Experiment No: - 03

Name of Experiment: -The Deflected Shape of a Strut.

Objectives: -
To prove the theory about the sinusoidal shape of buckled struts, for each end condition (fixing).

Apparatus:
1. Weight Hanger and Weights.
2. Standard set of struts (supplied).
3. Deflection indicator
4. Load Meter
5. Cord and Knife Edge Weight Hanger
6. Weights

Fig 1: Loading and Buckling of Struts Experiment.

Theory:
A Swiss mathematician - Leonhard Euler, created a formula that predicts the maximum (critical)
axial buckling load (Pcr) of a strut.

Where K is an ‘effective length factor’ - determined by how you fix the ends of the strut. It is the ratio
of the ‘effective length’ (l) between two points, to the overall length (L) of the strut.
The equation again shows that the Young’s Modulus and cross-sectional dimensions (second moment
of area) affect the maximum buckling load. It also shows that the buckling load varies linearly with
these quantities. This allows you to see that, for example, a steel strut with an E value of 200 GPa
should buckle at twenty times the load of an equivalent wooden strut, if the wood has an E value of
only
10 GPa.

Figure: Length Squared Against Buckling Load.

The equation also shows that buckling load is inversely proportional to the square of a column’s
length. A chart of 1/L2 against buckling load will be linear (see Figure). This proves that longer
columns have lower buckling loads, but also shows that buckling load is sensitive to column length
(doubling the length will quarter the buckling load).

Figure below shows that the way you fix a strut decides its effective length. A strut with one fixed end
has an effective length of 0.7 of its total length. A strut with two fixed ends has an effective length of
0.5 of its total length. This assumes that you fix the ends firmly - any movement in the ends will affect
your calculations.
 Figure 2: Euler’s Equations for Different Strut End Conditions.

Figure 3: Shape of a Pin-ended Strut Under Load

Figure shows the buckled shape of a Pin-ended strut that is initially straight. The shape is symmetrical
(half a sine wave), and its bending moment:
M = –Pcr  y (at a distance x and a deflection y)
Also, from the standard differential equation of bending:

Figure 4: Shape of a Fixed End Strut Under Load

Figure 3 shows that a pinned-end strut under load buckles so that it forms a symmetrical curve (half
cycle sine wave). Its effective length is the full length of the strut. Figure 4 shows that a fixed-ended
strut buckles so that it forms a full sine wave, but its effective length (that corresponds with the
pinned- end strut) is only half its entire length. So, we can consider a fixed-end strut to have half the
effective length of the pinned-end strut. Figure 2, gives the Euler equation for the fixed end strut. It
shows that a fixed-end strut has four times the buckling load of an equivalent pin-ended strut.

Figure 5: Fixed and Pin-ended Strut

For a strut that is fixed at one end but pinned at the other (see Figure 5).
it is not possible to predict its effective length precisely by looking at it, but bending theory shows
mathematically that it is approximately 0.7L, so that its buckling load is slightly greater than twice
(2.04 times, more accurately) the buckling load of the pinned-end strut. Its shape is approximately
1/2 of a sine wave.

From this theory, if the pinned ends condition has a buckling load of 1 kN, the fixed and pinned end
condition has a buckling load twice this (2 kN). The fixed ends condition has a buckling load of four
times this (4 kN).

Figure 6: Buckled Shape of an Initially Curved Strut

Figure 6 shows the buckled shape of a strut that already has a displacement at its central position.
This curve is symmetrical (a half cycle of a sine wave). The deflection equation for any point along the
initial curve is:
Procedure:
1. Find the strut you need for your test and make a pencil mark at its mid-point (for example -
make a pencil mark at 375 mm along a 750-mm strut). For reference, measure the thickness
and width of the strut.

2. Connect and switch on the Load Display. Allow a few minutes for the display and the load cell
of the measuring end to warm up. Tap the load measuring end to remove any effects of friction,
then zero the display.

3. Turn the hand wheel of the loading end to give 5 to 10 mm gap behind its chuck.

4. Use the hexagon tool supplied, to loosen the four screws securing the loading end and slide it
along the base until your strut fits into each chuck for the end condition you need. Re-tighten
the four screws.
5. Fit the deflection indicator on its L-shaped holder, to the top of the base.
6. Adjust it so its tip touches your pencil mark, half-way along the strut.

7. In this experiment, your strut will only bend by a maximum of 10 mm away from the Deflection
Indicator, so adjust it in its holder, so that its tip will extend at least 10 mm when the strut
bends.
8. Create a table of results, similar to Table 1.

9. Use the large hand wheel to apply a small force to the strut. Check that its bends away from
the deflection indicator. If not, reduce the force and turn the strut around.

10. Use the large hand wheel and carefully add a small load to the strut (less than 5 N). This helps
to check the end fixings are holding the strut securely, especially if you are testing with the
pinned ends condition.

11. Zero the deflection indicator reading.

12. Move the indicator along the strut, from the halfway pencil mark towards the right in 25 mm
steps. At each step, re-tighten the deflection indicator fixings before you take a deflection
reading.
 13. When you have reached as far right as you can go, set the indicator back to the halfway pencil
marks and move in 25 mm steps to the left of the strut, recording the deflection results as
negative values (as shown in the results table).
14. Move the deflection indicator back to the halfway point. Use the hand wheel to load the strut
until the central deflection reaches approximately 6 mm. Record the load for reference.

15. Repeat steps 12 and 13, recording deflected readings for the loaded strut.

16. Repeat the experiment with fixed - fixed end conditions and strut number 3.

17. Repeat the experiment with fixed - pinned end conditions and strut number 4. Use the loading
end as the fixed end.

Beam Material: Beam

Length: Beam End Fixing Conditions: Load:
Dimensions:

Actual
Deflection Deflection Deflection Deflection
Position Reading Reading (Loaded -
(25 mm steps) (Datum) (Loaded) Datum)

0 (Mid-Point) 0

+25 mm

+50 mm

+75 mm

+100 mm

Right +125 mm
(Positive)
+150 mm

+175 mm

+ 200 mm

+ 225 mm

+ 250 mm

+ 275 mm
 -25 mm

-50 mm

-75 mm

-100 mm

-125 mm
Left
(Negative)
-150 mm

-175 mm

-200 mm

-225 mm

-250 mm

-275 mm

Results Analysis:
As shown in the results table for each test, subtract your unloaded (datum) results from the loaded
results to get the actual deflection. Be careful with your signs when doing this.

Plot a graph of deflection (vertical axis) against position along the strut (horizontal axis). Make sure
your horizontal axis has an equal negative and positive scale.

For the pinned ends condition, over your results, draw a half sine wave of the same amplitude and
cycle length. For the fixed ends condition, draw a full sine wave over your results. For the fixed - pinned
ends condition, draw a 3/4 sine wave over your results.
Do your results match the theory for sine wave shapes?
Typical Result:

Figure: Typical Results for a Pinned-Pinned End Strut

Figure: Typical Results for a Fixed-Fixed End Strut

 Figure: Typical Results for a Fixed-Pinned End Strut

Your results should show that the theory accurately predicts the deflected shape of your struts.