Which type of column can fail by either buckling or crushing?

Intermediate columns are structural elements that fall between slender columns and more robust columns. They are typically designed to bear loads but are not as slender as slender columns, which are more prone to buckling due to their geometry. Intermediate columns can experience both buckling and crushing because they have a moderate cross-sectional area and length, making them susceptible to both types of failure under excessive loads. The proportionate height and load-bearing capacity allow for crushing under heavy axial loads, while their design also makes them vulnerable to lateral forces, leading to buckling.

Understanding the behavior of intermediate columns is crucial in building construction, especially in ensuring the stability and integrity of a structure under various loading conditions. The other types mentioned differ in their characteristics — slender columns primarily fail by buckling due to their high slenderness ratio, while piers are typically designed with greater cross-sectional dimensions to handle compressive loads, making them less likely to buckle. Trusses, on the other hand, are not columns but rather triangular frameworks used to support loads, and their failure mechanisms are distinct from those of columns.