Chapter 3

Buckling of Column

SAIFULNIZAN JAMIAN
 Contents
Stability of Structures
Eulers Formula for Pin-Ended Beams
Extension of Eulers Formula
Sample Problem 10.1
Eccentric Loading; The Secant Formula
Sample Problem 10.2
Design of Columns Under Centric Load
Sample Problem 10.4
Design of Columns Under an Eccentric Load

10- 2
Stability of Structures
In the design of columns, cross-sectional area is
selected such that
- allowable stress is not exceeded
P
all
A
- deformation falls within specifications
PL
spec
AE

After these design calculations, may discover

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

10- 3
Stability of Structures
Consider model with two rods and torsional
spring. After a small perturbation,
K 2 restoring moment
L L
P sin P destabilizing moment
2 2

Column is stable (tends to return to

aligned orientation) if
L
P K 2
2
4K
P Pcr
L

10- 4
Stability of Structures
Assume that a load P is applied. After a
perturbation, the system settles to a new
equilibrium configuration at a finite
deflection angle.
L
P sin K 2
2
PL P

4 K Pcr sin

Noting that sin < , the assumed

configuration is only possible if P > Pcr.

10- 5
Eulers Formula for Pin-Ended
Beams
Consider an axially loaded beam.
After a small perturbation, the system
reaches an equilibrium configuration
such that
d2y M P
2
y
dx EI EI

d2y P
2
y0
dx EI

Solution with assumed configuration

can only be obtained if
2 EI
P Pcr
L2
P
cr

2 E Ar 2

2E
A 2
L A L r2
10- 6
Eulers Formula for Pin-Ended
Beams
The value of stress corresponding to
the critical load,
2 EI
P Pcr
L2
P P
cr cr
A A

cr

2 E Ar 2
L2 A
2E
critical stress
L r 2

L
slenderness ratio
r

Preceding analysis is limited to

centric loadings.
10- 7
Extension of Eulers Formula
A column with one fixed and one free
end, will behave as the upper-half of a
pin-connected column.

The critical loading is calculated from

Eulers formula,
2 EI
Pcr
L2e

2E
cr
Le r 2
Le 2 L equivalent length

10- 8
Extension of Eulers Formula

10- 9
 Sample Problem 10.1
An aluminum column of length L and
rectangular cross-section has a fixed end at B
and supports a centric load at A. Two smooth
and rounded fixed plates restrain end A from
moving in one of the vertical planes of
symmetry but allow it to move in the other
plane.

a) Determine the ratio a/b of the two sides of

the cross-section corresponding to the most
efficient design against buckling.
L = 0.5 m b) Design the most efficient cross-section for
the column.
E = 70 GPa
P = 20 kN
FS = 2.5
10- 10
 Sample
SOLUTION:
Problem 10.1
The most efficient design occurs when the
resistance to buckling is equal in both planes of
symmetry. This occurs when the slenderness
ratios are equal.
Buckling in xy Plane:
1 ba 3 2
2 I z a a
rz 12 rz
A ab 12 12
Le, z 0.7 L
Most efficient design:
rz a 12 Le, y
Le, z

Buckling in xz Plane: rz ry
1 ab3
Iy b2 b 0.7 L 2L
ry2 12 ry
A ab 12 12 a 12 b / 12
Le, y 2L a 0.7 a
0.35
ry b / 12 b 2 b
10- 11
 Sample Problem 10.1
Design:

Le 2L 2 0.5 m 3.464

ry b 12 b 12 b
Pcr FS P 2.5 20 kN 50 kN
Pcr 50000 N
cr
A 0.35b b
2E 2 70 109 Pa
cr
Le r 2
3.464 b 2

50000 N 2 70 109 Pa


L = 0.5 m 0.35b b 3.464 b 2
E = 70 GPa
P = 20 kN b 39.7 mm
a 0.35b 13.9 mm
FS = 2.5
a/b = 0.35
10- 12
Eccentric Loading; The Secant
Formula
Eccentric loading is equivalent to a centric
load and a couple.
Bending occurs for any nonzero eccentricity.
Question of buckling becomes whether the
resulting deflection is excessive.
The deflection becomes infinite when P = Pcr
d2y Py Pe
2

dx EI
P 2 EI
ymax e sec
1 Pcr
2 Pcr L2e

Maximum stress
max
P
1
ymax e c
A r2


P ec 1 P Le
1 2
sec
A r 2 EA r
10- 13
Eccentric Loading; The Secant
Formula

Fig. 10.24 Load per unit area, P/A, causing yield in column.

