BUCKLING OF COLUMNS

! Critical Load
! Ideal Column with Pin Supports
! Columns Having Various Supports

1
Critical Load

Pcr P > Pcr

Pcr P > Pcr

2
 P P

P tan
L/2 L/2
P
k =(L/2) k F
A A
A

P
L/2 L/2
P tan

+ F = 0: 2 P tan = F
x
2 P tan = k
L
For small , 2 P = k ( )
2
kL
Pcr =
4
3
 P
Unstable
equilibrium
Bifurcation point
Neutral
equilibrium

Stable kL
Pcr =
equilibrium 4

4
Ideal Column with Pin Supports

P Pcr

5
 P
P
+ Mx = 0 ;


x x P + M = 0
N=0 M = P

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

d 2 P 2
2
+ ( ) = 0 *
dx EI
' '+c 2 = 0
P P
= C1 sin( x) + C2 cos( x)
EI EI
6
 P
P P P
= C1 sin( x) + C2 cos( x)
EI EI
x x
N=0 Boundary condition

M x=0 , =0
L P
0 = C1 (0) + C2 (1), C2 = 0
x=L , =0
x
P
C1 sin( L) = 0 , C1 0
EI
P
P
x sin( L) = 0 = sin( n )
EI

P
L = n : n = 1,2,3,...
EI

7
 P
P
P L = n : n = 1,2,3,...
EI
v
Critical Load Pcr
x x
0
P
M L = n
L EI
P
P 2
L = n 2 2
EI
x
n 2 2 EI
P= *
P L2

x 2 EI
Pcr = 2
*
L

8
 n 2 2 EI
Pcr = , n = 1,2,3,...
L2

P P

x
L/2 L/2
L
max
L/2

P
P
x
n=1 n=2

12 2 EI 2 2 2 EI
Pcr = Pcr =
L2 L2

9
 P
Unstable Pcr
equilibrium
Bifurcation point
Neutral

equilibrium
x

Stable 2EI L
Pcr =
equilibrium L2

O
Pcr

10
 Critical Stress

2 EI
Pcr =
( KL ) 2

2 E ( Ar 2 )
=
( KL) 2

Pcr 2E
=
A ( K L )2
r

2E
cr =
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
E = 200 GPa y = 250 MPa

2E 2 (200 103 MPa) cr , MPa

cr = =
KL KL 2
( )2 ( )
r r 400 2E
cr =
KL 2
( )
KL/r cr (MPa) 300 r

89 250 y = 250
200 197 MPa
100 197
125 126
100 88 MPa
150 88 49 MPa
175 64 0 KL/r
200 49 50 100 150 200
89
225 39
Structural steel
A 36
R 40 (4000 kg/cm2)
12
Aluminum

E = 70 GPa y = 215 MPa

2E 2 (70 103 MPa) cr , MPa

cr = =
KL 2 KL 2
( ) ( )
r r 215 MPa
200
2E
KL/r cr (MPa) cr =
KL 2
150 ( )
57 215 r

75 122.8 100
100 69.1 69 MPa
125 44.2 50 30 MPa
150 30.7 17 MPa
175 22.6 0 KL/r
50 57 100 150 200
200 17.3

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
2 EI
Pcr =
L2
7m
2 [(200 106 )( 0.0754 0.07 4 )
= 4 4
72

= 241.4 kN

This force creates an average compressive stress in the column of

Pcr
Pcr 241.43
cr = =
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
 Alternate method:
Pcr
70 mm
2E
cr =
KL
75 mm ( )2
r
I (.075 4 .070 4 ) / 4
r =
2
= = .002631 m 2
7m A (.075 .070 )
2 2

r = 79.5 mm

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

2E 2 (200 103 MPa)

Pcr cr = =
KL 2 (136 .5) 2
( )
r
= 106 MPa < Y = 250 MPa O.K

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

= 241.7 kN

16
 cr , MPa

400 2E
cr =
KL 2
( )
300 r
y = 250
200 197 MPa

cr = 106
100 88 MPa
49 MPa
0 KL/r
50 100 150 200
89 136.5

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 y
4m

18
 Pinned - Pinned Column
x
A-36 steel W200x46
A = 5890 mm2 , Ix = 45.5x106 mm4, and Iy = 15.3x106 mm4
y y 2 EI
Pcr =
L2
2 (200 106 )(15.3 10 6 )
x =
42
= 1887. 6 kN
Pcr
cr =
A
1887.56
=
4m 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
P P EI 2 = P( )
dx

d 2 P P
+ = -----(7)
dx 2
EI EI
M
L This equation is non-homogeneous because of the
P
nonzero term on the right side. The solution consists of both
a complementary and particular solution, namely,

u P P
= C1 sin( 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
P P
= [1 cos( x )] --> cos( L) = 0
EI EI

