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0020-7403(94)00102-2
CREEP B U C K L I N G A N D R U P T U R E OF C O L U M N S WITH
ARBITRARY S Y M M E T R I C CROSS S E C T I O N
NOTATION
INTRODUCTION
deflection. Another approach to the creep buckling was based on the concept of
a time-dependent tangent modulus similar to the theory of Shanley. An example of early
studies utilizing this method is the paper of Carlson [3]. Note that the paper [1] presented
a comprehensive list of early studies of creep buckling, including the work of Freudenthal
[4], Libove [5] and Kempner and Patel [6].
The effect of a geometric nonlinearity on the creep buckling was considered by
Zyczkowski [7] who obtained the conclusion that a finite critical time for viscoelastic
columns does not exist as a result of large deformations. However, Huang [8] showed that if
large deformations are accompanied by plastic effects, the latter result in a finite critical
time. In his paper, Huang considered the creep buckling of two models, i.e. two rigid bars
connected by a spring and an I-beam idealized as in the paper of Hoff [1]. Both geometric
and physical nonlinearities were included in the analysis, the latter being modeled by the
generalized Ramberg-Osgood law. The problem could not be solved exactly and the author
used the collocation method, similar to that employed in [7]. An important observation
made in [8] was that creep failure associated with high local stresses can occur prior to
buckling.
A variety of analytical models have been used to characterize creep of the column
material, including steady-state creep [1, 8], a hereditary constitutive law [9, 10], and an
incremental approach [11]. Other examples of recent studies of the creep buckling of
structures can be found in Refs [12-14]. In particular, Minahen and Knauss used
hereditary integrals to trace creep of initially imperfect columns [14]. The solution of the
governing Volterra integral equation was obtained in a closed form for a standard linear
solid. The authors illustrated that elastic kinematically linear models can be sufficient for
the solution of the creep buckling problem.
In the present paper, the analysis of Hoff is extended to columns of arbitrary symmetric
cross section. The solution is applicable to materials characterized by the Norton law
without a restriction on the power of the stress (as was the case in the solution of Hoff [1]).
These two generalizations should enable a designer to apply the closed form solution
presented in the paper to the majority of practical columns.
ANALYSIS
Consider a steady-state creep of a simply supported column of an arbitrary cross section
that is symmetric with respect to the centroidal axis perpendicular to the plane of buckling.
The column is compressed by a constant force, Po. The solution for a simplified case where
the cross section was idealized by two concentrated flanges separated by a web of
a negligible cross section was given by Hoff [1, 2]. This analysis was limited to the cubic
power of stress in the Norton's constitutive equation. Although, as illustrated in the section
"Numerical examples", some steels can be characterized by this form of Norton's law, it is
important to extend the solution to the general case.
According to the approach adopted in this paper, the cross section of the column is
subdivided into pairs of symmetric layers. Deformations of the column are assumed
sufficiently small so that the ratio of the transverse deflection to the coordinate of the
centroids of each of the layers adjacent to the neutral axis w/zl ~ 1. Obviously, the same is
correct for other layers, i.e. forj > 1. This assumption enables us to apply thc geometrically
linear theory of beams to each couple of layers.
The steady-state constitutive relation for the material was taken by Hoff in the form:
= (1)
where a~ and n are constants. As indicated by Hoff, this law is meaningful only if n is
a positive odd intcger. If n is an arbitrary number, Eqn (1) can be generalized:
O" n .
= sign a. (2)
O" c
Creep buckling and rupture of columns 833
An alternative expression known as the Norton law can be written in a general case in the
form:
= Blurt" sign a. (3)
Axial strains in the jth pair of layers are represented by:
et, c = to +_ zj(w,xx - Wo,x,) (4)
where the subscripts "t" and "c" denote the convex and concave layers, and eo is a uniform
axial strain. Note that an initial deviation from the perfect shape, Wo, in Eqn (4) includes
both an initial imperfection and an additional deflection received by the column at the
instant of application of a compressive load. According to [15], if ao and aoo are the
amplitudes of an initial deviation and an initial imperfection, respectively,
aoo
ao -- 1 -- Po/Pcr" (5)
Note that Eqn (5) is applicable only if the column material remains within the elastic range.
The stresses in the concave and convex layers forming the jth pair are:
(T e
A~ zjAj
(6)
Pj Mj
~(w/zA
(7)
gtc~(x/L )2 + 2 z } \ a ~ A j J 1+~ - 1-~ =0.
Note that as deflections in a convex layer exceed the distance zi, the term ( 1 - w/zj)
becomes negative. Then the analysis presented in this paper has to be modified. However, in
the present analysis, the approach is similar to that employed in the linear buckling theory.
This implies that infinitesimal deformations are assumed throughout the solution until the
phase where the buckling conditions are formulated based on infinite deflections of the
structure. Obviously, this means that the limitations of the linear buckling theory are
applicable to the present solution.
