FEM ANALYSIS ON BUCKLING OF A BEAM

VISHAK M
SC17B057
Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology,
Thiruvananthapuram, India

1. OBJECTIVE

1. To perform FEM analysis of buckling of struts with different boundary conditions and compare the results with
theoretically obtained expressions of critical load.

2. THEORY

Euler Buckling Theory is the classical theory that begins simply by noting the internal bending moment in a loaded
and deformed column is -Py where P is the compressive load and y is the column deflection. Therefore by substituting
-Py for M in the beam bending equation given by:
d2y
EI × dx2 = −Py = M

The maximum axial load that a column can sup- port when it is on verge of buckling is critical load. Given by:
π2EI

Pcr = (KL)2

where,

– Pcr = CriticalLoad

– E = Modulus of Elasticity

– I = Least moment of inertia of cross-section area

– K = Effective length factor

This is the classical Euler buckling theory result. It gives the critical value of load P, called Pcr , above which, the
column will buckle. It is important to recognize that end constraints are critical to buckling analyses because they
alter the value of Pcr . For example, consider that the critical buckling load of the column with Fixed free boundary
conditions,
π2EI
Pcr = 4L2

Note that this value is 1/4 that given in the earlier equation for Pcr . Figure 2 shows that the buckling condition
here is exactly equivalent to the buckling of a column of twice the length and having the same boundary conditions
as in the above derivation. And this leads to
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π2EI π2EI
P
cr = 2= 4L2
(2L)

∗B.Tech 3rd Year, Department of Aerospace Engineering,IIST

1
Classical buckling analysis is independent of a ma- terial’s yield strength. This is evident in the above derivation
because at no time was stress or strain dis- cussed or compared to a material’s strength. But in fact, yielding consid-
erations should never be totally ignored. Once one obtains an estimate of Pcr from the above equation, one should
always divide it by the column’s cross-sectional area, A, to obtain a stress, Pcr
σx =
A
And compare this value to the material’s yield strength to determine if yielding will occur before buckling. This is
critical for short columns since they have inherently high Pcr values because L2 is in the denominator of the buckling
equation.

3. MODELLING AND SIMULATION

FEM analysis was carried out using ABAQUS to compare the values of buckling load obtained from theoretical
values. It was seen that the FEM results were in good accordance with theoretical results. The following inputs values
were used for the simulation:

Beam specifiacation :
• Material : Aluminium
• Young’s Modulus : 70 GPa
• Length of Beam : 10 m
• Breadth : 50 cm
• Thickness : 1 m
Mesh Element : S4R - A 4-node doubly curved thin or thick shell, reduced integration, hour- glass control, Finite
membrane strains and three different types of boundary conditions were used.
1. Fixed-free : Encastre at one end
2. Pinned-pinned : Pinned at both ends of the beam
3. Fixed-pinned : Encastre at one end and pinned at the other end
4. Fixed-Fixed beam : Encastre at both ends of the beam

4. RESULTS AND INFERENCES

Calculations for 10 m (L) strut Young’s modulus of the aluminum strut E = 70 Gpa, Moment of inertia of the strut
I = 1.3133310−11

4.1. Fixed - free

Theoretical Load (N) = 330 N
FEM Load (N) = 9.182736455 N
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Figure 1: First buckling mode shape shape for fixed-free beam

Figure 2: Second buckling mode shape shape for fixed-free beam

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Figure 3: Third buckling mode shape shape for fixed-free beam

Figure 4: Fourth buckling mode shape shape for fixed-free beam

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Figure 5: First buckling mode shape shape for pinned-pinned beam

4.2. Pin - Pin condition

Theoretical Load (N) = 380 N
FEM Load (N) = 6.925207756 N

π2EI2 π269 × 1.313330.47 × 10−2 = 40.4882N

Pcr = L = 2
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Figure 6: Second buckling mode shape shape for pinned-pinned beam

Figure 7: Third buckling mode shape shape for pinned-pinned beam

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Figure 8: Fourth buckling mode shape shape for pinned-pinned beam

Figure 9: First buckling mode shape shape for pinned-fixed beam

4.3. Pin - Fixed condition

Theoretical Load (N) = 430 N
FEM Load (N) = 5.408328826 N
= × Lπ22 EI = 2 × π269 ×0.45 1.313332 × 10−2
= 88.3342N 2

4.4. Fixed - Fixed condition

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Theoretical Load (N) = 133 N

FEM Load (N) = 4.340277778 N

P 4 × π2EI = 4 × π2 × 70 × 1.313332 × 10−2 = 193.4848N

cr =
L2 0.43

Figure 10: Second buckling mode shape shape for pinned-fixed beam
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Figure 11: Third buckling mode shape shape for pinned-fixed beam

Figure 12: Fourth buckling mode shape shape for pinned-fixed beam
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Figure 13: First buckling mode shape shape for fixed-fixed beam

Figure 14: Second buckling mode shape shape for fixed-fixed beam
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Figure 15: Third buckling mode shape shape for fixed-fixed beam
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Figure 16: fourth buckling mode shape shape for fixed-fixed beam