Column vs. Beam
Main DifferenceStructural engineering is one of the most famous types of civil engineering nowadays. From old monuments to enormous buildings all are the products of the similar engineering branch. The structural foundations can be categorized into the following structures: concrete structures, timber structures, and steel structures. Though, you can’t feel the supports like beam or column which are underneath the floor or are placed in the walls aside you respectively but both these are load carrying elements. Column is also referred as a pillar in the common language; it is placed in the vertical form , which transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to the elements lying below, whereas, beam is a structural elements which withstands against the bending. Mainly beam carries vertical gravitational forces, but can also pull the horizontal loads on it.
Difference Between Column and Beam
Column vs. Beam
Column is the vertical structural element which is attached to roof slab, beam or ceiling, and it transfers load to the footings of building, whereas Beam is a structural element to carry the loads from the slabs to the columns and with stand against the bending.
Column vs. Beam
Column affords the compression of load, while a beam stands against the bending moment.
Column vs. Beam
A building can stand without beam but not without column.
Column vs. Beam
The intended function of ties in column and beam works differently.
Column vs. Beam
Columns are mainly classified as slender columns and short columns, whereas, beams are classified as T, L or rectangular.
Columnnoun
(architecture) A solid upright structure designed usually to support a larger structure above it, such as a roof or horizontal beam, but sometimes for decoration.
Beamnoun
Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.
Columnnoun
A vertical line of entries in a table, usually read from top to bottom.
Beamnoun
One of the principal horizontal timbers of a building; one of the transverse members of a ship's frame on which the decks are laid — supported at the sides by knees in wooden ships and by stringers in steel ones.
Columnnoun
A body of troops or army vehicles, usually strung out along a road.
Beamnoun
(nautical) The maximum width of a vessel.
This ship has more beam than that one.Columnnoun
A body of text meant to be read line by line, especially in printed material that has multiple adjacent such on a single page.
It was too hard to read the text across the whole page, so I split it into two columns.Beamnoun
The crossbar of a mechanical balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended.
Columnnoun
A unit of width, especially of advertisements, in a periodical, equivalent to the width of a usual column of text.
Each column inch costs $300 a week; this ad is four columns by three inches, so will run $3600 a week.Beamnoun
The principal stem of the antler of a deer.
Columnnoun
(by extension) A recurring feature in a periodical, especially an opinion piece, especially by a single author or small rotating group of authors, or on a single theme.
His initial foray into print media was as the author of a weekly column in his elementary-school newspaper.Beamnoun
(literary) The pole of a carriage or chariot.
Columnnoun
Something having similar vertical form or structure to the things mentioned above, such as a spinal column.
Beamnoun
(textiles) A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which weavers wind the warp before weaving and the cylinder on which the cloth is rolled, as it is woven.
Columnnoun
(botany) The gynostemium
Beamnoun
The straight part or shank of an anchor.
Columnnoun
(chemistry) An object used to separate the different components of a liquid or to purify chemical compounds.
Beamnoun
The central bar of a plow, to which the handles and colter are secured, and to the end of which are attached the oxen or horses that draw it.
Columnnoun
a line of (usually military) units following one after another
Beamnoun
In steam engines, a heavy iron lever having an oscillating motion on a central axis, one end of which is connected with the piston rod from which it receives motion, and the other with the crank of the wheel shaft.
Columnnoun
a vertical glass tube used in column chromatography; a mixture is poured in the top and washed through a stationary substance where components of the mixture are adsorbed selectively to form colored bands
Beamnoun
A ray or collection of approximately parallel rays emitted from the sun or other luminous body.
a beam of lighta beam of energyColumnnoun
a linear array of numbers one above another
Beamnoun
(figuratively) A ray; a gleam.
a beam of hope, or of comfortColumnnoun
anything tall and thin approximating the shape of a column or tower;
the test tube held a column of white powdera tower of dust rose above the horizona thin pillar of smoke betrayed their campsiteBeamnoun
One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk.
