BUCKLING OF COLUMNS

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Critical Load
Ideal Column with Pin Supports
Columns Having Various Supports

Critical Load

Pcr

P > Pcr

Pcr

P > Pcr

P
P tan
L/2

L/2
k

=(L/2)
A

L/2

P
F

L/2

P tan

+ F = 0:
x
For small ,

2 P tan = F

2 P tan = k

2 P = k (
Pcr =

L
)
2

kL
4

P
Unstable
equilibrium

Bifurcation point

Neutral
equilibrium

Stable
equilibrium

Pcr =

kL
4

Ideal Column with Pin Supports

Pcr

P
P

+ Mx = 0 ;
P + M = 0

x
N=0

x
P
x

M = P

Moment-curvature
d 2
M = EI 2 = P
dx
d 2
EI 2 + P = 0
dx
d 2
P
+
(
) = 0
2
EI
dx
d 2
P 2
+
(
) = 0 *
2
dx
EI

' '+c 2 = 0

= C1 sin(

P
P
x) + C2 cos(
x)
EI
EI

P
P

N=0

= C1 sin(

Boundary condition
x=0 , =0
0 = C1 (0) + C2 (1), C2 = 0
x=L , =0

x
C1 sin(

P
x

P
P
x) + C2 cos(
x)
EI
EI

sin(

P
L) = 0 , C1 0
EI

P
L) = 0 = sin( n )
EI
P
L = n
EI

: n = 1,2,3,...

P
L = n
EI

x
0

x
P
x

: n = 1,2,3,...

Critical Load Pcr

P
L = n
EI
P 2
L = n 2 2
EI

n 2 2 EI
P=
L2
Pcr =

2 EI
2

*
*

n 2 2 EI
Pcr =
L2

x
L

, n = 1,2,3,...

L/2

L/2

max

P
x
n=1
12 2 EI
Pcr =
L2

L/2

P
n=2
2 2 2 EI
Pcr =
L2

P
Unstable
equilibrium

Pcr
Bifurcation point

Neutral
equilibrium

x
2EI
Pcr =
L2

Stable
equilibrium

Pcr
x

10

 Critical Stress
Pcr =

2 EI
( KL ) 2

2 E ( Ar 2 )
( KL) 2

2E
Pcr
=
A ( K L )2
r
cr =

2E
(

KL 2
)
r

r = radius of gyration
K = effective-length factor, for pin-pin column K = 1
L
K = effective slenderness ratio
r

11

Structural steel A 36
y = 250 MPa

E = 200 GPa

cr =

2E
KL
( )2
r

2 (200 103 MPa)

(

KL 2
)
r

KL/r

cr (MPa)

89

250

100

197

125

126

150

88

175

64

200

49

225

39

cr , MPa
400
300
y = 250
200

cr =

2E
(

KL 2
)
r

197 MPa

100

88 MPa

0
50
100
89

150

49 MPa
KL/r
200

Structural steel
A 36
R 40 (4000 kg/cm2)

12

Aluminum
y = 215 MPa

E = 70 GPa

cr =

2E
(

KL/r

KL 2
)
r

2 (70 103 MPa)

(

KL 2
)
r

cr (MPa)

57

215

75

122.8

100

69.1

125

44.2

150

30.7

175

22.6

200

17.3

cr , MPa
200

215 MPa

cr =
150

2E
(

KL 2
)
r

100
69 MPa
50
0

50 57 100

30 MPa
17 MPa
KL/r
150 200

13

Example 1
A 7 m long A-36 steel tube having the cross section shown is to be used as a
pin-ended column. Determine the maximum allowable axial load the column can
support so that it does not buckle or yield. Take the yield stress of 250 MPa
Pcr

70 mm
75 mm

7m

Pcr

14

Pcr

70 mm
Using Eq. 5 to obtain the critical load with Est = 200 GPa,
75 mm
Pcr =

7m
=

2 EI
L2

2 [(200 106 )( 0.0754 0.07 4 )

