A tunnel 150 m long, 7.2 m high and 5.8 m wide ( with a flat roof) is to be constructed 60 m beneath the ground. The tunnel roof is to be supported entirely by square steel columns, each with a cross-sectional area of 960 cm2. The density of the ground material is 2.8 g/cm3.
a) What is the total mass of the material that the columns mist support ?
b) How many columns are needed to keep the compressive stress on each column at one-half its ultimate strength?