UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL

MALAYSIA MELAKA

No Dokumen:
SB/MMSB2/BMCS2333/4

SOLID MECHANICS 2
Strut Buckling

No Semakan/Tarikh
3/28-06-2010

No Isu./Tarikh
1/12-12-2007
Jumlah Mukasurat

OBJECTIVES OF EXPERIMENTAL WORK

To observe and determine the buckling behavior and critical buckling load for a:
a) Pinned end strut
b) Fixed end strut
LEARNING OUTCOMES (N.B Students should not include these as part of their
report)
At the end of this laboratory session the students should be able to
1. Apply the theoretical formulae to obtain critical load of slender column or
struts.
2. Understand that the critical load for struts depends on the end conditions or
end supports.
3. Compare between experimental and theoretical results of critical buckling
load.
4. Understanding of basic laboratory practice, including design of experiments,
write a clear and well-presented technical report, data acquisition,
interpretation and analysis, and the relationship between experiments and
theory.

THEORY
Consider a simply-supported strut with length L and flexural rigidity EI loaded axially
with a force P (Figure 1). At buckling it assumes a profile (or buckling mode y(x)),
where at x we have a bending moment M and displacement y , introduced by the
mode shape eccentricity,
M = Py

(1)

P
L
x

Figure 1 A simply-supported strut

Bending theory states that M=EI curvature, which from linear bending theory can
be written:
M = EI

d2y
dx 2

(2)

Combining equation (1) and (2) we obtain the differential equation:

EI

d2y
+ Py = 0
dx 2

(3)

Rewriting this in the form:

d2y P
+
y=0
dx 2 EI

(4)

gives the form of the equation for a free undamped oscillator, or the equation for
simple harmonic motion. It is useful to differentiate this equation twice with respect to
x so that two boundary conditions can be applied at each support.
d4y P d2y
+
=0
dx 4 EI dx 2

(5)

The solution of this equation has the form:

y ( x ) = A sin wx + B cos wx + Cx + D

where A, B, C and D are constants dependent on the boundary conditions of the strut
and w is defined:
=

P
EI

(6)

In the case shown in Figure 1.

y ( 0 ) = y '' ( 0 ) = 0 B = D = 0

y ( L ) = y '' ( L ) = 0 C = 0, A sin L = 0

(7)
(8)

where primes denote differentiation with respect to x, a nontrivial solution (A0), is

given by:
sin L = 0 L = 0, , 2 ,..., n where: n=1,2,3,4,5

(9)

Unless the strut is restrained somewhere the lowest value of P (n=1) is the practical
value for the buckling or Eulers load (PE).
PE =

2 EI
L2

(10)

In reality the equilibrium paths are not flat, they exhibit a stable-symmetric profile.
However, this stable nature is not significant until deflections get very large, so they
are assumed to be flat and the critical load is a fair estimate of the failure load when
strut buckle.
We could consider any boundary condition combination by obtaining a solution of
y(x). However, there is a more intuitive way of analyzing different cases using the
concept of Effective Length (Le). Common cases follow, the adjusted Euler loads take
account of the effective lengths thus:
2

PE =

2 EI
Le 2

(11)

where Le is the effective length of column and varies depend on end conditions. The
effective lengths corresponding to the simple support ends and fixed both ends are
shown in Figure 2
a) Simple supports both ends:
P
Le=L

b) Fixed both ends:

