POST+AND+LINTEL

DEFINITION:
The post and lintel is a system used to support the weight of a structure usually in the openings of doors and windows. It is composed of two upright members called post's or columns used to hold up a third member placed horizontally on top of the other columns; this third one is calles beam or lintel. The post has to be of a specific material so that it can withstand the weight of the lintel without deforming or crushing, that is why it is most likely to use materials that are strong in comression but weak in tension such as stone. The lintel is basically used to span the area between two supports (post); the lintel must be specially strong for it handles much weight that rests on it. For example: brick and stone are a good example of strong of lintel's, but because their weak in tensile strength they only work for short lintel, aside from the steel that can be used to make long ones.

A very good example of the use of post and lintel is in the ancient Greek structures:}