Since 0,

P P n
cos( L) = 0 or cos( L) = cos( )
EI EI 2

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

2 EI
Pcr = -----(9)
4L2

21
 Effective Length (Le)

2 EI 2E
Pcr = 2
or cr =
( KL) ( KL / r ) 2

P P
P P

Le = 0.7L
Le = L L L Le = 0.5L L

Le = 2L

Pinned -pinned ends Fixed fixed ends Fixed - Pinned ends

K = 0.5 K = 0.7
K=1

Fixed - free ends

Note : K = effective-length factor
K=2 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
x
y y

x
3m

5m

23
 E = 200 GPa , y = 414 MPa W 150x24 A = 3060 mm2
Iy = 1.83x106 mm4
Ix = 13.4x106 mm4 Pinned (top)
Fixed (top) 3m Fixed (bottom)
Fixed (bottom) Ky = 0.7
8m Kx = 0.5
ry = 24.5 mm
rx = 66.2 mm 5m P
x
y y
x-x axis buckling y-y axis buckling

y)
Yield Stress ( x
3m
PY = y A = (250 10 Pa )(3060 10 m ) = 765 kN
6 6 2

Bucking x-x axis

5m
2 EI x 2 (200 106 kPa)(13.4 10 6 m 4 )
( Pcr ) x = = = 1653 kN
( KL) x
2
(0.5 8 m) 2

Bucking y-y axis

2 EI y 2 (200 106 kPa)(1.83 10 6 m 4 )
( Pcr ) y = = = 294.9 kN
( KL) y
2
(0.7 5 m) 2
24
NOTE KL (0.5)(8 103 )
( )x = = 60.42
r 66.2
Structural steel A 36
E = 200 GPa KL (0.7)(5 103 )
( )y = = 178.6 <--- buckling occurs
r 24.5
2E 2 (200 103 MPa)
cr = =
KL KL 2
( )2 ( )
r r , MPa

KL/r cr (MPa) 400

2E
89 250 cr =
L 2
300 (K )
100 197 r
125 126 y = 250
200 197 MPa
150 88
175 64
100 88 MPa
200 49
61.9 MPa 49 MPa
225 39 0 KL/r
50 100 150 200
89 179
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

y
Rod

x
5m

26
 Eal = 70 GPa, y = 215 MPa, A = 7.5(10-3) m2

Ix = 61.3(10-6) m4 Iy = 23.2(10-6) m4
Free (top) Pinned (top)
5m Fixed (bottom) 5m Fixed (bottom)
Kx = 2 Ky = 0.7
rx = 90 mm ry = 50 mm
z
x-x axis buckling P y)
Yield Stress ( y-y axis buckling
PY = y A = (215 106 Pa )(7.5 10 3 m 2 ) = 1612 kN
Bucking x-x axis
y
Rod 2 EI x 2 (70 106 kPa)(61.3 10 6 m 4 )
( Pcr ) x = = = 425 kN
( KL) x
2
( 2 5 m) 2

P 425 kN
Pallow = cr = = 141 kN
F .S 3
x Bucking y-y axis
5m
2 EI y 2 (70 106 kPa)(23.2 10 6 m 4 )
( Pcr ) y = = = 1308 kN
( KL ) y
2
(0.7 5 m) 2
Pcr 1308 kN
Pallow = = = 436 kN
F .S 3 27
NOTE KL 0.7 5 103 mm
( )y = = 70
r 50 mm
Aluminum
KL 2 5 103 mm
( )x = = 111.1 <---occur buckling
E = 70 Gpa y = 215 MPa r 90 mm

2E 2 (70 103 MPa) cr , MPa

cr = =
KL 2 KL 2
( ) ( )
r r y = 215
200
2E
KL/r cr (MPa) cr =
KL 2
150 ( )
57 215 r

75 122.8 100
100 69.1 69 MPa
56 MPa
125 44.2 50 30 MPa
150 30.7 17 MPa
175 22.6 0 KL/r
50 57 100 150 200
200 17.3
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 B
35 mm
1m
35 mm P
y
2m
5
3
C 4 A

4m

29
x
3
25 mm B + MA = 0: ( F )(4) + P(2) = 0
5
35 mm 5
F = P *
1m 6
35 mm P 5
y FY = PY = Y A = (250 103 )(.025 .035) = 218.8 kN
6
5
2m PY = 262.5 kN
3 KL 1(5)
C 4 A Ax ( )x = = 495
r 1 (0.025)(0.035) 3 1/ 2
F [ ]
4m Ay 12 (0.025)(0.035)
KL 0.5(5)
( )y = 3
= 346
r 1 (0.035)(0.025) 1/ 2
[ ]
12 (0.035)(0.025)
2E
F = cr A = A
KL
( )2
r
5 2 (200 109 )
P= 2
(0.025)(0.035)
6 ( 495)

P = 8.46 kN < 262.5 kN

30