Which term best describes the vertical load-bearing member that carries loads in compression and is typically part of a frame?

Which term best describes the vertical load-bearing member that carries loads in compression and is typically part of a frame?

• A. Pillar
• B. Pilaster
• C. Beams
• D. Column

Answer: (D)

Think about how a building holds itself up: the vertical elements that carry the weight straight down are designed to take axial compression. Those members connect floors and roofs to the foundation, forming the frame of the structure. In that system, the vertical compression member is called a column. Beams are the horizontal pieces that span between columns and carry loads across spaces. A pilaster is a shallow, wall-attached projection and isn’t the primary vertical load carrier, and a pillar is a more general term that can refer to various upright supports but isn’t the standard term for the main vertical load-bearing element in a frame. So the best term here is column.

Think about how a building holds itself up: the vertical elements that carry the weight straight down are designed to take axial compression. Those members connect floors and roofs to the foundation, forming the frame of the structure. In that system, the vertical compression member is called a column. Beams are the horizontal pieces that span between columns and carry loads across spaces. A pilaster is a shallow, wall-attached projection and isn’t the primary vertical load carrier, and a pillar is a more general term that can refer to various upright supports but isn’t the standard term for the main vertical load-bearing element in a frame. So the best term here is column.