CHAPTER 10

PROBLEM 10.1

Knowing that the spring at A is of constant k and that the bar AB is rigid, determine the
critical load Pcr .

SOLUTION

 Let θ be the angle change of bar AB.

F = kx = kL sin θ
ΣM B = 0: FL cos θ − Px = 0
kL2 sin θ cos θ − PL sin θ = 0
Using

sin θ ≈ θ and cosθ ≈ 1, kL2θ − PLθ = 0

(kL2 − PL)θ = 0 Pcr = kL 

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 PROBLEM 10.2

Knowing that the torsional spring at B is of constant K and that the bar AB is rigid,
determine the critical load Pcr .

SOLUTION
Let θ be the angle change of bar AB.
M = Kθ , x = L sin θ ≈ Lθ

M B = 0: M − Px = 0 Kθ − PLθ = 0

( K − PL) θ = 0 Pcr = K/L 

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 PROBLEM 10.3

Two rigid bars AC and BC are connected by a pin at C as shown. Knowing that
the torsional spring at B is of constant K, determine the critical load Pcr for the
system.

SOLUTION


Let θ be the angle change of each bar.
 M B = Kθ

M B = 0: Kθ − FA L = 0
Kθ
FA =
L
1 1
Bar AC. ΣM C = 0: Pcr Lθ − LFA = 0
2 2
FA K
Pcr = Pcr = 
 θ L

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 PROBLEM 10.4

Two rigid bars AC and BC are connected as shown to a spring of constant k.

Knowing that the spring can act in either tension or compression, determine the
critical load Pcr for the system.

SOLUTION

Let δ be the deflection of point C.

Using free body AC and
1 3Pδ
 M C = 0 : − LRA + Pδ = 0 RA =
3 L
Using free body BC and
2 3Pδ
ΣM C = 0: LRB − Pδ = 0 RB =
3 2L
Using both free bodies together,
ΣFx = 0: RA + RB − kδ = 0
3 Pδ 3 Pδ
+ − kδ = 0
L 2L
9 P 
 2 L − k δ = 0
 
2kL
Pcr = 
9

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 PROBLEM 10.7

The rigid rod AB is attached to a hinge at A and to two springs, each of

constant k = 2 kip/in., that can act in either tension or compression. Knowing
that h = 2 ft, determine the critical load.

SOLUTION

Let θ be the small rotation angle.

xD ≈ hθ
xC ≈ 3hθ
xB ≈ 4hθ
FC = kxC ≈ 3khθ
FD = kxD ≈ khθ

ΣM A = 0: hFD + 3hFC − PxB = 0

5
kh 2θ + 9kh 2θ − 4hP = 0, P = kh
2
Data: k = 2.0 kip/in. h = 2 ft = 24 in.

5
P= (2.0)(24) P = 120.0 kips 
2

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 PROBLEM 10.11

A compression member of 20-in. effective length consists of a solid 1-in.-

diameter aluminum rod. In order to reduce the weight of the member
by 25%, the solid rod is replaced by a hollow rod of the cross section shown.
Determine (a) the percent reduction in the critical load, (b) the value of the
critical load for the hollow rod. Use E = 10.6 × 106 psi .

SOLUTION
4
π π  do  π
Solid: AS = do2 Is =   = d o4
4 4 2  64

π 3π 2
Hollow: AH =
4
(d 2
o − di2 =) 3
4
AS =
44
do

1 2 1
di2 = do di = do = 0.5 in.
4 2
π
Solid rod: IS = (1.0) 4 = 0.049087 in 4
64

π 2 EI S π 2 (10.6 × 106 )(0.049087)

Pcr = 2
= 2
= 12.839 × 103 lb
L (20)

π 
4
π 1
Hollow rod: IH =
64
(d 4
o − di4 =) (1) 4 −  
64  2
 = 0.046019 in 4


π 2 EI H π 2 (10.6 × 106 )(0.046019)

Pcr = 2
= 2
= 12.036 × 103 lb = 12.04 kips
L (20)

PS − PH 12.839 × 103 − 12.036 × 103

(a) = = 0.0625 Percent reduction = 6.25% 
PS 12.839 × 103

(b) For the hollow rod, Pcr = 12.04 kips 



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 PROBLEM 10.13

A column of effective length L can be made by gluing together

identical planks in either of the arrangements shown. Determine
the ratio of the critical load using the arrangement a to the critical
load using the arrangement b.

SOLUTION

Arrangement (a).
1 4
Ia = d
12

π 2 EI π 2 Ed 4
Pcr, a = =
L2e 12 L2e
3
1 d 3 1 d 
Arrangement (b). I min = I y =   (d ) + ( d )  
12  3  12 3
1  d  3 19 4
+   (d ) = d
12  3  324

π 2 EI 19π 2 Ed 4
Pcr, b = =
L2e 324 L2e

Pcr, a 1 324 27 Pcr, a

= ⋅ = = 1.421 
Pcr,b 12 19 19 Pcr,b

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 PROBLEM 10.15

A compression member of 7-m effective length is made by welding

together two L152 × 102 × 12.7 angles as shown. Using
E = 200 GPa, determine the allowable centric load for the
member if a factor of safety of 2.2 is required.

