NASA CONTRACTOR REPORT Report No.

61287

INTERACTION OF CRIPPLING AND TORS IONAL-FLEXURAL INSTABILITY FOR CENTRALLY LOADED COLUMNS
By J. C. Walls Brown Engineering, A Teledyne Company 300 Sparkman Drive Huntsville, Alabama 35807 June 1, 1969

Prepared for NASA-GEORGE C . M A R S H A L L S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812

11.

REPORT NO.

T E C H N I C A L REPORT STANDARD T I T L E P A G E 12. GOVERNMENT ACCESSION NO. 13. R E C I P I E N T ' S CATALOG NO.

NASA CR-6 1287

4. TlTLE AND S U B T I T L E

5.

REPORT DATE

INTERACTION O F CRIPPLING AND TORSIONAL-FLEXURAL INSTABILITY FOR CENTRALLY LOADED COLUMNS

June 1, 1969
6. PERFORMlNG ORGANlZATlON CUDE

J. C. Walls

Brown Engineering, a Teledyne Company 300 Sparkman Drive

George 6. Marshall Space Flight Center Astronautics Laboratory

Distributian of this report i s provided in the interest o information exchange. Responsibility for the contents resides in the author or organization that prepared it.

This report presents an empirical technique to predict failure loads for centrally loaded columns with thin-walled open cross sections which
may fail by an interaction of torsional-flexural buckling and crippling.

No attempt has been made to generate or correlate test data to confirm the accuracy of the technique.

STAR ANNOUNCEMENT

C Form 3292 ( M ~ Y 1969)

FOREWORD

It is expected that the method presented in this

paper will prove valuable within the limitations set forth.

No attempt has been made to formulate a theory to include the coupling of torsion and flexure and local buckling.
A s an extension and modification of existing equations, however, it provides a ready tool for

solution of a particular class of problems.

C. E . McCandless, Technical Editor

TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE

S U M M A R Y O . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . I.
INTRODUCTION.

1
1

IS. cRIPPLINGSTRESS0
111.

. .. .. .. .. TORSIONAL-FLEXURAL INSTABILITY. . .... .. . A. Two Axes of Symmetry. . . . . . . .. . .. B. One Axis of Symmetry. . . .... ... .. ... C. General Cross S e c t i o n . . . . . ..
0

.....

. .
0

................
0 D
0

3
5 5 5
6

IVe

INTERAGTIONANALYSISo EXAMPLEPROBLEM.

7
.

V.
VI,

.
e

1 1

CONCLUSIONS.o.....D...... REFERENCES

D . . . . . . .
e e e

15

* .

16

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS FIGURE TITLE PAGE

1. 2,

D i s t o r t i o n of Cross S e c t i o n a n d S t r e s s D i s t r i b u t i o n for Crippling

( I

3,

4.

. .. .. ........ . ... P l o t of P versus L' f o r Column, . . .. .. P l o t of J o h n s o n - E u l e r E q u a t i o n . . , . .. . . P , versus L' for Example Problem. . . . . . ..
e
e

3
8 8

13

iii

LIST O F S Y M B O L S A 10 G J E Cross-sectional area ( i n , * ) 4 Moment of i n e r t i a of t h e s e c t i o n about its s h e a r c e n t e r ( i n , ) Shear modulus of e l a s t i c i t y ( p s i ) Torsion c o n s t a n t ( i n a 4) = Young's modulus of e l a s t i c i t y ( p s i ) I ' = Warping c o n s t a n t of t h e s e c t i o n ( i n O 6 ) L' = E f f e c t i v e l e n g t h of member (in.) p# = C r i t i c a l load i n pure t o r s i o n a I buckling ( l b s ) PA = C r i t i c a l load i n t o r s i o n a l - f l e x u r a l buckling ( l b s ) P X = C r i t i c a l E u l e r load about x axis ( l b s ) P Y = C r i t i c a l E u l e r load about y a x i s ( l b s ) P = Axial load ( l b s ) P C = C r i t i c a l load i n combined c r i p p l i n g and t o r s i o n a l - f l e x u r a l buckling (1bs) = Moment of i n e r t i a about x a x i s ( i n . 4 ) I X ly = Moment of i n e r t i a about y a x i s ( i n O 4 ) r o = P o l a r r a d i u s of g y r a t i o n about s h e a r c e n t e r ( i n . ) K = 1 X , 2 = Constant
= = = =

xo

= Distance from c e n t r o i d t o s h e a r c e n t e r along x a x i s ( i n . )

