8/30/2018 Explore: Columns | Concept 2 Lessons and Examples | DART.ENGS.02.

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Course  Concep…  Concep…  Explor…

Explore: Columns
Explore: Columns

Use this simulation to explore columns. When you click on 'calculate load' the simulator will
tell you how much load your column can support before it fails in either compression or by
buckling.

Here's the design challenge: Design a column to support the greatest amount of load,
while using the least amount of material. Maximize the load while minimizing the
volume of the column, which is a function of the base diameter and height.

Use the Guiding Questions to help you think about what to change and observe as you
experiment. Try the Practice Problems to help you learn.

Guiding Questions:

How does the height of a column a ect the amount of load that it can support before
failing? Select one type of material and cross-sectional shape and then adjust the height.
What happens to the amount of load the column is able to support? 

How do columns of di erent heights fail? In compression or in buckling? As you experiment

with height notice if the column fails in compression or in buckling.

How does the material choice a ect how much load a column can support? Select one
cross-sectional shape and height and then adjust the material. How does the material type
a ect the amount of load that the column is able to support?

Using the Simulation  Expand ↓

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Steel ▼ Square ▼

Elasticity 2*10^8 kN/m2

Base Diameter 0.25m Length 2.00m

CALCULATE LOAD

Practice Problem CS1

0.0/1.0 point (ungraded)
I’ve designed a column that fails in compression. How could I modify the column such that it
instead fails in buckling? Check all that apply.

increase the height

decrease the height

increase the width or diameter

decrease the width or diameter

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Submit You have used 0 of 2 attempts

Practice Problem CS2

0.0/1.0 point (ungraded)
I’ve designed a column with a solid square cross-section. If I then switch to a hollow, tube
cross-section how will the allowable load be a ected? Note: the outside dimensions or width
will not change, so the cross-sectional area of the column will be reduced.

The allowable load will decrease

The allowable load will increase

The allowable load will remain the same

Submit You have used 0 of 2 attempts

Practice Problem CS3

0.0/1.0 point (ungraded)
The column I’ve designed fails in compression. If I decrease the height of the column, what
happens to the allowable load?

The allowable load will decrease

The allowable load will increase

The allowable load will remain the same

Submit You have used 0 of 2 attempts

Practice Problem CS4

0.0/1.0 point (ungraded)
The column I’ve designed fails by buckling. If I increase the height of the column, what
happens to the allowable load?

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8/30/2018 Explore: Columns | Concept 2 Lessons and Examples | DART.ENGS.02.X Courseware | edX
pp

The allowable load will decrease

The allowable load will increase

The allowable load will remain the same

Submit You have used 0 of 2 attempts

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