Calculate load for an I beam used as a column

Question

Hello. I am trying to calculate how much load can an I beam bear if used as a column. it is a steel beam W 5x16

Answer 1

A column can fail in compression or buckling. If buckling failure is to be considered, then the column length or column unsupported length is needed, if only compression is to be considered you need to find the allowable compressive stress. Considering that you have no load eccentricity to the column centroid as your problem does not mention any, then the compressive load is concentric meaning that it passes through the center of area of the column cross section and can be considered uniform along the column cross section. You also need to determine the type of steel your problem does not include. So you see, you have many parameters missing from your problem. you need yield strength of steel and a column length. If you can provide that, then a solution can be formed.