Column Buckling

mi@seu.edu.cn

Contents

Stability and Buckling

Examples of Columns
Conventional Design of Columns
Eulers Formula for Pin-ended Columns
Buckling Modes
Eulers Formula for Cantilevered Columns
Extension of Eulers Formula
Buckling in Orthogonal Planes
Applicability of Eulers Formula
Failure Diagram
Critical Stress for Intermediate Columns
Design of Columns
Ways to Improve Column Stability 2

Stability and Buckling

Stability is characterized as the ability of a structure to maintain
its (stable) equilibrium under working conditions.

Buckling is the behavior of a structure losing its equilibrium

under working conditions. This is another type of failure criterion,
in addition to strength (fracture/yielding), stiffness (deformation)
and fatigue criteria.

Buckling occurs suddenly and results in catastrophic accident.

Examples of Columns

Conventional Design of Columns

In the design of columns, crosssectional area is selected such that
- allowable stress is not exceeded

P

A

- deformation falls within

specifications

L
P

L
AE

After these design calculations, many

discover that the column is unstable
under loading and that it suddenly
becomes sharply curved or buckles.
5

Eulers Formula for Pin-ended Columns

Consider an axially loaded beam.
After a small perturbation, the
system reaches a neutral
equilibrium configuration such that
Pcr
d 2w
M

w
2
dx
EI
EI
d 2 w Pcr

w0
2
dx
EI
P
w " k 2 w 0, k 2 cr
EI
w A sin kx B cos kx
0 w 0 w L
B 0;

EIn 2 2
kL n Pcr L2

Buckling Modes

EI 2
Pcr 2 ;
L

4 EI 2
Pcr
;
2
L

9EI 2
Pcr
L2

Eulers Formula for Cantilevered Columns

A column with one fixed and one
free end, will behave as the upperhalf of a pin-connected column.
The critical loading is calculated
from Eulers formula,

Pcr

cr

2 EI
2
e

2E

Le ir

2 EI
4 L2

2E

4L ir

Le 2 L equivalent length
8

Extension of Eulers Formula

Pcr

2 EI
2
e

2 EI

;
2
L

Le equivalent length;

cr

2E

Le ir 2

2E

L ir 2

length coefficien t

Sample Problem
Assuming the same material and cross-sectional dimension, which
of the following four columns is most susceptible to buckling?

9l
7l

5l
2l

(a)

(b)

2 EI
Pcr
2
l

(c)

(d)

Euler Formula
10

Buckling in Orthogonal Planes

Buckling in x-z:
y = 1

x
y y

Pcr y

2 EI y
L2

Buckling in x-y:
z = 0.5

Pcr z

2 EI z

0.5L

11

Sample Problem
For the column shown, find the relationship between the critical
loads corresponding to buckling in x-y and x-z plane respectively.
Solution:

Pcr

Pcr z

b
z

2b

yl
3
I z b 2b 12

4
3
Iy
2bb 12

Pcr y

l
y

2 EI z

2
zl

EI y

Pcr z
Pcr y

What if the cross-section is increased to 2b 2b?

12

Sample Problem
For the column shown, find the relationship between the critical
loads corresponding to cross-sections described by (a), (b) and (c).
r

Pcr
2r
l

(a)
Pcr a

(b)
(c)
4
2
2

2
r
EI a E
2E r4

2
2
2
64

l

4

Pcr b

2 EI b 2 E r 4

2
2
l l 64

Pcr c

EI c E r

2
2
l l 12

Solution:

Pcr a : Pcr b : Pcr c
1 1
: :
4 64 12
1: 1 :
16 3
2 E 2r 4

2
12

l
13

Sample Problem
Which of the following best describes the relationship between
critical P1 and P2? (a) P1 = P2; (b) P1<P2; (c) P1>P2; (d) not sure.
A
B
A
B
P2
0
P1
P2
2P2
2P1
0
0
a
a
P1
P2
C

P1

Solution: a : FNAD 2 P1

b :

FNAB P2

2 EI

2 EI
a

2a

1 2 EI
P1
2
2 2 a

P2

2 EI
a2
14

Applicability of Eulers Formula

Critical buckling stress
2 EI
Pcr
2
2
2

E
Ai

2E 2E
P

L cr cr
2
2
2
A

L
A

L
i

L ir slenderness ratio

Applicability of Eulers formula

2E
cr 2 P

Q235:

P: proportion limit;
p: critical slenderness ratio.

