Column vs. Beam
Structural 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.
Key Differences
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 affords the compression of load, while a beam stands against the bending moment.
The intended function of ties in column and beam works differently.
Janet White
Oct 19, 2016
Columns are mainly classified as slender columns and short columns, whereas, beams are classified as T, L or rectangular.
Samantha Walker
Oct 19, 2016
A building can stand without beam but not without column.
Comparison Chart
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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.
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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.
Janet White
Oct 19, 2016
Column and Beam Definitions
Column
A vertical structure usually consisting of a base, a cylindrical shaft, and a capital, used as a support or standing alone as a monument.
Beam
A squared-off log or a large, oblong piece of timber, metal, or stone used especially as a horizontal support in construction.
Column
Any slender vertical support, as of steel or reinforced concrete.
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Beam
A transverse structural member of a ship's frame, used to support a deck and to brace the sides against stress.
Column
Something resembling an architectural column in form or function
A column of mercury in a thermometer.
Beam
The breadth of a ship at the widest point.
Column
One of two or more vertical sections of text lying side by side in a document and separated by a rule or a blank space.
Beam
The side of a ship
Sighted land off the starboard beam.
Column
An arrangement of numbers in a single vertical line.
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Beam
(Informal) The widest part of a person's hips
Broad in the beam.
Column
A feature article that appears regularly in a publication, such as a newspaper.
Beam
A steel tube or wooden roller on which the warp is wound in a loom.
Column
A formation, as of troops or vehicles, in which all elements follow one behind the other.
Beam
An oscillating lever connected to an engine piston rod and used to transmit power to the crankshaft.
Column
(Botany)A columnlike structure, especially one formed by the union of a stamen and the style in an orchid flower, or one formed by the united staminal filaments in flowers such as those of the hibiscus or mallow.
Beam
The bar of a balance from which weighing pans are suspended.
Column
(Anatomy)Any of various tubular or pillarlike supporting structures in the body, each generally having a single tissue origin and function
The vertebral column.
Beam
(Sports) A balance beam.
Column
(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.
Beam
The main horizontal bar on a plow to which the share, coulter, and handles are attached.
Column
A vertical line of entries in a table, usually read from top to bottom.
Beam
One of the main stems of a deer's antlers.
Column
A body of troops or army vehicles, usually strung out along a road.
Beam
A ray or shaft of light.
Column
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.
Beam
A concentrated stream of particles or a similar propagation of waves
A beam of protons.
A beam of light.
Column
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.
Beam
A radio beam.
Column
(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.
Beam
To radiate light; shine.
Column
Something having similar vertical form or structure to the things mentioned above, such as a spinal column.
Beam
To smile expansively.
Column
(botany) The gynostemium
Beam
To emit or transmit
Beam a message via satellite.
Column
(chemistry) An object used to separate the different components of a liquid or to purify chemical compounds.
Beam
To express by means of a radiant smile
He beamed his approval of the new idea.
Column
A kind of pillar; a cylindrical or polygonal support for a roof, ceiling, statue, etc., somewhat ornamented, and usually composed of base, shaft, and capital. See Order.
Beam
Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.
Column
Anything resembling, in form or position, a column in architecture; an upright body or mass; a shaft or obelisk; as, a column of air, of water, of mercury, etc.; the Column Vendôme; the spinal column.
Beam
One of the principal horizontal structural members, usually of steel, timber, or concrete, 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.
Column
A body of troops formed in ranks, one behind the other; - contradistinguished from line. Compare Ploy, and Deploy.
Beam
(nautical) The maximum width of a vessel (note that a vessel with a beam of 15 foot can also be said to be 15 foot abeam).
This ship has more beam than that one.
Column
A number of ships so arranged as to follow one another in single or double file or in squadrons; - in distinction from "line", where they are side by side.
Beam
(nautical) The direction across a vessel, perpendicular to fore-and-aft.
Column
A perpendicular set of lines, not extending across the page, and separated from other matter by a rule or blank space; as, a column in a newspaper.
