Columns

Table of Contents

Columns [1]

What are Columns?

In civil and structural engineering, a column is an upright member that serves to provide vertical support for a spanning surface. Columns are compressed downwards by the weight above them, and can range from large, structural columns in skyscrapers, or the legs of a table. Columns often serve the purpose of supporting the structural integrity, but can often be used in an architecturally stylistic manner as well. An advantage of columns is allowing large, spanning ceilings to be made with virtually any material. As structural technology has advanced, columns serve less to be a necessity and more to be aesthetically pleasing, as lighter and more spanning materials come about. Traditionally made with stone, columns are common in ancient buildings in which their structural use was needed, such as temples, theater houses, and institutions, but are also used anywhere there is a required vertical support [2].

Characteristics of Columns

Parts of a Column

The base of a column can be referred to as the base or pedestal, and the largest part of the column is the shaft. Above the shaft is the capital where the column connects with the ceiling or the spanning structure above [3].

Load Distribution

Columns have a largely simple load path, where the load of the structure above the column flows down vertically into the shaft and disperses through the base and the ground. The flow causes columns to act in compression unilaterally, with the only direction of force going downward unless there is a structural error [4].

Types of Columns

Columns are distinguished from one another by their purpose and style. Structural columns of the modern day can have simple rectangular prism shapes to suit a completely non-aesthetic need, the type you may find in a parking garage. There are various different types of structural column that differ in their material and purpose, but each are tasked with carrying a load path into the foundation of the structure. For example, steel columns may be used when there are few cost restrictions to a building, or braced columns can assist in the load bearing capacity of a building [5].

Stylistic columns can appear reminiscent of columns of different historic orders of column, like those found in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Further discussion of the evolution of styles of columns can be found in Column History [6].