LAB EXPERIMENT 1

BUCKLING OF COLUMNS
1. Objectives
1. To determine the critical buckling loads of axially loaded slender columns (e.g. wooden dowels) of
varying diameter, length, and boundary or end conditions (i.e. pin-pin, pin-fixed, and fixed-fixed).
2. To find the correlation between experimental values of the critical buckling of axially loaded
columns and the values predicted by the Eulers buckling formula.
2. Background
Compression members such as columns are mainly subjected to axial forces. The developed stress in
a column is therefore the normal stress, which is defined below:

Where:
P = the compression load
A = the cross-sectional area of the column
When the above normal stress exceeds the allowable stress (column materials), the column fails. The
failure of a column depends on the support conditions, the strength and stiffness of the material, and
the dimension (slenderness ratio) of the column. For a given material, the allowable stress depends on
the slenderness ratio. Slenderness ration is defined by:
SR = L /r
eff

Where:
L = the effective length, which depends on the boundary or end conditions (discussed later)
eff

r = the radius of gyration =

I = moment of inertia of the column
Based on the slenderness ratio columns are classified as short, intermediate, and long (slender
column). For example, a wooden column with a Leff/r ratio less than 11 is defined as short column.
Intermediate columns have Leff/r values in the range of 11 to 30. The columns with Leff/r value
greater than 30 are defined as long or slender column.
A short column fails when the normal stress reaches the yield point (i.e. yield strength) of the column
materials. For a long (slender) column, buckling occurs before the normal stress reaches the yield
point of the column material. If load is increased gradually, a slender column suddenly bows out
side-way (buckling failure). The load is termed as the buckling load or often the Eulers elastic

buckling load (i.e. Pcr). For a column with intermediate length, buckling occurs after the stress in the
column exceeds the proportional limit of the column material and before the stress reaches the
ultimate strength. This kind of situation is called inelastic buckling.
In this experiment, only elastic buckling of long wooden columns is considered. All of the columns
will be loaded concentrically with a force P that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the column.
This system is stable when the load P is less than the critical load (P cr) and unstable when the load is
greater than the critical load. The determination of critical load (i.e. Eulers buckling formula) for an
elastic column is presented in the next section.
2.1 Euler Buckling Formula
Figure 1 shows a buckled pin-supported column of length L under an axial compression force P. The
transverse displacement of the buckled column is denoted by w. The right schematic shows the
forces and moments acting on a cross-section in the buckled column.

Figure 1: Simply Supported Buckled Column

Moment equilibrium on the lower free body yields:
= 0
From the relationship between the moment M and the transverse displacement w for an EulerBernoulli beam can be written as:
=

2
= 2

Combination and simplification of the above two equations yields:

2
+ =0
2
The governing equation is a second order homogeneous differential equation with constant
coefficient and its solution can be written as:

= 1 sin + 2 cos , where 2 =

The coefficients C1 and C2 can be determined by the two boundary conditions w(0) = w(L) = 0,
which yields:
2 = 0
{
1 sin = 0
If 1 0, the solution leads to the eigenvalue solution (i.e. for some values of P, the column
experiences buckling). All other P values lead to trivial solution (i.e. zero deformation).
sin = 0
= = 1,2,3,
2
= ( )

The smallest value of buckling load is when n = 1. Practically the smallest buckling load is important.
This is called Euler Critical Buckling Load, which can be written as:
=

(1)

The corresponding critical stress can be written as:

=

2
2

2
2
( )

(2)

The shape function for the buckled shape w(x) can be written as:

() = 1 (

(3)

Note that the buckling mode shape is valid only for small deflections, where the material is still
within its elastic limit. In addition, the Eulers buckling load is derived based on the following
assumptions:
1. No initial residual stresses
2. The column is perfectly straight
3. The load resultant acts through the centroid
4. Exact end conditions
5. Distortion or twisting of cross section does not occur during buckling
Residual stresses are stresses that remain in a member after material has been formed into a finished
product. Such stresses result from plastic deformations which may result from several sources such
as: uneven cooling after rolling, cold bending or cambering during fabrication, punching of holes and

cutting operation during fabrication, and welding. In steel members magnitude of residual stresses
varies from 10 to 15 ksi (69 to 103 MPa) although some values greater than 20 ksi (138 MPa) have
been reported. Due to residual stresses, the stress-strain curve of a column may become non-linear
(elastic or inelastic) which makes difficult to use Euler buckling formula. In many cases, E t (tangent
modulus) is used instead of Youngs modulus, E.
Since Et < E, the critical buckling load (using Eq. 1) using Et becomes smaller than the one predicted
by E.

Figure 2: Stress-Strain Behavior of Column

From Equation (3), the higher modes of buckling for pin supported column can be shown as:
2

= ( )

= 1,2,3,

= 1, =

2
2

= 2, =
= 3, =

2
2

9 2
2

Figure 3 Models of Buckling

2.2 End Conditions
The above buckling formula (Equation 1) has been derived for pin end columns. Boundary
conditions other than pin supported will result in different critical load and mode shape. Therefore,
Euler's formula (Equation 1) for the critical buckling load can be generalized as:
=

2
2

(4)

Define, Leff = KL; where K is the effective length factor. Therefore, Euler's formula (Equation 2) for
the critical buckling stress can be generalized as:
=

2
2
()

(5)

Figure 4: Effective Length Factor K-values for Different End Conditions

3. Laboratory Tasks
1. Two round wooden dowels are selected; one with a known type and corresponding modulus
of elasticity.
2. Measure the length and the diameter of each dowel.
3. Visually inspect any possible initial geometrical imperfections.
4. For each column, apply load very slowly to buckling failure using the loading frame shown
schematically in Figure 5. Usually, sand is poured gradually and very slowly in the bucket to
apply load on the frame shown in Figure 5. (Dont forget to wear the safety eye-glass). The
critical buckling load on each dowel is measured directly by placing a scale at the base of the
dowel.
5. Calculate the corresponding stress, Fcr by dividing Pcr with column area.
6. Using the measured critical buckling load and the given modulus of elasticity, calculated the
K value for the test setup. Compare this value and the buckled shape to Figure 4.
7. Using the calculated K from step 6 above, calculate the modulus of elasticity for the
unknown dowel and use this value to identify the wood type.
8. Get signature from the laboratory instructor on the data sheet.

Figure 5: Schematic of Column Loading Frame

4. Report
1. For dowel, prepare a plot for Fcr versus L/r showing all the data obtained from the experiment
(use experimental K values).
2. Compare the theoretical K values (section 2.2) to the experimentally obtained values (Kexp).
Comment on the effects of different factors such as geometrical imperfections.
3. Identify the type of wood of the unknown dowel.
4. Be sure to include all potential sources of error. (Hint: are the assumptions for Eulers
equations all followed?)