PART ONE

Problem 1. The jib crane shown in Figure 1 has a steel boom of rectangular section 60mm ×
80mm. Determine the maximum weight W in kN that the crane can lift based on the allowable
load of the boom AB. Use the Euler formula with safety factor SF = 3 and E = 200GP a.
Neglect the weight of the structure. (Answer: 52.64kN)

1.5m
A B

3m

Figure 1:

Problem 2. Two identical, solid square rods (see Figure 2), each of a × a cross section and
length L, are placed together to form a compression member (see the cross section shown in
the figure). Assuming that one end is fixed and another is free, determine the critical load Pcr
as follows:
(a) The rods act independently as individual columns, and
(b) the rods are bonded by epoxy throughout their length so they function as a single member.
What is the effect on the critical load when the rods act as a single member?
a

2a

Figure 2:

Problem 3. The truss ABC shown in the Figure 3 supports a vertical load W at joint B. Each
member is a slender square steel (E = 200 × 103 MPa) box section with outside dimensions
100×100 mm and wall thickness 5 mm. Joint B is restrained against displacement perpendicular
to the plane of the truss. Using the safety factor Sf = 2 determine the critical value Wcr of the
load. (Answer: 57.72kN)

W
3.5m

A B
7m

5
100

100
C

Figure 3:

i
Problem 4. A straight length of steel bar, 1.5m long and 2cm × 0.5cm section is compressed
longitudinally until it buckles. Assuming Euler’s formula to apply to this case, estimate the
maximum central deflection before the steel passes the yield point at σY = 320M P a. Take
E = 2.1 × 105 M P a. (Answer: 13.8cm)
Problem 5. A horizontal beam AD (see Figure 4) is pin-supported at end A and carries a
load Q at end D, as shown in the figure. The beam is supported at B and C by two identical
pinned-end columns of length L. Each column has flexural rigidity EI. What is critical load
Qcr ? (In other words, at what load Qcr does the system collapse because of Euler buckling of
2
the columns?). (Answer: 3π4LEI 2 )

A B C D

d d 2d

L
Figure 4:

Problem 6. A rectangular beam with cross-sectional dimensions b = 0.01m and h = 0.025m

is pin-supported at ends A and C (see Figure 5). At mid-length, the beam is restrained in
the plane of the figure but is free to deflect perpendicular to the plane of the figure. If the
total length of the beam is L = 1.2m, calculate the allowable load P using a factor of safety
n = 2.4, taking into account the possibility of Euler buckling about either principal centroidal
axis. Take E = 2.2 × 105 M P a. (Answer: 5.24kN)
B
b X
A
C P

b
X
h

L/2 L/2 Section X − X

Figure 5:

Problem 7. Three identical hollow circular circular structural steel tubes shown in the Figure 6
(E = 200GP a) with inside diameter of 50mm and outside diameters of 80mm will be used for
a 3.5m long pin-ended column. Determine the critical load Pcr as follows:
(a) the tubes act independently as individual columns, and
(b) the tubes are welded together through their length, as shown in the figure, so that they
function as a single member. What is the effect on the critical load when the tubes act as a
single member? (Answer: 824/1854kN)
Y

Figure 6:

ii
Problem 8. A horizontal beam AB (see Figure 7) has a guided support at A (which prevents
the rotation) and carries load Q at joint B, as shown in the figure. The beam is also supported
at C by a pinned-end column of length L. The column has flexural rigidity EI. Answer the
following question: at what load Qcr does the system collapse because of Euler buckling of the
2
column DC? (Answer: Qcr = πLEI 2 )

A B
C

d 2d

Q
L

Figure 7:

Problem 9. The truss ABC shown in Figure 8 supports a vertical load W at joint B. Each
member is a slender circular steel pipe (E = 200GP a) with outside diameter 100mm and
wall thickness 6mm. The distance between supports is 5m. Joint B is restrained against
displacement perpendicular to the plane of the truss. Determine the critical value Wcr of the
load. (Answer: 413.73kN)

B 100mm

6mm
W
A 60◦ C
30◦
5m

Figure 8:

Problem 10. The horizontal beam ABC shown in the Figure 9 is supported by columns BD
and CE. Each column is pinned at its upper end to the beam, but at the lower ends, support
D is fixed and support E is pinned. Both columns are solid steel bars (E = 2.1 × 105 MPa)
of square cross section with width equal to 7.5mm. A load Q acts at distance a from column
BD. If the distance a = 0.12m, what is the critical value Qcr of the load? (Answer: 9kN)
Problem 11. A truss ABC supports a load W at joint B as shown in Figure 10. Each
member is a slender circular steel pipe (E = 200GP a) with outside diameter 20 mm and wall
thickness 2 mm. Joint B is restrained against displacement perpendicular to the plane of the
truss. Determine the critical value Wcr of the load. (Answer: 1413N)

iii
 Q
a

A B C

0.4m
0.35m

0.45m
7.5mm

D
7.5mm

Figure 9:

Problem 12. Consider a frame structure shown in Figure 11. Assuming that collapse occurs
by Euler buckling of the support strut AB, determine the minimum diameter of the strut.
The strut is made of steel and has circular solid cross section. Take E = 200GP a. (Answer:
28mm)
Problem 13. A beam is simply supported at ends (see Figure 12). Compute its length, given
that when it is subjected to a uniformly distributed load of 40kN/m over its entire length it
deflects by 1cm. Find out the safe axial load if this beam is used as a column with both ends
fixed (built-up). Assume a factor of safety of 4. Take E = 2.1×105 M P a. (Answer: 2.34MN)