If the cross section is subdivided into 2N layers, the number of Eqns (7) is equal to N. The
additional condition that must be satisfied is
(P j) = Po. (8)
J
Obviously, if creep buckling occurs at the same elapsed time, t , , for all layers and condition
(8) is satisfied, the compatibility of deformations is assured.
The solution is obtained for a sinusoidal initial deviation from the straight position and
the corresponding buckling mode shape:
h nx
Wo = ao ~ sin -~-
(9)
h. nx
w = al(t) -~ sin "-~-.
834 V. Birmanand M. G. Magid
t = -
,,,
-
p~ln[k~o/
I l+l(h)2a2
(lO)
where
I(.,A: (11)
ks = 6 \ L ,I (acAs)a"
The ratio al/ao can be evaluated from Eqn (10):
al exp (P~ t/2ks)
ao 1+ (h/zs) 2 a ~ [1 - exp (P~ t/ks) ]
The condition of the creep buckling, i.e. the requirement that the ratio al/ao must
approach infinity, yields the critical time for the jth pair of layers:
cr = - ~ l n 1+16 . (13)
Pi
The critical time should be the same for all layers. Therefore, evaluating Pj from Eqn (13)
and using condition (8), one obtains:
11l"3V
to,= (Io ~ {k, In [1 + 16(~)2 ~-oz]j }. (14)
In the case of a column consisting of two layers, Eqn (14) is reduced to the solution of Hoff
[ll. Note that this solution remains valid, even if the amplitude of a transverse deflection
(alh/2) > zj.
2. The solution for an arbitrary constitutive law (n > 1)
As explained in the previous discussion, the ratios w/zj were assumed small. Therefore,
the terms in the square brackets in Eqn (7) can be represented by the series
1+ = l + n - + - - -t +... (15)
- - zj 2! - 3!
where higher-order terms are negligible, within the framework of a geometrically linear
theory. Accordingly, Eqn (7) becomes
t = p--Tin
ks(n) [(all zl
--
l. (18)
L\ao,, 1
Creep buckling and rupture of columns 835
In Eqn (18),
ks(n) = 2n (erdAj)"
(19)
fJ = (n - 1 )2 (n 3- 2)2 ( h )
Eqn (18) can be solved for al/ao. Then the buckling condition yields:
al - - n2 gN h \ ac / (24)
Eqn (24) can be substituted into Eqn (17) yielding the value al = aa11corresponding to the
allowable stresses. The failure time tf can be found by substituting aan into Eqn (18). Then,
applying the requirement that the time necessary for all pairs of layers to reach this
deformation must be the same, together with Eqn (8), yields
NUMERICAL EXAMPLES
The following examples illustrate the creep critical time obtained for a number of
materials that follow Norton's law. Numerous references present data on the values of
constants in Norton's law for various materials 1-19-22]. The material data for a number of
steels used in this paper are listed in Table 1. The modulus of elasticity for all steels is
E = 200 GPa. The column considered in the examples was an I-beam with the moment of
inertia about the neutral axis I = 995 x 10-6 m 4. The column was subdivided into two pairs
of layers. The first pair was formed by the sections of the web divided by the neutral axis
(A1 = 10750.2 m m 2, zl = 141.45 mm). The second pair of layers was formed by the flanges
(A2 = 8132.8 m m 2, z2 = 293.95 mm). The length of the column and the height of the cross
section were L - - 6 . 0 m and h = 0.61 m, respectively, while the amplitude of the initial
imperfection was chosen as aoo --- 0.001 m, if not indicated otherwise.
1 0.15C Annealing
0.50Mn
0.23Si 840 °C 538 1.43 x 10-11 3.04
0.032S 593 3.10 × 10- lo 3.18
0.025P 649 9.04 × 10- 9 3.03
2 0.60C Air Hardening
0.46Si at 1050 °C
0.28Mn
t6.9Cr" Tempering at
0.22Ni 800-820 °C
2.00Mo 600 3.03 x 10- a 1 2.59
0.013S
0.030P
3 0.48C Hardening at
0.68Si 1,100 °C,
0.47Mn 600 3,34 × 10 -28 10.30
0.012P Air tempering
2.24W
13.6Cr
14.5Ni
0.54Mo
The critical time is shown as a function of the test temperature and the ratio of the
compressive force to the Euler's buckling value for two different steels in Figs 1 and 2. The
logarithmic scale for the critical time used in these figures was selected to cover a larger
range of the compressive force. As follows from both figures, the critical time is very
I0
"')<.
~, -)(
",.
fcr
I
"'g'"~,..g.~...~
\
"'-aR,.
~',,.
"~"-~...~..~...~
~i x "+,
q...
"o.. ~L
, .8oc
-t-- 593°C
Po/P cr
~_ 649°C
Fig. 1. Critical time as a function of compressive forces for steel 1.
",,
'\ ,~(
b
\
\
\
fcr
",.~,
""b.,
"'b,
",i
~.
