Experiment No.

5
Title: - Column Buckling Test Objective: - Buckling Test of given specimen on testing machine. Apparatuses: 1. Testing machine. 2. Calipers. 3. Tape measure. 4. Safety glasses.

Theory: - Columns are defined as relatively long, slender member subjected to compressive stresses. The most common example of a column is the vertical supporting member of a building. This brings into account why the study of columns is so critical: there is a large human safety factor involved. The objective of this laboratory exercise is to verify Euler's formula for the critical load, Pcr for different end conditions, and to investigate the load-displacement behavior. The columns will be tested within their elastic ranges. The material tested will be steel. Three similar columns will be tested, all with different end conditions. Procedure: 1. Start off with the fixed-fixed column. 2. Measure the diameter (d) of the test specimen at five different locations, averaging these values to get an average diameter. 3. Measure the length (L) of the specimen (usually from one end of the rod to the other, including the ball bearings in the case of the pinned conditions). Only one measurement is required. 4. Calculate the theoretical (or Euler's) critical load (Pcr) for the specimen.

5. Unlock the control panel by turning the key in the counter-clockwise direction. 6. Switch on the machine by pressing the switch located at the rear end of the machine. 7. Press the ENT button twice to move the actuator to the home position. 8. Two testers are needed to set up the specimen in the MTS machine. One will stand next to the machine, feed the specimen into the grips and hold it steady (called the loader), while the other will adjust the bottom piston to align the specimen with the lower grips (controller). This entire process requires a good deal of monitoring so make sure your instructor is present when you do this step. 2 9. The specimen is first gripped by the upper hydraulic grip. The loader will pirate this grip. The controller will switch on the computer and go to AXIAL LABVIEW file on the desktop to open the test view window. 10. Select the DISPLACEMENT CONTROL option. 11. Select the waveform as RAMP and input the amplitude (see list below) and displacement rate (0.0016 in/sec) of the actuator. 12. Press the START button to start the test and observe the load vs. displacement plot. 13. Store the data in a file by pressing the reset button (a prompt appears to save the data). 14. Steps 1 through 13 are repeated for the other two end conditions. 15. The Excel files will then be copied onto a portable storage device and then one can plot the displacement vs. load graphs for all three experiments. 16. The plateaus in the graphs will reveal the actual critical load of the specimens.