The compression element is a column that is part of a stairs located at the back of Marston

Science Library. The purpose of the column is to support de ladder rest and part of the stairs.
The next images show the column and its properties:

Assumptions:
A-50 steel
= 50
= 29000000
=

= 4176000000

0.5 0.5
0.416 0.416

= 0.002712
12
12
12
12

The critical load, according to the Euler equation is:

!"
! " (4176000000)(0.002712)
= " =
= 1117763 '
#
(10)"
Considering only live load for stairs (100 psf) and the tributary area shown in the picture, the
applied load is:
(

= (100) (1.75) (7.5) = 1312.5 '