(4

yo = Distance from c e n t r o i d t o s h e a r c e n t e r along y a x i s (in.) P I , P2, P3 = Roots of cubic e q u a t i o n ( l b s ) A o , A I , A 2 , A3 = Constants as d e f i n e d i n S e c t i o n 1 1 1 - C Fce = Column f a i l i n g stress f o r Johnson-Euler buckling ( p s i ) F,, = Crippling stress ( p s i )
p = Radius of g y r a t i o n ( i n . ) Pce = Column f a i l i n g load f o r Johnson-Euler buckling ( l b s ) Pcs = Crippling load ( l b s ) Pe = Minimum E u l e r buckling load ( l b s )

iv

SUMMARY
An e m p i r i c a l technique i s proposed f o r p r e d i c t i n g f a i l u r e loads f o r c e n t r a l l y loaded columns w i t h thin-walled open c r o s s s e c t i o n s which may f a i l by a combination of t o r s i o n a l - f l e x u r a l buckling and c r i p p l i n g . By knowing the t o r s i o n a l - f l e x u r a l buckling load and t h e crippl-ing load f o r a column. one can p r e d i c t t h e i r i n t e r a c t i o n by a m o d i f i c a t i o n of t h e Johnson-Euler e q u a t i o n , o f t e n used t o i n t e r a c t c r i p p l i n g and Euler-type buckling. Although no t e s t d a t a were u t i l i z e d f o r comparison, i t i s thought t h a t t h e technique i s a n a c c u r a t e means of p r e d i c t i n g f a i l u r e loads.
SECTION I a INTRQDUCTION

For c e n t r a l l y loaded columns w i t h thin-walled open c r o s s s e c t i o n s , which f a i l a t s t r e s s e s w i t h i n t h e e l a s t i c range, t h e c r i t i c a l mode of f a i l u r e i s o f t e n t o r s i o n a l buckling o r a combination of t o r s i o n a l and f l e x u r a l buckling. The c r i t i c a l mode depends p r i m a r i l y on t h e geometry of t h e c r o s s s e c t i o n and t h e l e n g t h of the column. Methods a r e a v a i l a b l e t o e v a l u a t e t h i s t o r s i o n a l o r t o r s i o n a l - f l e x u r a l buckling load f o r many v a r i a t i o n s of c r o s s - s e c t i o n a l geometry and r e s t r a i n t c o n d i t i o n s . However, a l l of t h e p r e s e n t methods of e v a l u a t i n g t o r s i o n a l o r t o r s i o n a l f l e x u r a l buckling load are based on t h e assumption t h a t t h e crosss e c t i o n a l shape does n o t change during buckling; ices, t h e t h e o r i e s cons i d e r primary f a i l u r e of columns as opposed t o secondary f a i l u r e , chara c t e r i z e d by d i s t o r t i o n of t h e c r o s s s e c t i o n , The formulation of a theory which would i n c l u d e coupling of t o r s i o n and f l e x u r e and l o c a l buckling would be extremely complicated. For v e r y s h o r t columns of thin-walled open c r o s s s e c t i o n s t h e f a i l u r e stress i s determined by t h e c r i p p l i n g stress method, which does provide f o r l o c a l d i s t o r t i o n of elements of t h e c r o s s s e c t i o n . Therefore, t h e coupling of t h e s e two f a i l u r e modes by a n e m p i r i c a l means would provide a s i m p l e method t o p r e d i c t f a i l u r e loads of columns which may f a i l by a combination of t h e t o r s i o n a l - f l e x u r a l mode and t h e c r i p p l i n g mode. This approach has previously been followed i n coupling c r i p p l i n g and Euler buckling f o r closed s e c t i o n s (Johnson-Euler equation). The same approach w i l l be used i n t h i s r e p o r t t o couple c r i p p l i n g and t o r s i o n a l - f l e x u r a l buckling.