Problem 14. An aluminium tube AB of circular cross section is fixed at the base and pinned
at the top to a horizontal beam supporting a load Q = 200kN (see Figure 13).
Determine the required thickness t of the tube if its outside diameter d is 100mm and the desired
factor of safety with respect to Euler buckling is n = 3.0. Assume E = 72GP a. (Answer:
13mm)
Problem 15. The multifaceted glass roof over the lobby of a museum building is supported
by the use of pretensioned cables (see Figure 14). At a typical joint in the roof structure, a
strut AB is compressed by the action of tensile forces F in a cable that makes an angle α = 75◦
with the strut (see figure). The strut is circular tube of aluminum (E = 72GP a) with outer
diameter d2 = 50mm and inner diameter d1 = 40mm. The strut is 1.0m long and is assumed
to be pin–connected at both ends.
Using a factor of safety n = 2.5 with respect to the critical load, determine the allowable force
F in the cable. (Answer: 99.5kN)
Problem 16. A compressed member AC of a pin-jointed truss shown in Figure 15 made of
two 140mm × 140mm × 12mm angle sections. Assuming that collapse occurs by Euler buckling
of the member AC, determine the maximum allowable value of load W with a safety factor
being 1.8. Take E = 200GP a. (Answer: 1.17MN)

iv
 q=1.8kN/m
A B 1
0
1
0
1
0
1 D
0
1
0 C B
1
0
1
0
70cm

1
0
1
0

1.8m
1
0
1
0
1
W 0
1
0
1
0
C 1
0
1
0
1
0 A
150cm 0.8m
2.4m

Figure 10:
Figure 11:

5cm
Y
2cm
100cm

X
5cm

30cm

Figure 12:

1m 1m

Q=200kN
2m

d=100mm

Figure 13:

v
 F
A
d2
α
Strut α
B

F Cable

Figure 14:

B C

X−X

12x2 [mm]
140

12
X

2m
X

140 140

D
A
2m

Figure 15:

vi
 PART TWO
SMTL301 Buckling

Problem 1. Determine the maximum magnitude of the concentrated load W that can
be applied to the the pinned truss structure without causing the compressive members to
buckle. The members of the truss are made of steel tubes having 60 mm outside diameter
and 5 mm thickness. The modulus of elasticity of steel is 210 GPa. Use a factor of safety
2 against buckling.
Answer: 31.56 kN

3m
C

3m
W

2.5 m 2m

Problem 2. A long slender structural aluminium (E = 70 GPa) flanged shape is used as

a 7-m long column. The column is supported in the x-direction at base A and pinned at
ends A and C against translation in the y and z directions. A lateral support is provided
to the column so that deflection in x − z plane is restrained at mid-height B; however, the
column is free to deflect in x − y plane at B. Determine the maximum compressive load
P the column can support if a factor of safety is 2.5 is required. In your analysis, consider
the possibility that buckling could occur about either the strong axis (i.e., the z-axis) or
the weak axis (i.e., the y-axis) of the aluminium column.
Answer: 31.56 kN

100 C
3.5 m

[mm]
z B
z
152

3.5 m

5
9

A
y

DUT: Mech. Eng. 1

SMTL301 Buckling

Problem 3. Columns AB and CD have pinned ends, are made of an aluminium alloy
(E = 72.0 GPa), and have equal rectangular cross sections of 20 mm by 30 mm. Determine
the magnitude of P that will first cause one of the columns to buckle. Assume elastic
conditions.
Answer: 9.47 kN.

500 [mm]

600
P

G B C

1000 500

1000

Problem 4. Determine the maximum intensity w of the uniform distributed load that
can be applied on the beam without causing the compressive members of the supporting
truss to buckle. The members of the truss are made of steel tubes having 60 mm outside
diameter and 5 mm thickness. The modulus of elasticity of steel is 210 GP a. Use a factor
of safety 2 against buckling.
Answer: 2.52 kN.
w

B
A
1.5m

D
C
2m 3.6m

DUT: Mech. Eng. 2

SMTL301 Buckling

Problem 5. A pin-jointed steel truss (E = 200GP a) is constructed of rectangular steel

tubes of 40mm × 20mm and thickness 3mm. Using a safety factor Sf = 2 determine the
maximum load Pallow that can be applied without buckling of any bar.
Answer: 6.67 kN.

3mm
11
00
00
11

40mm
00
11
00
11
00
11
00
11
00
11

2m
00
11
20mm

A B
D

1m 1m

Problem 6. The plane truss shown in the figure supports a load W . Each member is a
slender circular pipe (E = 180 GPa) with an outside diameter of 60 mm and wall thickness
of 4 mm. The truss is restrained against displacement perpendicular to the plane of the
truss. Determine the allowable value of load Wallow which can be safely applied without
buckling of any member. A safety factor of 1.5 is to be used. Assume that all joints are
pinned.
Answer: 14.72 kN.

W
E D
2m

B
A C
3m 2m 3m

DUT: Mech. Eng. 3

SMTL301 Buckling

Problem 7. The figure below shows two (E = 200GP a) bars of a diameter d = 10mm
on which a force F = 6kN is applied. Bars AP and BP have lengths LAP = 400mm and
LBP = 600mm. The joint P can only move vertically. Determine the factor of safety for
the assembly if the buckling to be avoided in the structure. Answer: 1.
B

60◦
P
30◦

A F=6kN

Problem 8. A pin-jointed truss (E = 200 GPa) is constructed of circular tubes of 50 mm

external diameter and thickness 4 mm. Determine the maximum load Wallow that can be
applied without buckling of any member. Use a safety factor of 2.5. Answer: 8.78 kN.

4m 4m

D E
4m

W
30◦
60◦
F
A C
4m

B
G

DUT: Mech. Eng. 4