Columnnoun
an article giving opinions or perspectives
Beamnoun
(music) A horizontal bar which connects the stems of two or more notes to group them and to indicate metric value.
Columnnoun
a vertical structure standing alone and not supporting anything (as a monument or a column of air)
Beamnoun
(railway) An elevated rectangular dirt pile used to cheaply build an elevated portion of a railway.
Columnnoun
(architeture) a tall cylindrical vertical upright and used to support a structure
Beamverb
(ambitransitive) To emit beams of light; shine; radiate.
to beam forth lightBeamverb
To smile broadly or especially cheerfully.
Beamverb
(transitive) To furnish or supply with beams
Beamverb
(transitive) To give the appearance of beams to.
Beamverb
To transmit matter or information via a high-tech wireless mechanism.
Beam me up, Scotty; there's no intelligent life down here.The injured crewmembers were immediately beamed to sickbay.Beamverb
To stretch something (for example an animal hide) on a beam.
Beamverb
To put (something) on a beam
Beamverb
To connect (musical notes) with a beam, or thick line, in music notation.
Beamnoun
a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides pilots in darkness or bad weather
Beamnoun
long thick piece of wood or metal or concrete, etc., used in construction
Beamnoun
a column of light (as from a beacon)
Beamnoun
a group of nearly parallel lines of electromagnetic radiation
Beamnoun
(nautical) breadth amidships
Beamnoun
a gymnastic apparatus used by women gymnasts
Beamverb
smile radiantly; express joy through one's facial expression
Beamverb
emit light; be bright, as of the sun or a light;
The sun shone bright that dayThe fire beamed on their facesBeamverb
express with a beaming face or smile;
he beamed his approvalBeamverb
broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television;
We cannot air this X-rated songBeamverb
especially of the complexion: show a strong bright color, such as red or pink;
Her face glowed when she came out of the saunaBeamverb
experience a feeling of well-being or happiness, as from good health or an intense emotion;
She was beaming with joyHer face radiated with happinessComparison Chart
| Column | Beam |
| Column is the vertical structural element which is attached to roof slab, beam or ceiling, and it transfers load to the footings of building. | Beam is a structural element to carry the loads from the slabs to the columns and with stand against the bending. |
| Function | |
| Column affords the compression of load. | Beam stands against the bending moment. |
| Importance | |
| A building can'T stand without column. | A building can stand without beam. |
| Types | |
| Columns are mainly classified as slender columns and short columns. | Beams are classified as T, L or rectangular. |
What is Column?
A column is a vertical structural element, which transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to the elements lying below. The column is also referred as pillar of the building as it holds the whole load from ceiling, beam, roof slab and puts it up on the base or foundation of the building. The importance of a column in building can be known as no building can stand without it. Apart from working as a strong support to the beams and arches to stand the building on its own, this structural element is nowadays also used as the decorative element. Earlier columns were carved out of the stones, now most often they are constructed by concrete along with the other materials like wood, cellular PVC, Aluminium, and fibre-reinforced polymer. Columns are mainly classified as slender columns and short columns depending upon the cross sectional dimensions.
What is Beam?
Beam is a structural element which withstands against the bending. Mainly beam carries vertical gravitational forces, but can also pull the horizontal loads on it. Beam is called as a sill plate or wall plate that carries the load and transmits it to the girders, walls or columns it is attached with. In early centuries, squared timbers were the most preferred material to be used as a beam for the structural support purpose, now to bear the bending force along with carrying vertical gravitational force, now they are made up of steel , aluminum or other such materials. In actual means beams are the structural materials, which bear the bending moment and the shear force of the load. To carry on the more load and tension, pre-stressed concrete beams are widely used nowadays in foundation of bridges and other such humongous structures. Several famous beams used nowadays are Simply supported Beam, Fixed Beam, Cantilever Beam, Continuous Beam, Overhanging Beam.