P ec 1 P Le
max Y 1 2
sec
A r 2 EA r
10- 14
 Sample Problem 10.2
The uniform column consists of an 2.4 m
section of structural tubing having the cross-
section shown.

a) Using Eulers formula and a factor of safety

of two, determine the allowable centric load
for the column and the corresponding
normal stress.
b) Assuming that the allowable load, found in
part a, is applied at a point 18 mm from the
E 200 GPa geometric axis of the column, determine the
horizontal deflection of the top of the
column and the maximum normal stress in
the column.

10- 15
Sample Problem 10.2
SOLUTION:
Maximum allowable centric load:
- Effective length,
Le 2 2.4 m 4.8 m

- Critical load,

2 EI 2 200 109 Pa 3.33 10 6 m 4

Pcr 2
Le 4.8 m 2
285.3 kN

- Allowable load,
Pcr 285.3 kN
Pall Pall 142.7 kN
FS 2
P 142700 N
all 62.5 MPa
A 2284 10-6 m 2
10- 16
Sample Problem 10.2
Eccentric load:
- End deflection,
P
ym e sec 1

2 Pcr

18 mm sec 1
2 2

ym 22.5 mm

- Maximum normal stress,

P ec P
m 1 2 sec

A r 2 Pcr

142700 N 0.018 m 0.05 m sec
1
2284 10 -6 m 2 0.038 m 2 2 2

m 150.2 MPa
10- 17
Design of Columns Under
Centric Load
Previous analyses assumed
stresses below the proportional
limit and initially straight,
homogeneous columns

Experimental data demonstrate

- for large Le/r, cr follows
Eulers formula and depends
upon E but not Y.
- for small Le/r, cr is
determined by the yield
strength Y and not E.
- for intermediate Le/r, cr
depends on both Y and E.

10- 18
 Design of Columns Under
Centric Load
For L/r > C
Structural Steel c

2E
American Inst. of Steel Construction cr
cr L / r2 all FS
FS 1.92

For L/r > Cc

1 L / r2
cr
cr Y all FS
2C 2
c
L /r 3
5 3 1 L / r
FS
3 8 C 8 C
c c

At L/r = Cc
2 2 E
cr 1
2 Y
Cc2
Y
10- 19
 Design of Columns Under
Aluminum
Centric Load
Alloy 6061-T6
L/r < 66:
Aluminum Association, Inc. 139 0.868 L / r MPa
all

L/r > 66:

3
35110 MPa
all L / r 2

Alloy 2014-T6
L/r < 55:
212 1.585 L / r MPa
all

L/r > 55:

3
54000 ksi 372 10 MPa
all
L / r 2 L / r 2
10- 20
 Sample Problem 10.4
SOLUTION:
With the diameter unknown, the
slenderness ratio can not be evaluated.
Must make an assumption on which
slenderness ratio regime to utilize.

Calculate required diameter for

assumed slenderness ratio regime.

Evaluate slenderness ratio and verify

initial assumption. Repeat if necessary.
Using the aluminum alloy 2014-T6,
determine the smallest diameter rod
which can be used to support the centric
load P = 60 kN if a) L = 750 mm,
b) L = 300 mm
10- 21
 Sample Problem 10.4
For L = 750 mm, assume L/r > 55

Determine cylinder radius:

P 372 103 MPa
all
A L r 2
60 103 N 372 103 MPa
2
2
c 18.44 mm
c 0.750 m

c/2

Check slenderness ratio assumption:

c cylinder radius
L L 750mm
r radius of gyration 81.3 55
r c / 2 18.44 mm
I c 4 4 c assumption was correct
2

A c 2
d 2c 36.9 mm

10- 22
Sample Problem 10.4
For L = 300 mm, assume L/r < 55

Determine cylinder radius:

P L
all 212 1.585 MPa
A r
60 103 N 0.3 m 6
212 1.585 10 Pa
c 2 c / 2
c 12.00 mm

Check slenderness ratio assumption:

L L 300 mm
50 55
r c / 2 12.00 mm

assumption was correct

d 2c 24.0 mm

10- 23
Design of Columns Under an
Eccentric Load
An eccentric load P can be replaced by a
centric load P and a couple M = Pe.

Normal stresses can be found from

superposing the stresses due to the
centric load and couple,
centric bending
P Mc
max
A I

Allowable stress method:

P Mc
all
A I

Interaction method:
P A Mc I
1
all centric all bending
10- 24