Assignment No: 02

Name: Adil Iqbal

NUST No: ME-1243
Assignment No: 02
Semester: ME - V (A)
Total No. of Words:

EULERs BUCKLING
The question at hand is as follows: Determine the critical load of an aluminum tube that is 1.5 m
long and has a 16 mm outer diameter and a wall thickness of 1.25 mm. Use E = 70 GPa.
This question has been taken from Mechanics of Materials (4th Edition) by Beer, Johnston and
DeWolf. The question number is 10.10 on page number 620.

Data

Length = 1.5 m
Outer diameter = 16 mm
Wall Thickness = 1.25 mm
E = 70 GPa

Required Critical Load on the aluminium tube is to be found out.

Practical Solution: The question in hand can be solved practically through the software
MDSolids. The first step to be taken is to decide which section to be chosen in the software; as
the question is of Eulers buckling of columns, thus from the main screen of the software the
columns section is selected. The columns tab is opened and a new window pops up which is our
primary solution window. The interface of the software and the columns section is illustrated
below:

Columns Section is selected

Select this to
define column
geometry

Interface of the Column Section

The first step is to define the shape and dimensions of the section/column under consideration.
For that, the cross-section tab is selected from the primary window. A drop down shows you two
options to choose from (select and design) and from them the select option is chosen. This
allows you to choose from predefined shapes and to alter their dimensions according to your
requirements. As we have to work on a hollow tube we choose cylindrical pipe/tube from simple
configurations.

Cylinder (Pipe/Tube) is chosen

Once the proper shape is decided and selected from the section properties module, its dimensions
are to be input into the software. The parameters to be input are the outer diameter, inner
diameter and the elastic modulus E. The input values are shown on the next page.

Once the geometry of the section is finalized, we return to the column buckling module where
the column length parameter is fed, the supports are decided and the results are computed. The
results that are obtained by the software is shown below:

Results Obtained

Thus, the critical Euler load value is equal to 0.4872 kN, while the slenderness ratio is 286.609.

Analytical Solution
Data

Length = 1.5 m
Outer diameter = 16 mm
Wall Thickness = 1.25 mm
E = 70 GPa

Pcr = ?

I=

Pcr =

* ( Co4 Ci4 )

Therefore, I =

EI
2
L
where Co is outer radius = 8 mm (0.008 m)
Ci is inner radius = 6.75 mm (0.00675 m)

* ( 0.0084 0.006754 ) = 1.586 x 10-9 m4

So Pcr =

270E91.58E-9
1.52

= 487.16 N = 0.48716 kN

Discussion
The problem of finding the critical load Pcr was done both practically and analytically and the
solution matched with the approximate answer being 0.4872 kN. This shows that the
assumptions taken by us (perfectly straight column and purely axial load) during analytical
solution were correct.
The software is very helpful for solving column buckling questions as a variety of geometry can
be selected and be analyzed. In addition to the Euler formula, we can also analyze the column
with other formulas (Perry Robertson and AISC ASD formula etc.). The critical stress against
slenderness ratio graph can be plotted/inspected and the explanation is comprehensive enough to
determine whether the Euler equation is suitable for the problem being solved. The software falls
short when calculating the deflection of the buckled column.

Critical Stress vs Slenderness Ratio Graph

Pressure Vessels (Thin/Thick Cylinders)

The question that is being solved is as follows: Determine the hoop and longitudinal stresses set
up in a thin boiler shell of circular cross section, 5 m long and of 1.3 m internal diameter when
the internal pressure reaches a value of 2.4 bar (240 kN/m2). What will then be its change in
diameter? The wall thickness of the boiler is 25 mm. E = 210 GN/m2, v = 0.3.
This question has been taken from Mechanics of Materials Volume 1 (2nd Edition) by author E.J
Hearn. The question number is 9.1 on page number 213.

Data

Length L = 5 m
Internal diameter d = 1.3 m
Internal Pressure P = 240 kPa
Wall Thickness t = 25 mm (0.025 m)
E = 210 GPa, v = 0.3

Required Hoop and Longitudinal stresses set up in the thin boiler shell and the change in
diameter.

Practical Solution: The practical solution to the given problem is found out by solving it through
MDSolids software. Therefore, from the main screen of the software, the pressure vessels section
is chosen. Once in the pressure vessel section, three types of vessels are provided (cylindrical,
open ended and spherical). The provided problem is to be solved through open ended section
type thus that type is chosen. The type is illustrated below:

The values of inside radius (=0.65 m), wall thickness (=0.025 m), internal pressure (=240 kPa), E
(=210 GPa) and v (=0.3) are input into the software. Make sure that the units of lengths, stresses
and pressures are matching with the data above. The data is input in the illustration below:

The data is computed by pressing the compute button. In the description dialogue, the required
stress and strain values are shown. The solution is illustrated in the screenshots below:

Strain Values for Open Ends Condition

Strain Values for Closed Ends Condition

Thus, the solution given by the software for the hoop stress is 6.24 MPa while the longitudinal
stress which in this case is equal to the shear stress value is 3.12 MPa. The diametrical strain is
equal to the hoop strain for a thin cylinder. For open end condition, the diametrical strain is
29.71 x 10-6 m/m while for closed ends the strain is 25.26 x 10-6 m/m. Thus,

For open end condition, the change in diameter = H x d = 29.71 x 10-6 x 1300 = 0.0386 mm.

