Which structural element is loaded axially?

• A. Column
• B. Beam
• C. Sheathing
• D. Footing

Answer: (A)

Axial load is a force that acts along the length of a structural member, creating compression or tension along its axis. A column is the member whose main job is to carry vertical loads straight down from the structure to the foundation, so it is designed to handle those axial forces efficiently. A beam, on the other hand, is built to resist bending and shear from loads across its span, not to carry load along its length. Sheathing serves mainly as a covering and adds some stiffness, but it isn’t a primary axial-load-carrying element. Footing transfers the structure’s vertical load into the soil, functioning as a foundation rather than a slender member carrying axial load within a frame.