Structural Forces

A Force is any influence that produces a change in the shape or movement of a body. It is a vector quantity possessing both magnitude and direction, represented by an arrow whose length is proportional to the magnitude And whose orientation in space represents the direction.

In both structural design and analysis, we are concerned with the magnitude, direction and point of application of forces. Equilibrium is a state of balance or rest resulting from the equal action of opposing forces.

Newton’s third law of motion, the law of action and reaction, states that for every force acting on a body, the body exerts a force having equal magnitude and the opposite direction along the same line of action as the original force.

Concentrated load acts on a very small area or particular point of a supporting structural element. Uniformly distributed load is a load of uniform magnitude extending over the length or area of the supporting structural elements.

Columns Columns are rigid, relatively slender structural members designed primarily to support axial compressive loads applied to the ends of the members. Short, thick columns are subject to failure by crushing rather than by buckling.

Long, slender columns are subject to failure by buckling rather than by crushing. Buckling is the sudden lateral instability of a slender structural member induced by the action of an axial load

Reference: Building Construction Illustrated 4th edition Francis D. K. Ching John Wiley & Sons