SOLUTION

Angle L152 × 102 × 12.7: A = 3060 mm 2

I x = 7.20 × 106 mm 4 I y = 2.59 × 106 mm 4
y = 50.3 mm x = 24.9 mm

Two angles: I x = (2)(7.20 × 106 ) = 14.40 × 106 mm 4

I y = 2[(2.59 × 106 ) + (3060)(24.9) 2 ] = 8.975 × 106 mm 4

I min = I y = 8.975 × 106 mm 4 = 8.975 × 10−6 m 4

π 2 EI π 2 (200 × 109 )(8.975 × 10−6 )

Pcr = = = 361.5 × 103 N = 361.5 kN
L2e (7.0) 2

Pcr 361.5
Pall = = Pall = 164.0 kN 
F .S . 2.2

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 PROBLEM 10.20

Knowing that P = 5.2 kN, determine the factor of safety for the structure
shown. Use E = 200 GPa and consider only buckling in the plane of the
structure.

SOLUTION
Joint B: From force triangle,
FAB FBC 5.2
= =
sin 25° sin 20° sin 135°
FAB = 3.1079 kN (Comp)
FBC = 2.5152 kN (Comp)
4 4
π d π  18  3 4
Member AB: I AB =   =   = 5.153 × 10 mm
42 4 2 
= 5.153 × 10−9 m 4

π 2 EI AB π 2 (200 × 109 )(5.153 × 10−9 )

FAB ,cr = =
L2AB (1.2) 2
= 7.0636 × 103 N = 7.0636 kN
FAB ,cr 7.0636
F .S . = = = 2.27
FAB 3.1079
4 4
π d π  22 
Member BC: I BC =   =  
42 4 2 

= 11.499 × 103 mm 4 = 11.499 × 10−9 m 4

L2BC = 1.22 + 1.22 = 2.88 m 2
π 2 EI BC π 2 (200 × 109 )(11.499 × 10−9 )
FBC ,cr = =
L2BC 2.88
3
= 7.8813 × 10 N = 7.8813 kN
FBC ,cr 7.8813
F .S . = = = 3.13
FBC 2.5152

Smallest F.S. governs. F .S . = 2.27 

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 PROBLEM 10.25

Column AB carries a centric load P of magnitude 15 kips. Cables BC

and BD are taut and prevent motion of point B in the xz plane. Using
Euler’s formula and a factor of safety of 2.2, and neglecting the
tension in the cables, determine the maximum allowable length L.
Use E = 29 × 106 psi.

SOLUTION

W10 × 22: I x = 118 in 4

I y = 11.4 in 4

P = 15 × 103 lb
Pcr = ( F .S .) P = (2.2)(15 × 103 ) = 33 × 103 lb

Buckling in xz-plane. Le = 0.7 L

π 2 EI y π EI y
Pcr = 2
L=
(0.7 L) 0.7 Pcr

π (29 × 106 )(11.4)

L= = 449.2 in.
0.7 33 × 103
Buckling in yz-plane. Le = 2 L

π 2 EI x
Pcr =
(2 L) 2
π EI x π (29 × 106 )(118)
L= = = 505.8 in.
2 Pcr 2 33 × 103

Smaller value for L governs. L = 449.2 in. L = 37.4 ft 

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 PROBLEM 10.27

Column ABC has a uniform rectangular cross section with b = 12 mm

and d = 22 mm. The column is braced in the xz plane at its midpoint C
and carries a centric load P of magnitude 3.8 kN. Knowing that a factor
of safety of 3.2 is required, determine the largest allowable length L.
Use E = 200 GPa.

SOLUTION

Pcr = ( F .S .) P = (3.2)(3.8 × 103 ) = 12.16 × 103 N

π 2 EI EI
Pcr = Le = π
L2e Pcr

EI
Buckling in xz-plane. L = Le = π
Pcr

1 3 1
I= db = (22)(12)3 = 3.168 × 103 mm 4
12 12
= 3.168 × 10−9 m 4

(200 × 109 )(3.168 × 10−9 )

L =π = 0.717 m
12.16 × 103

Le π EI
Buckling in yz-plane. Le = 2 L L = =
2 2 Pcr

1 3 1
I= bd = (12)(22)3 = 10.648 × 103 mm 4
12 12
= 10.648 × 10−9 m 4
π (200 × 109 )(10.648 × 10−9 )
L= = 0.657 m
2 12.16 × 103
The smaller length governs. L = 0.657 m L = 657 mm 

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