206 GPa
100
200 MPa
15

Failure Diagram
Previous analyses assumed
stresses below the proportional
limit and initially straight,
homogeneous columns
Y

cr 2 E 2

Experimental data demonstrate

- for large Le/ir, cr follows
Eulers formula and
depends upon E but not Y.
L ir

- for small Le/ir, cr is

determined by the yield
strength Y and not E.
- for intermediate Le/ir, cr
depends on both Y and E.
16

Critical Stress for Intermediate Columns

cr a b

cr 2 E 2

Strength
analysis

Stability
analysis

2E
2E
p
1. Long columns: P cr
2
2

2. Intermediate columns:
Y

a Y
P p cr a b Y
b

3. Short columns: Y cr Y
17

Sample Problem
For the wood column shown, E = 10 GPa, p = 9 MPa, Y = 13 MPa,
a = 28.7 MPa, b = 0.19 MPa. Find the critical loads for rectangular
cross-sections: (1) h = 120 mm, b = 90 mm; (2) h = b = 104 mm
Solution:
2E
p
104.7
p
a Y
Y
82.6

b
l

115.4
1.
ir

Slender column.

2 EI
Pcr
79.9 kN
2
l

z
3m

z
2. 100

Intermediate column.

Pcr = (a b)A
=104.9 kN

18

Sample Problem
For the truss shown, F, , and LAC are given. Find 0 < < /2, under
which column AB and BC reach critical stability simultaneously.
Solution:

F
1. Eulers equation for column AB:
B
FAB F cos

2 EI
l

2
AB

2 EI
l 2 cos2

2. Eulers equation for column BC:

2 EI
2 EI
FBC F sin 2 2 2
lCB
l sin

3. If column AB & BC reach critical stability simultaneously:

2 EI
F cos 2
l cos2
2

cot

tan

2
EI
F sin 2 2
l sin

19

Design of Columns
Stability analysis of columns
- Stability check
- Cross-section design
- Allowable load/stress
1. Method of safety factor
Fcr
F
F st
nst
F cr

st
A nst

2. Method of discount factor

st
F

A

: discount/stability factor

nst: safety factor

[Fst]: allowable load
[st]: allowable stress
20

Ways to Improve Column Stability

Selection of materials.
Decrease effective column length (L).

Increase moment of inertia for a given

cross-sectional area.

Pcr

2 EI
L2e

2 EI

2
L

2E
2E
cr
2
2
L ir

Coordination of end conditions and

moment of inertia in orthogonal planes: z irz y ir y

For a group of columns, make each one
equally stable (avoid the last straw).
21

Sample Problem
A Q275 structural steel column is cylindrically pinned at both ends,
as shown in the following figure. If Fmax = 60 kN and nst = 3.5,
check the column stability.
F

b=20mm

ly=77mm

lz=800mm

h =45mm

lz
ly

Solution:
Determine the principal buckling plane.
- In x-y plane, both ends are pinned.
iz

Iz
h

12.99mm,
A 2 3

z lz
iz

1 800
61.9
12.99
22

- In x-z plane, both ends are constrained.

iy

Iy
A

b
2 3

5.77mm,

yly
iy

0.5 770
66.7
5.77

y > z, hence column buckling first happens in x-z plane.

For Q-275 structural steel p = 96, and therefore y = 66.7 < p = 96

cr 280 0.00872 y 2 241 MPa

Fcr cr A (241106 )(20 45 106 ) 217 kN
Fcr 217
n

3.62 nst
F
60

The column is stable.

23

Sample Problem
For the composite beam and column structure shown, EAB = EBD = E,
dAB = dBD = d, L:d = 30, P.BD = 100. Find P, under which BD reaches
the critical condition.
Solution:
P
L

L
A

EI

BD :

L
i

B
EA

Fcr BD

d 4

120 P

2 EI
L2

Deformation compatibility:

3 Ed 2
18000

5PL3 8FBD L3 FBD L

6 EI
3EI
EA
24

Contents

Stability and Buckling

Examples of Columns
Conventional Design of Columns
Eulers Formula for Pin-ended Columns
Buckling Modes
Eulers Formula for Cantilevered Columns
Extension of Eulers Formula
Buckling in Orthogonal Planes
Applicability of Eulers Formula
Failure Diagram
Critical Stress for Intermediate Columns
Design of Columns
Ways to Improve Column Stability 25