SECTION 11.

CRIPPLING STRESS

When t h e c o r n e r s of a thin-walled s e c t i o n i n compression a r e res t r a i n e d a g a i n s t any l a t e r a l movement, t h e c o r n e r m a t e r i a l can c o n t i n u e t o b e loaded even a f t e r buckling h a s occured i n some elements of t h e s e c t i o n . When t h e stress i n t h e most s t a b l e c o r n e r s exceeds i t s c r i t i c a l value F c r i t , t h e s e c t i o n l o s e s i t s a b i l i t y t o support any a d d i t i o n a l load , and f a i l s . F i g u r e l ( a ) shows t h e c r o s s - s e c t i o n a l d i s t o r t i o n o c c u r r i n g over one wavelength i n a t y p i c a l thin-walled s e c t i o n , F i g u r e l ( b ) shows t h e stress d i s t r i b u t i o n over t h e c r o s s s e c t i o n j u s t b e f o r e c r i p p l i n g . C r i p p l i n g f a i l u r e o c c u r s a t extremely s h o r t column l e n g t h s . The c r i p p l i n g load of a member i s e q u a l t o t h e product of t h e c r i p p l i n g stress and t h e a c t u a l a r e a of t h e member. Empirical methods of p r e d i c t i n g t h e c r i p p l i n g stress Fcs of extruded and formed s h e e t metal elements are r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e (Ref, 1, 2 ) ,

FIGURE 1. DISTORTION OF CROSS SECTION AND STRESS ~ I S T R I B ~ ~ IFOR O N CRIPPLING

3/4

SECTION 111,

TORSIONAL-E'LEXURAL INSTABILITY

C e n t r a l l y loaded columns can buckle i n one of t h r e e p o s s i b l e modes: (1) They can bend i n t h e plane of one of t h e p r i n c i p a l axes; o r (2) they can t w i s t about t h e s h e a r c e n t e r a x i s ; o r (3) they can bend and t w i s t simultaneously. For any given member, depending on i t s l e n g t h and t h e geometry of i t s c r o s s s e c t i o n , one of t h e t h r e e modes w i l l be c r i t i c a l . Mode (1) i s t h e well-known E u l e r type of buckling, Modes (2) and (3) w i l l be discussed below, A.

Two Axes of Symmetry

When t h e c r o s s s e c t i o n has two axes of symmetry, o r i s p o i n t symmetric, t h e s h e a r c e n t e r and c e n t r o i d w i l l coincide. I n t h i s c a s e , t h e p u r e l y t o r s i o n a l buckling load about t h e s h e a r c e n t e r a x i s i s given by (Ref. 3) A

ppl
where

= =

IO

i-.

- - - - - - - - - - Y - - - - - - - - - - - -

(1)

(L' E I )2 ' -

' 1

Io
G J E

=
= = =

L'

c r o s s - s e c t i o n a l area moment of i n e r t i a of t h e s e c t i o n about i t s s h e a r c e n t e r I, + Iy s h e a r modulus of e l a s t i c i t y t o r s i o n constant Young's modulus of e l a s t i c i t y Warping c o n s t a n t of t h e s e c t i o n E f f e c t i v e l e n g t h of member

Thus, f o r a c r o s s s e c t i o n with two axes of symmetry t h e r e are t h r e e v a l u e s of t h e a x i a l load. They are t h e f l e x u r a l buckling loads about t h e p r i n c i p a l axes (Px and Py) and t h e purely t o r s i o n a l buckling load P+; then plc i s t h e lowest value of t h e t h r e e loads. The lowest value w i l l depend on t h e shape of c r o s s s e c t i o n and l e n g t h of member. With two axes of symmetry, t h e r e i s no i n t e r a c t i o n and t h e column f a i l s i n e i t h e r pure bending o r pure t w i s t i n g . Shapes i n t h i s category include 1 s e c t i o n s , Z-sections, and cruciform s e c t i o n s .