For closed end condition, the change in diameter = H x d = 25.26 x 10-6 x 1300 = 0.0328
mm.

Analytical Solution
The data provided is

Length L = 5 m
Internal diameter d = 1.3 m
Wall thickness t = 0.025 m
E = 210 GPa, v = 0.3
Internal Pressure P = 240 kPa

Hoop and Longitudinal Stresses are to be found out as well as the change in diameter is to be
calculated.
Thus
H =

Pd
2t

240,0001.3
20.025

H =

H = 6.24 MPa

For longitudinal stress, L =

L = 3.12 MPa

Pd
4t

L =

240,0001.3
40.025

To find the change in diameter, we use the following equation,

Change in Diameter =

Pd2
4 tE

* (2-v)

Thus change in diameter =

240,0001.3
40.025210E9

* (2-0.3)

Change in diameter = 3.28E-5 m = 0.0328 mm

Discussion
The problem at hand was solved both practically and analytically. The solutions that were
calculated through the software matched those that were found out by analysis. The stress values

of hoop and longitudinal stresses were 6.24 and 3.12 MPa respectively while the change in
diameter calculated through the two methods match within the limits of analytical assumptions.
If open ends are assumed for the cylinder, the change in diameter is 0.0386 mm while if closed
ends are assumed the change in diameter is 0.0328 mm. Analytically, the change in diameter is
0.0328 mm which shows that the assumption that the cylinder is closed end is correct. The
software MDSolids provides us with an easy interface and simple solution. The solutions of
stresses and pressures are given in normal and shear terms, thus, the exact geometry and nature
of the cylinder should be inspected first and the user should have precise knowledge of the
geometry. The basic data that can be input in the software is limited to three parameters so for a
cylinder with an external and an internal pressure is difficult to be solved by MDSolids. Also, the
software is limited to calculate stress and strains and basic dimension only; thus, no change in
volume or diameter can be calculated directly.
MDSolids however provides us with immediate graphical solutions (Mohrs Circle) too which is
helpful in polishing the knowledge of a student. The failure theories can be tested and verified
through the software in an easy and quick manner. The Tresca failure theory solutions for the
above question is illustrated below

Therefore the software was very successful in developing the understanding and application of
the question and providing quick and easy solutions.

Flexure (Unsymmetrical Bending)

The question that is to be analyzed is: A C10 x 15.3 channel section is subjected to a bending
couple M = 15 in. kips having its vector at an angle = 10o to the z axis. Calculate the stresses
A and B at points A and B respectively.
This question is selected from Mechanics of Materials by Timoshenko. The question number is
example 1 on page no. 478.

Data

Channel Section C10 x 15.3

Couple Moment 15 kips. in @ = 10o

Required - Stress set up at A and B.

Solution The section is illustrated in the diagram below

Point
A

Point
B

Practical Solution: Practical analysis is done through the software MDSolids. From the main
screen, the flexure module is selected. A new window would be opened as illustrated below

First of all we need to define the section geometry. Thus, we open the cross section option and
choose a standard AISC Shape C10 x 15.3 from the section properties module. Once the section
is finalized, we choose the unsymmetrical bending tab from the flexure module. The value of
moment and the angle that it makes with the z axis is input with the proper units. The results are
then computed. The input data is shown below:

The next illustrations show the summarized results obtained by the software.

A = Max. Tension Stress = 3254.6 psi

B = Max. Compression Stress = 1923.8 psi
Angle = 79.17o

Analytical Solution
The data provided is

Channel Section C10 x 15.3

Couple Moment 15 kips. in @ = 10o

The stress values at A and B are to be calculated.

Solution From table E-3, the following data is found out

Centroid C = 0.634 in.

IY = 2.28 in4 , IZ = 67.4 in4 (as IZ in this case = I1-1 and IY = I2-2)
Flange Width = 2.60 in

For the coordinates of points A and B:

Point A yA = -0.5 * Web Length = -0.5 * 10 = -5.0 in

ZA = Flange Width centroid length C = 2.60 0.634 = 1.966 in
Point B yB = 0.5 * Web Length = 0.5 * 10 = 5.0 in
ZA = -1 * centroid length C = 0.634 in

Moments about z and y axis are given by

MY = M sin = 15 sin 10o = 2.605 in. k

MZ = M cos = 15 cos 10o = 14.77 in. k.

Thus, stress at A is A =

MyZa MzYa

Iy
Iz

2.6051.966 14.775

2.28
67.4

Thus, stress at A is B =

MyZb MzYb

Iy
Iz

2.6050.634 14.775.0

2.28
67.4

Angle is found out by = tan

-1

Iz
tan
Iy

= tan

-1

67.4
tan10
2.28

Note : Stress at A is tensile while that in B is compressive.

= 3340 psi

= 79.1o

= - 1820 psi