4
72

= 241.4 kN
This force creates an average compressive stress in the column of
Pcr

cr =

Pcr
241.43
=
A (0.075) 2 (0.070) 2

= 106 MPa < Y = 250 MPa

O.K

The maximum allowable axial load the column can support is 241.73 kN

15

Pcr

Alternate method:
70 mm
2E
cr =
KL
75 mm
( )2
r
I
r =
A
2

7m

(.075 4 .070 4 ) / 4
=
= .002631 m 2
2
2
(.075 .070 )

r = 79.5 mm

KL
(1)(7)
=
= 136.5
(0.00795)
r

Pcr

cr =

2E

2 (200 103 MPa)

=
2
KL 2
(
136
.
5
)
( )
r
= 106 MPa < Y = 250 MPa

O.K

Pcr = cr A = (106 x 106) (.0752-.0702)

= 241.7 kN

16

cr , MPa
400

cr =

300
y = 250
200
100

2E
(

KL 2
)
r

197 MPa
cr = 106

88 MPa

0
50
100 150
89 136.5

49 MPa
KL/r
200

Structural steel
A 36
R 40 (4000 kg/cm2)

17

Example 2
The A-36 steel W200x46 member show is to be used as a pin-connected column.
Determine the largest axial load it can support before it either begins to buckle or
the steel yields.

y
4m
x

18

 Pinned - Pinned Column

x

A-36 steel W200x46

A = 5890 mm2 , Ix = 45.5x106 mm4, and Iy = 15.3x106 mm4

Pcr =

2 EI
L2

2 (200 106 )(15.3 10 6 )

42

= 1887. 6 kN

cr =

4m

Pcr
A
1887.56
5890 10 6

= 320.5 MPa > Y = 250 MPa

Pallow = A = y A

= (250 106 Pa )(5890 10 6 m 2 )

= 1472 kN

19

Columns Having Various Type of Supports

x

d 2
EI 2 = P( )
dx
d 2 P
P
+
=

2
dx
EI
EI

-----(7)

This equation is non-homogeneous because of the

nonzero term on the right side. The solution consists of both
a complementary and particular solution, namely,

= C1 sin(

P
P
x) + C2 cos(
x) +
EI
EI

The constants are determined from the boundary conditions. At x =

0, = 0, so that C2 = -. Also,
d
P
P
P
P
= C1
cos(
x ) C2
sin(
x)
dx
EI
EI
EI
EI

At x = 0, d/dx = 0, so that C1 = 0. The deflection curve is therefore

P
= [1 cos(
x )]
-----(8)
EI

20

Since the deflection at the top of the column is , that is, at x = L, = , we require

= [1 cos(

P
x )]
EI

-->

cos(

P
L) = 0
EI

Since 0,

cos(

P
L) = 0
EI

or cos(

P
n
L) = cos( )
2
EI

The smallest critical load occurs when n = 1, so that

Pcr =

2 EI
4L2

-----(9)

21

 Effective Length (Le)

Pcr =

Le = L

2 EI
( KL)

or

cr =

( KL / r ) 2

2E

Le = 0.5L

Le = 0.7L

Le = 2L
Pinned -pinned ends
K=1

Fixed fixed ends

Fixed - Pinned ends

K = 0.5

K = 0.7

Fixed - free ends

K=2

Note : K = effective-length factor

22

Example 3
A W 150x24 (A=3060 mm2, Ix = 13.4x106 mm4, Iy = 1.83x106 mm4) steel column
is 8 m long and is fixed at its ends as shown. Its load-carrying capacity is
increased by bracing it about the y-y (weak) axis using struts that are assumed to
be pin-connected to its mid-height. Determine the load it can support so that the
column does not buckle nor the material exceed the yield stress. Take E = 200
GPa and y = 250 MPa
P
y
x

x
y

3m

5m

23

E = 200 GPa , y = 414 MPa

W 150x24 A = 3060 mm2

Ix = 13.4x106 mm4
Fixed (top)
Fixed (bottom)
Kx = 0.5
rx = 66.2 mm

8m

Iy = 1.83x106 mm4
Pinned (top)
Fixed (bottom)
Ky = 0.7
ry = 24.5 mm
P
x

3m

5m
y
y-y axis buckling

x-x axis buckling

Yield Stress (
y)

PY = y A = (250 10 Pa )(3060 10 m ) = 765 kN

6

Bucking x-x axis

( Pcr ) x =

2 EI x
( KL) x

2 (200 106 kPa)(13.4 10 6 m 4 )

(0.5 8 m)