B.

One Axis of Symmetry

I f t h e c r o s s s e c t i o n has one axis of symmetry,say t h e x a x i s , t h e e q u a t i o n t o o b t a i n t h e buckling loads i s (Ref. 3)

= 0

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _(2) __--___
ro =
'Q

where

Px =

9py=

2EI
Y

(L' l2

(L' 1

and

p@

A
IO

GJ

I',;:
------------ (3)

There are again three solutions to equation ( 2 ) , one of which is P1=Py and represents purely flexural buckling about the y axis. The other two (P2,P3) are the roots of the quadratic term inside the square bracket equated to zero, These two roots give torsional-flexural buckling loads.

where K = 1
I

- (%)

Therefore, a singly symmetrical section such as an angle, channel, or hat can buckle in either of two modes: by bending, or torsional-flexural buckling. Which of these two actually occurs depends on the dimensions and shape of the given section. Therefore, for singly symmetrical sections W: is the lowest positive value of Pi, P2 and P3.
6 . General Cross Section

In the general case of a column of thin-walled open cross section, buckling will occur by a combination of torsion and bending. Purely flexural or purely torsional buckling cannot occuro The equation (Ref. 3) to obtain the buckling loads is:
ro (P-PY)(~-px)(~-~,) This equation reduces to
2

P yo ( P P , )

P xo (P-P~)= o

2 2

---(4)

where

A3

A
IO

( -Yo -xo

1 +1

A1

PxP + P

Y @

P +P@Px

Solution of this cubic equation yields three roots, Pi, P2, and P3. smallest positive value will be the critical load W.
6

The

SECTION IV,

INTERACTION ANALYSIS

The t o r s i o n a l - f l e x u r a l buckling load, Pt , obtained from S e c t i o n 111, may, f o r s h o r t column l e n g t h s , be g r e a t e r than t h e c r i p p l i n g load obt a i n e d from S e c t i o n 11. However, t h e c r i p p l i n g load r e p r e s e n t s t h e upper l i m i t of t h e load-carrying c a p a c i t y of t h e column (Fig. 2). Thus, f o r members whose l e n g t h s a r e such t h a t c r i p p l i n g and t o r s i o n a l - f l e x u r a l buckling i n t e r a c t , a means of i n t e r a c t i n g t h e two loads i s d e s i r a b l e . The well-known Johnson-Euler e q u a t i o n which provides a means of i n t e r a c t i n g c r i p p l i n g and E u l e r buckling i s u s u a l l y given i n t h e follow-

where Fce = column f a i l i n g stress Fcs = c r i p p l i n g stress f o r t h e given c r o s s s e c t i o n L = e f f e c t i v e l e n g t h of member P = r a d i u s of g y r a t i o n E = Youngs modulus This e q u a t i o n g i v e s a p a r a b o l i c curve s t a r t i n g from t h e c r i p p l i n g stress a t L / P = 0, and becomes tangent t o t h e E u l e r curve a t a stress value equal t o one-half t h e c r i p p l i n g stress, Figure 3 shows a p l o t of t h i s equation f o r aluminum a l l o y m a t e r i a l f o r v a r i o u s v a l u e s of t h e c r i p p l i n g stress.

where

Pce = column f a i l i n g load Pcs = c r i p p l i n g load Pe

=

* 2E1 = minimum E u l e r buckling load (L )*

To provide a r e l a t i v e l y s i m p l e means of coupling c r i p p l i n g and t o r s i o n a l - f l e x u r a l buckling, a l l t h a t i s r e q u i r e d i s t o modify t h e Johnson-Euler e q u a t i o n (7) t o t h e following equation:
P, = P,,

2 pc 3

----------------------------------

(8

4 w
By comparison of e q u a t i o n s (7) and (8) i t can be s e e n t h a t t h e only d i f f e r e n c e i s t h a t Pe of e q u a t i o n (7) i s replaced by Prc, where p?;

\
" I

. - - -I. - - -

r/-

CRIPPLING STRESS

L.
L' FIGURE 2. PLOT OF P VERSUS L' FOR COLUMN

JOHNSON

' ! ,

1-

CURVES7 " 1 , .

