Members that are slender and support loadings applied perpendicular to their longitudinal axis are known as what?

Beams are structural elements specifically designed to support loads that are applied perpendicular to their length. This characteristic is crucial because it defines the way beams function in a structure, typically spanning distances between supports and transferring loads to those supports without significant deformation. The slenderness of a beam relates to its aspect ratio, affecting how it responds to loads, particularly in terms of bending.

Columns, on the other hand, are vertical members that primarily support axial loads, meaning they bear loads in the direction of their longitudinal axis. Trusses consist of interconnected members that create a triangular framework to efficiently distribute loads across the structure, but they also do not primarily carry loads perpendicular to their axis in the same manner as a beam. Frames are structural assemblies comprised of beams and columns, which typically support loads and provide stability to a structure, but they do not focus solely on the behavior of slender members being loaded perpendicularly.

Therefore, the correct identification of members that are slender and primarily handle loads applied perpendicular to their longitudinal axis is beams.