On Sat, Jan 3, 2009 at 9:52 AM, Todd Teachout <thteach@sonic.net> wrote:
> This description is a simplification of elementary column structure
> principals. A spoke in compression is a column.
Isn't a "loaded" spoke being tensioned (stretched) rather than compressed. As I learned it, the wheel is supported by the spokes at the top, while the ones at the bottom are de-tensioned. I'm sure your "unsupported length" still holds (try breaking a 2" pencil stub, compared to a full length one), but I think your "column in compression" example is not correct.
--
John Wood
Missoula, Montana, USA