P
Le=L/2

Figure 2
ends

Effective length of column (a) Simple supports both ends (b) Fixed both

EQUIPMENT & SPECIMEN

Equipment
Strut apparatus SM105.
Dowel Pin

Cross member

Guide rod

Specimen

50g hanger

Packing pieces

Vertical pillar for

dial gauge

Dial gauge

Figure 3 Strut Apparatus

Loading handle

Load cell and

cross support

Specimen
Two types of material used in the experiment:
1. Aluminum strut (20 mm x 5 mm x 750 mm)
2. Brass strut (20 mm x 5 mm x 750 mm)
PROCEDURES
1.
Measure and record the average width and depth of the strut cross section.
Then calculate the second moment of area (I) of the cross section.
2.
Prepare the strut apparatus to test the aluminum strut with pinned-ends.
3. Ensure that the clamps of the specimen holder are tightened.
4. Select the required strut and adjust the rear cross member beam to the correct
position and insert the dowel pins.
5. Turn the dial gauge so that the stem does not impede the insert of the strut.
6. Examine the strut carefully and straighten it if necessary. Insert the strut ends in
the V grooves of the specimen holders. The edge of the strut will rest against the
stops at the bottom of the holders. It may be necessary to unscrew the loading
knob to reduce the load to zero after the strut is inserted.
7. Adjust the position of the central cross member so that the dial gauge foot (ball
end) rest on the centre-line of the strut mid-span.
8. Apply a load to the strut and ensure that the deflection is away from the dial
gauge. If deflection is towards the dial gauge, remove the load, turn the strut over
and reload to give a central deflection of about 8 mm (800 divisions).
9. Reduce the load to zero and adjust the bezel of the dial gauge to indicate zero.
Tap the dial gauge stem gently and check the zeros.
10. Apply load by increments, tapping the dial gauge stem very gently whilst applying
the load and record the the load and dial gauge reading for each increment of
load in the table 1b.
11. Repeat the above procedure for clamped-ends condition with insert the struct in
between the clamp plates.
EXPERIMENTAL DATA AND RESULTS
Table 1a Data of Aluminum strut
Width, b : ______________________mm I : ____________________________
m4
Depth, d : ______________________ mm

E : _____________________ N/m 2

Length, L : ______________________
mm

Table 1b
Load, P
(N)

Pinned-ends condition (Aluminum strut)

Mid-Span Deflection,
div
mm

40
4

60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
220

Table 1c
Load, P
(N)

Fixed-ends condition (Aluminum strut)

Mid-Span Deflection,
div

mm

200
400
500
600
650
700
750
800
Table 2a Data of Brass Strut
Width, b : ______________________mm

I : ____________________________
m4

Depth, d : ______________________ mm

E : _____________________ N/m 2

Length, L : ______________________
mm

Table 2b
Load, P
(N)

Pinned-ends condition (Brass strut)

Mid-Span Deflection,
Div
mm

50
100
150
180
210
240
270
300

Table 2c
Load, P
(N)

Fixed-ends condition (Brass strut)

Mid-Span Deflection,
div

mm

300
600
800
1000
1100
1150
1200
1250

1. Plot the graph of load (N) versus deflection (mm) for:

a. Aluminum strut (pinned and fixed end conditions)
b. Brass strut (pinned and fixed end conditions)
2. From each graph, determine the experimental value of Eulers buckling load.
3. By using equation (11), calculate the theoretical buckling load for each strut to be
compared with the experimental results defined previously. Compute the
percentage of differences and show in a table (say Table 3) all these results for
discussion purpose.

DISCUSSION (N.B. This part of the report must at least describe or discuss the
following, but not necessarily limited to those ideas. This must be done in the
paragraphs format rather than the points form format)

Based on the experimental and theoretical results gives your comments on

the strut buckling behaviour as observed in this work. Comment on its
deviation from the idealised buckling behaviour of the slender strut / column.

Discuss any possible source of errors that may have affected the outcomes of
this experimental work..

CONCLUSION
Give your conclusion and observation of this experimental work.
QUESTIONS (For FORMAL Report only)
1. The end conditions of long struts play a dominant role in their load bearing
capacity. Discuss this statement giving examples of the critical buckling load for
struts with various end conditions.
2. Explain briefly with the help of relevant diagram, the effect of eccentricity of the
end centric load on the behaviour of pinned end strut. Indicate how this will
modify the maximum stress that will cause such strut to buckle or fail?
3. How the test results would be affected, if the cross-sectional area of the test strut
is not uniform or constant? Does this invalidate or contradict with the basic
assumptions of the Eulers buckling theory? Justify / support your arguments with
the relevant calculation or diagram.
REFERENCES (For FORMAL Report Only)
List at least 3 main references that have been referred to write the formal report of
this laboratory exercise.