"'b--,,t.,,
~
~I ~ k
-6
0 0.05 0.1 0,15 0.2 0.25
--~¢ 6 0 0 o c
"~-" 650°C
--n- 7 0 0 ° C
Po/P CF
sensitive to the test temperature. In addition, a very significant drop in the critical time is
observed with an increase of the compressive force. Note that the results corresponding to
a very short critical time are not reliable because the assumption of steady-state creep
becomes invalid.
A similarity of the results for two steels in Figs 1, 2 raised a question on the effect of the
chemical content of the material on its critical time. This question is addressed in Fig. 3,
which presents the results for five steels at the same test temperature (600 °C). The only
exception in Fig. 3 is the curve for steel 1 that corresponds to the temperature 593°C, but
this difference in the test temperatures should be considered negligible. As follows from Fig.
3, the difference between the critical time for different materials can be dramatic. Depending
on the material, a column can resist the creep buckling for a very long time, while a change
of the material could result in collapse within minutes. Note that the very high sensitivity to
creep demonstrated by steels 3 and 5 is due to a significant difference of the properties of
these materials from other steels (see Table 1). Although the results for steels 3 and 5 are
shown in Fig. 3, they are unreliable because the assumption of a steady-state creep utilized
in this paper cannot be applied to such rapid processes.
The effect of the amplitude of the initial imperfection on the critical time is illustrated in
Fig. 4. Note that, contrary to the previous figures, the axis of ordinates used in Fig. 4 shows
time, rather than its natural logarithm. A dramatic effect of the magnitude of the compres-
sive force on the critical time noticed above is reflected again, in Fig. 4. The creep critical
time appears ~o be sensitive to initial imperfections, particularly at a relatively low compres-
sive force. This conclusion justifies a strict control of imperfections in compressed members
subjected to creep.
Finally, the effects of the constant B and the power n in Norton's law on the critical time
are shown in Fig. 5. Three curves in this figure correspond to B = 10-lO, 10-2o and 10 -3°,
while the range of the power is from n = 2 to n --- 10. An inspection of data in Table 1 yields
an immediate conclusion that the values of B and n in Fig. 5 correspond to the typical steels.
15
\\
q"----b...~..,je-
0 ~ -~,_
0-~0~ .
El.
"12~'la
--÷~Steel 2
P0/Pcr
--~ Steel 3
- o Steal4
-~- Steel 5
Fig. 3. C o m p a r i s o n of the critical time for five different steels (test temperature is 600 °C).
Creep buckling and rupture o f c o l u m n s 839
70
60 K. ,.,,
L,,,
50
40
/er (hours)
30
20
•1 - . . . . .....
........... + ...........
-"1" .......... ""'1'
0
0 0.002 0.004 0.006 0.008 0.01 0.012
'~ Po/Pcr=0.1
-t-Po/Por--0.15 ao 0
-o- p o / P c r = 0 . 2
60
m'--. k
"IL .
40
"l-.,"--., "n... ..
20 "", ,. ~ t ...
(21" .....÷,......
"'--)~,..
""..g. .
2 3 4 5 6 7 S 9 i0
As follows from Fig. 5, an increase of the power in the Norton law results in a reduction of
the creep critical time. An increase of the constant B results in a similar effect. The latter
conclusion becomes obvious, if one analyzes the data in Table 1. Indeed, the values of
B increase at higher test temperatures (see steels 1 and 4), while the change of the power
HS 37-8-D
840 V. Birman and M. G. Magid
n remains limited. Obviously, creep buckling occurs sooner, if temperature increases (as
shown, for example, in Figs 1 and 2). This reinforces the conclusions available from Fig. 5.
The conclusions obtained at other values of the compressive load were identical to those
illustrated in Fig. 5.
Note that Fig. 5 clearly indicates the limitations of the analysis based on the assumption
of steady-state creep. The materials with small values of the constant B and the power n in
Norton's law are better candidates for the steady-state analysis. This implies that the
validity of such analysis becomes questionable as temperature increases.
Another interesting observation is related to the fact that even if the magnitude of the
compressive force represents a small fraction of the Euler's buckling force, creep buckling
occurs within a very short time. These results obtained for columns with a small imperfec-
tion (aoo = 0.001 m corresponds to just 0.164% of the column height) may seem strange in
view of a traditional understanding of the effect of initial imperfections. However, they
become obvious if one accounts for the high temperature sustained during the process. As
follows from the results presented above, a decrease of temperature results in a dramatic
increase of the critical time corresponding to the creep buckling.
CONCLUSIONS
Acknowledgment--Discussions with Professor George J. Simitses of the University of Cincinnati are warmly
appreciated.
REFERENCES
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(1956).
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(1950).
5. C. Libove, Creep buckling of columns. J. Aero. Sci., 19, 459 (1952).
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Creep buckling and rupture of columns 841
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