis. Rather, whether the column is considered short depends on different factors. A short column can be made of different materials including structural steel, aluminum alloys, reinforced concrete or even wood. Depending on which of these materials they are made, short columns may be different lengths due to the different strengths of these materials. Structural columns, which are short lengths relative to other columns on a particular story of the building, are considered short columns.

columns most often fail in one of two modes. They can be crushed, which means that they have failed in compression or bend, which is a phenomenon known as struts. Which mode fails depends on different factors, including the column geometry and the column material. It is also important to divide the pressure forces through the cross -sectional area of ​​the column. If the compression is unevenly applied through the column, with a greater force on one edge than the other, the chances of the struts increase.

relatively short columns are most likely to fail in compression. The stress on the column due to the load must be less than the column force to support the load. The buildings are specially designed to ensure that this is the case; Otherwise, the building would collapse.

for safety, the column is designed to be stronger than necessary under the expected conditions. This is known as security margins. The safety edge helps to ensure thatThe amount of voltage that each column can withstand exceeds the stress that experiences in actual use. However, in rare circumstances, such as a natural disaster, stress on the column can unexpectedly exceed its strength, causing column failure. This is an important problem for designing a short column.

Compared to other columns, short columns are relatively stiffer, leading to greater susceptibility to damage during an earthquake or other extreme events. Particular attention must therefore be paid to their design to ensure the sound structure. For this reason, the design of a short column is particularly important in less developed countries in areas susceptible to earthquakes such as Honduras and India.

Due to their relative stiffness compared to other structural members, short columns experience increased seismic demand and subjected THK more force in the earthquake. This phenomenon is known as the effect of a short column. Short columns that failsThey are characterized in this way, are characterized by X -shaped cracks visible on the outside of the column. Designers generally avoid the use of such columns in buildings whenever possible to prevent a short column effect. Where their use cannot be prevented, designers usually increase the robustness of structural design to compensate for increased risk.