Concrete Column and Embedded Pipe Sizing

What is the maximum square inches an embedded pipe can take up in a 20 x 20 concrete column?

1 - 12 square inches
2 - 16 Square inches
3 - 18 square inches
4 - 20 square inches

Answer:

The correct answer is 3 - 18 square inches.

In a 20 x 20 concrete column, the maximum square inches an embedded pipe can take up depends on the diameter of the pipe. To calculate the maximum square inches, we need to find the fillable area in the column. Since the column has dimensions of 20 x 20, the fillable area is 20 x 20 = 400 square inches.

If we consider a 4-inch pipe, the radius is 2 inches. The maximum square inches it can take up is π x (2 x 2) = 4π square inches, which is approximately 12.57 square inches. Similarly, for an 8-inch pipe, the radius is 4 inches, and the maximum square inches it can take up is approximately 50.27 square inches. Finally, for a 16-inch pipe, the radius is 8 inches, and the maximum square inches it can take up is approximately 201.06 square inches.

Based on these calculations, the correct answer is 3 - 18 square inches. The maximum area that a pipe can take up in a 20x20 inch concrete column is approximately 12 square inches, which is the area of a 4-inch diameter pipe.

In the case of a 20 x 20 concrete column, the total area possible is 400 square inches (20 times 20). Therefore, the maximum area that an embedded pipe could take up would be less than or equal to this figure. However, considering practical engineering applications, the pipe's area should be smaller to allow for the column's structural integrity.

Therefore, the most suitable answer in this case would be 3 - 18 square inches, as the diameter of the pipe directly affects the maximum area it can take up within the concrete column.