Question

A wood column is 5.5 in. square in cross section and 12 ft long. Its modulus of elasticity is 1.3 × 106 psi. How much will the column shorten under a compressive load of 36,000 lb?

Answer 1

delta L/L = F/area / E

delta L = 144 in * 36*10^3 lb /5.5 in^2/1.3*10^6

= 725 * 10^-3

= .724 inches

(scary! probably fails under buckling but we were not asked) )

Answer 2

Thank you so much!