.L L

FIGURE 3. PLOT OF JOHNSON-EULER EQUATION

i s t h e column f a i l u r e load i n e i t h e r pure f l e x u r a l buckling ( E u l e r ) , pure t o r s i o n a l buckling , o r a combination of f l e x u r a l and t o r s i o n a l 1 1 , The buckling, whichever i s t h e minimum a s determined from S e c t i o n 1 c r i p p l i n g Load PCs i s determined from S e c t i o n 1 1 . With t h e s e two loads, e q u a t i o n (8) can be solved f o r t h e c r i t i c a l load Pc. This e x t e n s i o n o f , o r m o d i f i c a t i o n t o , t h e Johnson-Euler e q u a t i o n should be a p p l i e d o n l y t o members t h a t are c e n t r a l l y loaded (loaded a t t h e c e n t r o i d ) . I f t h e load i s e c c e n t r i c , i t then becomes a g r e a t e r problem t o d e f i n e t h e c r i p p l i n g load. The e c c e n t r i c load can be t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e c e n t r o i d with a s s o c i a t e d bending moments, b u t t h e crippl i n g load then becomes a f u n c t i o n n o t only of t h e a x i a l load b u t a l s o of t h e bending moment. There are some methods a v a i l a b l e t o determine "bending-crippling'' b u t they are l i m i t e d , e s p e c i a l l y f o r bending about two axes. For t h i s reason, e q u a t i o n (8) should be used o n l y f o r c e n t r a l l y loaded members.

An example problem which i l l u s t r a t e s the use of e q u a t i o n (8) follows i n S e c t i o n V.

9 /10

SECTION V.

EXAMPLE PROBLEM

For t h e s e c t i o n shown below, p l o t Pc v e r s u s L' using e q u a t i o n (8). Also show E u l e r buckling curve and Johnson-Euler curve.

c
Y

s -

centroid shear c e n t e r

Given Pc, = 308,000 l b s . A

I,
= 3.5
= =

in.

22.5 i n , 6.05 i n .
in,
6 4

IY
Xo

= 2.74
= = =

4.0 x 10 p s i
t i

10.5 x 10- p s i
4

r = 38.4 i n .

.073 i n .

For c a l c u l a t i o n of P, aid P : r e f e r t o S e c t i o n 111 B e 9 2 6 - n 2E I , = n 10.5 x 10 G2.5) = 2.331 X 10 px 2 (L' l2 (L' )

Io Io Io

I , +

I Y

A xo
+3.5

2 2

= 22.5 = 54.75

+ 6.05
in.

(2.74)

4
2

54.75

=18,660+254.39
(L'

6 x 10

l2
11

r'=
0

Io
A

54.75 3 . 5

15.65

p2 ,
pi'<

Pce PC Solution of these equations for various values of L' gives the curves shown in Figure 4, From these curves it can be seen that equation ( 8 ) provides a means of transition from the crippling load at: L ' = 0 to torsional-flexural buckling at L ' = 43, If L' > 43 the column will fail in pure torsionalflexural buckling. The Johnson-Euler curve and Euler curve are shown for comparison,

12

13/14

SECTION VI.

CONCLUSIONS

The modified Johnson-Euler equation (Equation 8) is presented as a method of predicting failure loads of centrally loaded columns with thinwalledopen cross sections which fail by an interaction of crippling and torsional-flexural buckling. Equation (8) should not be used with eccentric loads.

15

REFERENCES

1.

Bruhn, E. F., Analysis and Desipn of Flipht Vehicle Structures, First Printing , Tri-State Offset Company Cincinnati Ohio, 1965.

2, Astronautic Structures Manual, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama.

3. Timoshenko, S. P,,and Gere, J. M e , Theory of Elastic Stability, 2nd ed., McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York, 1961.

16

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