Mechanics of Solids-I

Columns
 Columns
• The term column is applied to a member that carries a compressive

axial load.

• Columns are generally subdivided into the following three types

according to how they fail:

1) Short columns fail by crushing (e.g., yielding).

2) Long columns fail by buckling.

3) Intermediate columns fail by a combination of crushing and buckling.

• Short vertical compressive members are known as struts.

 Ideal Column
• An ideal column is assumed to be of homogeneous material of

constant cross section which is initially straight and subjected only to

axial compressive load.

• However real life column do not resembles these properties, there is

always some imperfection of material, fabrication problems and

unavoidable or accidental eccentricity of loading.

Critical Load
P Pcr

Mo M<Mo

𝛿𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝛿𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝛿𝑚𝑎𝑥

Mo M<Mo

(𝑎) (𝑏) (𝑐)

 Critical Load
• The above figure shows an idealized model of a simply supported

column. In this model, the column is initially straight.

• When the end moments Mₒ are applied, as shown in Fig.(a), the

column deflects laterally, with the maximum displacement 𝛿𝑚𝑎𝑥 being

proportional to Mₒ.

• Now suppose that we gradually apply the axial load P while at the
same time decreasing the end moments so that the maximum
displacement 𝛿𝑚𝑎𝑥 does not change, as illustrated in Fig. (b)
 Critical Load
• When the end moments become zero, as in Fig. (c), 𝛿𝑚𝑎𝑥 is

maintained by the axial load alone.

• The axial load required to hold the column in its deflected position

without any lateral loading (such as the end moments) is called the

critical load, or buckling load, and is denoted by 𝑃𝑐𝑟

• Any increase in the axial load beyond 𝑃𝑐𝑟 increases the deflection 𝛿𝑚𝑎𝑥

catastrophically, causing the column to fail.

 Critical Load
• On the other hand, if the axial load is decreased slightly below the critical

value, the opposite effect occurs, the column becomes straight.

• The critical load can thus be defined as the maximum axial load that a

column can carry and still remain straight.

• However, at the critical load, the straight position of the column is

unstable because the smallest sideways force would cause the column to

deflect laterally.

• In other words, the lateral stiffness of the column is zero when 𝑃 = 𝑃𝑐𝑟
Euler’s formula for long columns
𝑃
𝐵

𝑃 𝑦
𝛿𝑚𝑎𝑥 L
𝑦
𝑀
𝑥 𝑥

𝑦 𝑦
𝐴 𝐴
𝑃 𝑃

(𝑎) (𝑏)
 Euler’s formula for long columns
• The formula for the critical load of a column was derived in 1757 by

Leon hard Euler, the great Swiss mathematician. Euler’s analysis was

based on the differential equation of the elastic curve.

𝑑2𝑦 𝑀
=
𝑑𝑥 2 𝐸𝐼

• Figure (a) shows an ideal simply supported column AB subjected

to the axial load P.
• It is assumed that this load is capable of keeping the column in a
laterally displaced position.
Euler’s formula for long columns

• Let 𝑥 be the distance measured along the column and denote the
lateral deflection by 𝑦.
• The bending moment 𝑀 acting at an arbitrary section can be
obtained from the free-body diagram in Fig.(b).
• The equilibrium equation Σ𝑀𝐴 = 0 gives
𝑀 = −𝑝𝑦
• From equation of elastic curve

𝑑 2 𝑦 −𝑝𝑦
=
𝑑𝑥 2 𝐸𝐼

𝑑2𝑦
𝐸𝐼 2 = −𝑝𝑦 (𝑖)
𝑑𝑥
Euler’s formula for long columns
• Equation (i) is similar to the equation of simple vibrating body i.e.

