Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife

Department of Civil Engineering

CVE 202 : STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

1
TOPIC 8: BUCKLING OF STRUTS AND COLUMNS
Lecturer: A. B. Fajobi
2 BUCKLING OF STRUTS AND COLUMNS (cont’d)
Summary
𝛑𝟐 𝐄𝐈
Critical load for a column : 𝑷𝒄𝒓 =
𝒍𝒆 𝟐
𝑪𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑳𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝑷
Safe Load = =
𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝑭
𝑷𝒄𝒓
Axial Stress in Columns: Qcr =
𝑨
𝒍
Slenderness ratio: k=
𝒓
End Conditions :
1. Both ends pin jointed or hinged or free or rounded
2. One end fixed and the other end free
3. One end fixed and the other pin jointed
4. Both ends fixed
 3 BUCKLING OF STRUTS AND COLUMNS (cont’d)

End Conditions
Case Final Conditions Equivalent Buckling Load
Length
Both ends hinged or pin jointed or Ɩ 𝛑𝟐 𝐄𝐈
𝛑𝟐 𝐄𝐈
1 round or free = 𝟐
𝒍𝟐 𝒆 Ɩ
One end fixed, other end free 2Ɩ 𝛑𝟐 𝐄𝐈
𝛑𝟐 𝐄𝐈
2 =
𝒍𝟐 𝒆 𝟒Ɩ𝟐
One end fixed, other end pin jointed Ɩ 𝟐𝛑𝟐 𝐄𝐈
𝛑𝟐 𝐄𝐈
3 √𝟐 =
𝒍𝟐 𝒆 Ɩ𝟐
Both ends fixed or encastered Ɩ 𝟒𝛑𝟐 𝐄𝐈
𝛑𝟐 𝐄𝐈
4 𝟐 =
𝒍𝟐 𝒆 Ɩ𝟐
 BUCKLING OF STRUTS AND COLUMNS (cont’d)
4
Axial Stress in Columns
The axial stress in the bar immediately is prone to the instant where the bar assumes its buckled
configuration is given by:
𝑃𝑟
Qcr = 𝐴
A = cross section
π2 EI 1
Qcr = ( Ɩ2 ) (𝐴)
π2 EI
=
AƖ2
I = Ar2 r = radius of gyration
π2
= EAr2
AƖ2

2 r2
= π E l2
π2 𝐸
Qcr = 𝑙
(𝑟)2

π2 𝐸
Qcr =
(slender ratio)2
5 BUCKLING OF STRUTS AND COLUMNS (cont’d)

TUTORIAL QUESTIONS
 6 TUTORIAL QUESTIONS
1. A solid round bar 60mm in diameter and 2.5m long is used as a strut. One end of
the strut is fixed while its other end is hinged. Find the safe compressive load for the
strut using Euler’s Formula. Assume E = 200GN/m2 and factor of safety = 3.

2. Calculate the safe compressive load in a hollow cast iron column (one end is
rigidly fixed and the other hinged) at 150mm external diameter, 100mm internal
diameter and 10m length. Use the Euler’s formula with a factor of safety of 5 and E =
95GN/m2.

3. A slender pin ended aluminum column 1.8m long and of circular cross section is
to have an outside diameter of 50mm. Calculate the necessary internal diameter to
prevent failure by buckling if the actual load applied is 13.6kN and the critical load
applied is twice the actual load. Take E for aluminum as 70GN/m2.

4. A steel bar of rectangular cross section 40mm by 50mm and pinned at each end
is subjected to axial compression. If the proportional limit of the material is 230kPa
and E = 200GN/m2. Determine the minimum length of which Euler’s equation may be
used to determine the buckling load.