Beam
The crossbar of a mechanical balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended.
Column
A perpendicular line of figures.
Beam
The principal stem of the antler of a deer.
Column
The body formed by the union of the stamens in the Mallow family, or of the stamens and pistil in the orchids.
Beam
(literary) The pole of a carriage or chariot.
Column
One of a series of articles written in a periodical, usually under the same title and at regular intervals; it may be written and signed by one or more authors, or may appear pseudonymously or anonymously, as an editorial column.
Beam
(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.
Column
A line of (usually military) units following one after another
Beam
The straight part or shank of an anchor.
Column
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
Beam
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.
Column
A linear array of numbers one above another
Beam
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.
Column
Anything tall and thin approximating the shape of a column or tower;
The test tube held a column of white powder
A tower of dust rose above the horizon
A thin pillar of smoke betrayed their campsite
Beam
A ray or collection of approximately parallel rays emitted from the sun or other luminous body.
A beam of light
A beam of energy
Column
An article giving opinions or perspectives
Beam
(figuratively) A ray; a gleam.
A beam of hope, or of comfort
Column
A vertical structure standing alone and not supporting anything (as a monument or a column of air)
Beam
One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk.
Column
(architeture) a tall cylindrical vertical upright and used to support a structure
Beam
(music) A horizontal bar which connects the stems of two or more notes to group them and to indicate metric value.
Beam
(railway) An elevated rectangular dirt pile used to cheaply build an elevated portion of a railway.
Beam
(gymnastics) balance beam
Beam
(ambitransitive) To emit beams of light; to shine; to radiate.
To beam forth light
Beam
To smile broadly or especially cheerfully.
Beam
(transitive) To furnish or supply with beams.
Beam
(transitive) To give the appearance of beams to.
Beam
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.
Beam
To transmit, especially by direct wireless means such as infrared.
Beam
To stretch something (for example, an animal hide) on a beam.
Beam
To put (something) on a beam.
Beam
To connect (musical notes) with a beam, or thick line, in music notation.
Beam
Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.
Beam
One of the principal horizontal timbers of a building or ship.
The beams of a vessel are strong pieces of timber stretching across from side to side to support the decks.
Beam
The width of a vessel; as, one vessel is said to have more beam than another.
Beam
The bar of a balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended.
The doubtful beam long nods from side to side.
Beam
The principal stem or horn of a stag or other deer, which bears the antlers, or branches.
Beam
The pole of a carriage.
Beam
A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which weavers wind the warp before weaving; also, the cylinder on which the cloth is rolled, as it is woven; one being called the fore beam, the other the back beam.
Beam
The straight part or shank of an anchor.
Beam
The main part 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.
Beam
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; - called also working beam or walking beam.
Beam
A ray or collection of parallel rays emitted from the sun or other luminous body; as, a beam of light, or of heat.
How far that little candle throws his beams!
Beam
A ray; a gleam; as, a beam of comfort.
Mercy with her genial beam.
Beam
One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk; - called also beam feather.
Beam
To send forth; to emit; - followed ordinarily by forth; as, to beam forth light.
Beam
To emit beams of light.
He beamed, the daystar of the rising age.
Beam
A signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides pilots in darkness or bad weather
Beam
Long thick piece of wood or metal or concrete, etc., used in construction
Beam
A column of light (as from a beacon)
Beam
A group of nearly parallel lines of electromagnetic radiation
Beam
(nautical) breadth amidships
Beam
A gymnastic apparatus used by women gymnasts
Beam
Smile radiantly; express joy through one's facial expression
Beam
Emit light; be bright, as of the sun or a light;
The sun shone bright that day
The fire beamed on their faces
Beam
Express with a beaming face or smile;
He beamed his approval
Beam
Broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television;
We cannot air this X-rated song
Beam
Especially of the complexion: show a strong bright color, such as red or pink;
Her face glowed when she came out of the sauna
Beam
Experience a feeling of well-being or happiness, as from good health or an intense emotion;
She was beaming with joy
Her face radiated with happiness
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.
