Mechanics of Materials Lab

Lab Report 5

Name: Malik Muhammad Ibrahim

Roll No: 211192

Class: Bemts-F-21-IV-B

Date: April 20th ,2023

Submitted to: Sir Hassan Nawaz

 AIR UNIVERSITY
Department of Mechatronics Engineering
Experiment # 13

Objective:
To determine the Euler’s Buckling Load for different cases.

Apparatus:
Euler Strut theory demonstrator, weights, Digital Dial Gauge.

Theory:
Bucking plays an important part in virtually all areas of engineering for example columns and
supports in construction engineering and steel construction, Piston rods in hydraulic cylinders,
Elevating screw in lifting gears, Push rods and connecting rods in engine construction. If
compressive load is applied on a column, the member may fail either by crushing or by buckling
depends on its material, cross sectional area and length. If member is considerable long in
comparison to its lateral dimension it will fail by buckling. If member shows signs of buckling the
member leads to failure with small increase in load. The load at which the member just buckles is
called as crushing load. The so-called buckling length is responsible for the buckling load. The
buckling length is governed by method of mounting at the ends of the buckling column.

Formula:
The buckling load Fcrit to be expected for the various Euler cases can be calculated on the
basis of the following formulae.

2
The modulus of elasticity E of steel is 210000 N/mm . For the rectangular cross section
of 0.5x12 mm of the buckling column, the area moment of inertia Iy is

Procedure:
1. Pin a graph paper on the board behind the column.
2. Apply the load at the top of column increasing gradually. At certain stages of loading
the columns, show abnormal deflections and gives the buckling load.
3. Note the buckling load for each of four columns.
4. Trace the deflected shapes of the column over the paper. Mark the points of change
of curvature of the curves and measure the effective length.
5. Calculate the theoretical effective length and thus buckling load by the expressions given
above and compare them with the observed values.
Observations and Calculations:

Sr. No. End Conditions Euler’s Buckling Load Effective Length

(N) (mm)
Theoretical Observed Theoretical Observed
1. Both ends fixed 32 25 90 85
2. One end fixed 16.32 15 126
and other pinned 126
3. Both ends 7.99 7
pinned 180 180
4. One end fixed 2 2
and other free 360

Figure:

Conclusion:
Eulers Buckling effect was observed under different loads and different types of deformations
were observed.
Errors:
The errors that we faced were
 Parallax error (taking reading error)
 Environmental error (uneven balance of the setup)
 Human error (calculations and mathematical errors)