3m

5m
= 1653 kN

Bucking y-y axis

( Pcr ) y =

2 EI y
( KL) y

2 (200 106 kPa)(1.83 10 6 m 4 )

(0.7 5 m) 2

= 294.9 kN

24

NOTE

KL
(0.5)(8 103 )
( )x =
= 60.42
r
66.2

Structural steel A 36
E = 200 GPa

cr =

2E
KL
( )2
r

2 (200 103 MPa)

(

KL 2
)
r

KL/r

cr (MPa)

89

250

100

197

125

126

150

88

175

64

200

49

225

39

(0.7)(5 103 )
KL
( )y =
= 178.6 <--- buckling occurs
r
24.5

, MPa
400

cr =
300
y = 250
200

2E
(K

L 2
)
r

197 MPa

100

88 MPa

61.9 MPa
0
50
100
89

150

49 MPa
KL/r
200
179

25

Example 4
The aluminum column is fixed at its bottom and is braced at its top by two rods
so as to prevent movement at the top along the x axis, If it is assumed to be fixed
at its base, determine the largest allowable load P that can be applied. Use a
factor of safety for buckling of F.S. = 3.0. Take Eal = 70 GPa, y = 215 MPa, A =
7.5(10-3) m2, Ix = 61.3(10-6) m4, Iy = 23.2(10-6) m4.
z
P

Rod

5m

26

Eal = 70 GPa, y = 215 MPa, A = 7.5(10-3) m2

Ix = 61.3(10-6) m4
Free (top)
Fixed (bottom)
Kx = 2
rx = 90 mm
z

5m

x-x axis buckling

Rod

5m

Iy = 23.2(10-6) m4
Pinned (top)
Fixed (bottom)
Ky = 0.7
ry = 50 mm

5m

y-y axis buckling

Yield Stress (
y)
PY = y A = (215 106 Pa )(7.5 10 3 m 2 ) = 1612 kN
Bucking x-x axis
y
2 EI x 2 (70 106 kPa)(61.3 10 6 m 4 )
( Pcr ) x =
=
= 425 kN
2
2
( 2 5 m)
( KL) x
425 kN
P
= 141 kN
Pallow = cr =
F .S
3
Bucking y-y axis
( Pcr ) y =
Pallow =

2 EI y
( KL ) y

2 (70 106 kPa)(23.2 10 6 m 4 )

(0.7 5 m) 2

Pcr 1308 kN
=
= 436 kN
F .S
3

= 1308 kN

27

NOTE

KL
0.7 5 103 mm
( )y =
= 70
r
50 mm

Aluminum

KL
2 5 103 mm
( )x =
= 111.1 <---occur buckling
r
90 mm

y = 215 MPa

E = 70 Gpa

cr =

2E
(

KL/r

KL 2
)
r

2 (70 103 MPa)

(

KL 2
)
r

cr (MPa)

57

215

75

122.8

100

69.1

125

44.2

150

30.7

175

22.6

200

17.3

cr , MPa
y = 215
200

cr =
150

2E
(

KL 2
)
r

100
50
0

56 MPa

69 MPa

50 57 100

30 MPa
17 MPa
KL/r
150 200
111

28

Example 5
Determine the maximum load P the column can support before it either begins to
buckle or the steel yields. Assume that member BC is pinned at its end for the x-x
axis and fixed for y-y axis buckling. Take E = 200 GPa, y = 250 MPa.
x
25 mm

35 mm

B
1m
P

35 mm

2m

5
C

3
4

4m

29

x
25 mm

35 mm

B
1m
P

35 mm

2m

5
C
F

3
4
4m

Ax
Ay

3
+ MA = 0: ( F )(4) + P(2) = 0
5
5
F = P *
6
5
FY = PY = Y A = (250 103 )(.025 .035) = 218.8 kN
6
PY = 262.5 kN
1(5)
KL
( )x =
= 495
1 (0.025)(0.035) 3 1/ 2
r
[
]
12 (0.025)(0.035)

0.5(5)
KL
)y =
= 346
3
1 (0.035)(0.025) 1/ 2
r
[
]
12 (0.035)(0.025)

F = cr A =

2E
KL
( )2
r

5
2 (200 109 )
P=
(0.025)(0.035)
2
6
( 495)

P = 8.46 kN < 262.5 kN

30