In a steel column that rests on a concrete footing, the area of the bearing plate used is generally
A)smaller than the cross- sectional area of the column.
B)equal to the cross- sectional area of the column.
C)greater than the cross- sectional area of the column.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The bearing plate used in a steel column that rests on a concrete footing is generally greater than the cross-sectional area of the column. This is because the purpose of the bearing plate is to distribute the load of the column over a larger area of the footing, reducing the pressure on the concrete and preventing it from cracking. A larger bearing plate helps to achieve this by spreading the load more effectively.

In a Steel Column That Rests on a Concrete Footing