Short column fails by

Explanation:

Short Column Failure Mechanism

Short columns are structural members whose height is relatively small compared to their cross-sectional dimensions. They fail primarily due to direct compression or crushing, rather than buckling or bending. Crushing occurs when the compressive stress exceeds the material's ultimate strength.

• Crushing: This occurs due to excessive compressive loads that the column material cannot withstand, leading to its failure. Short columns have high stiffness, so they don't deform significantly before failure.

• No Buckling: Unlike long columns, short columns do not fail by buckling because their slenderness ratio (length-to-least-radius ratio) is too small to induce lateral deflections.

Analyzing the Given Options

1. Option 1: Buckling (NOT Correct)

   • Short columns do not fail by buckling because their slenderness ratio is low, and lateral deflections are negligible.

2. Option 2: Bending (NOT Correct)

   • Short columns are designed to resist axial loads. Bending failure occurs in beams or members subjected to transverse loads, which is not the case for short columns.

3. Option 3: Crushing (Correct)

   • Crushing is the primary mode of failure for short columns due to their ability to withstand lateral deflections. When compressive stress exceeds the material's ultimate strength, the column fails.

   • Short columns are predominantly subjected to axial compression, which leads to crushing failure.

4. Option 4: None of the above (NOT Correct)

   • This is incorrect because the correct failure mechanism for short columns is crushing, which is listed as option 3.

Conclusion:

The correct answer is Option 3: Crushing. Short columns fail by crushing due to direct compression when the material's compressive strength is exceeded.