CVNG 2001 Structural Mechanics / MENG 2010 - Strength of Materials I – 2013 - 14

COLUMNS TUTORIAL SHEET

1. Find the bucking load for the sections shown in Fig. 1 which are used as pin-ended columns 5m long.
Take E = 200 kN/mm2. [Ans. 44384kN; 4840kN; 2818kN]

Fig. 1

2. (a) Derive the Euler critical load PE for a pin-ended strut of length L subjected to an axial load P.
 2E
(b) Show that the Euler critical stress for a pin-ended strut is given as  E  .
2
Where,
Le
 is the slenderness ratio
r
Le = effective length
r = radius of gyration.

3. (a) A pin-ended strut of length L has an initial curvature ao at mid-height and is subjected to an axial load P.
Derive expressions for the following:
(i) The maximum deflection
(ii) The maximum moment

4. The section shown in Fig 2 is used for a column which has a clear height of 6 m supporting an axial load of
100 kN. Using E = 200 kN/mm2 determine the Euler critical buckling load for the following end conditions:
a) Bottom pinned / top pinned
b) Bottom fixed / top free
c) Bottom fixed / top pinned.

250
t =10

10
300

t =10 Fig 3 - CHS

250
2
E = 200 kN/mm

Fig 2
CVNG 2001 Structural Mechanics / MENG 2010 - Strength of Materials I – 2013 - 14

COLUMNS TUTORIAL SHEET

5. The CHS shown in Fig. 3 has an external diameter of 7.5 cm and is 0.8 cm thick. It is used as a strut clear length
of 3 m, is pinned at both ends and supports a vertical load P = 80 kN. Determine the maximum deflection,
maximum moment and compressive stress for the following load cases:
a) The load P applied axially
b) The load P applied at and eccentricity of 3.8 cm.

6. The column section shown in Fig. 2 has a clear height of 6m and is pinned at both ends and has an initial
deflection at mid-height of 4mm. An axial load of 200 kN acts on the column. Determine the following:
a) maximum deflection
b) maximum moment
c) maximum compressive stress and sketch the stress distribution in the column section at mid-height.