A reinforced concrete column 400mm by 400mm and 3.5m high is subjected to a load 160kN. The column shortens by 0.07mm.
a) What is the stress in the column?
b) What is the strain in the column?
c) Given that the maximum allowable stress of the concrete is 20MPa, is the concrete column strong enough?
d) Could you reduce the size of the column? What would be the minimum size of the column?