𝑑2𝑥
𝑚 2 = −𝑘𝑥 (𝑖𝑖)
𝑑𝑡

• The general solution of equation (ii) is given by;

𝑘 𝑘
𝑥 = 𝐶1 sin 𝑡 + 𝐶2cos 𝑡
𝑚 𝑚

• By analogy from (i)

𝑃 𝑃
𝑦 = 𝐶1 sin 𝑥 + 𝐶2 cos 𝑥 (𝑖𝑖𝑖)
𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼
Euler’s formula for long columns
• Using boundary condition from figure (a)
• 𝐴𝑡 𝑥 = 0; 𝑦 = 0
• From (iii) 0

𝑃 𝑃
0 = 𝐶1 sin (0) + 𝐶2 cos (0)
𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼

0 = 𝐶2 cos(0)

0 = 𝐶2 (1)

𝐶2 = 0
Euler’s formula for long columns

• 𝐴𝑡 𝑥 = 𝐿; 𝑦 = 0
• From (iii)
0

𝑃 𝑃
0 = 𝐶1 sin (𝐿) + (0) cos (𝐿)
𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼

𝑃
𝐶1 sin 𝐿 =0 (𝑖𝑣)
𝐸𝐼

𝑃
• To satisfy equation (iv) either C1=0 or sin 𝐿 =0
𝐸𝐼
Euler’s formula for long columns

𝑃
sin 𝐿 =0
𝐸𝐼

𝑃
𝐿 = sin−1(0)
𝐸𝐼

𝑃
𝐿 = 0, 𝜋, 2𝜋, 3𝜋 … … … . . 𝑜𝑟
𝐸𝐼

𝑛 = 0,1,2,3 … … … . .
Euler’s formula for long columns

𝑃 2
𝑃
𝐿 = 𝑛𝜋 = 𝐿 = 𝑛2 𝜋 2
𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼

𝜋 2 𝐸𝐼
2
𝑃=𝑛 ; 𝑛 = 0,1,2,3 … … … . .
𝐿2

• The case n=0 can be discarded because it yields the trivial

case
• The critical load is obtained by setting n=1, yielding Euler’s
formula:

𝜋 2 𝐸𝐼
𝑃𝑐𝑟 = (𝐴) 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐿𝑒 = 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛
𝐿𝑒2
Discussion of Critical Loads
• Equation (A) shows that 𝑃𝑐𝑟 does not depend on the strength
of the material but only on the modulus of elasticity and the
dimensions of the column.
• Thus, two dimensionally identical slender columns, one of high
strength steel and the other of ordinary steel, will buckle under
the same critical load because they have the same modulus of
elasticity.
• The stress in the column just before it buckles may be found
by substituting 𝐼 = 𝐴𝑟² into Eq. (A), where A is the cross-
sectional area and r is the least radius of gyration of the cross
section
Discussion of Critical Loads
𝜋 2 𝐸𝐼
𝑃𝑐𝑟 =
𝐿𝑒2

𝐼 𝐼
𝑟= = 𝑟 2 = = 𝐼 = 𝐴𝑟 2
𝐴 𝐴

𝜋 2 𝐸𝐴𝑟 2
𝑃𝑐𝑟 =
𝐿𝑒2

2 2
𝑃𝑐𝑟 𝜋 𝐸𝑟
=
𝐴 𝐿𝑒2

𝜋2 𝐸 𝜋2 𝐸
𝜎𝑐𝑟 = 𝜎𝑐𝑟 =
𝐿𝑒2 𝐿𝑒 2
𝑟2 𝑟
Discussion of Critical Loads
𝐿𝑒
• Where 𝜎𝑐𝑟 is called the critical stress and the ratio is
𝑟

known as the slenderness ratio of the column.

• Thus, 𝑃𝑐𝑟 should be interpreted as the maximum sustainable
load only if 𝜎𝑐𝑟 < 𝜎𝑝𝑙 where 𝜎𝑝𝑙 is the proportional limit of the
material.
Modes shapes of column buckling
Effective length (Le)

• Effective length of the column is the length

between the point of inflection of the
deflected shape.
• It depends on the support condition of the
column.
 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒
𝑆. 𝑁𝑂 𝑆𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑆ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑒 𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ

1 𝐻𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑑 − 𝐻𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝐿 𝐿

2 𝐻𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑑 − 𝐹𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑 𝐿 0.7𝐿

 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒
𝑆. 𝑁𝑂 𝑆𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑆ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑒 𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ

3 𝐹𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑 − 𝐹𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑 𝐿 0.5𝐿

4 𝐹𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑 − 𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝐿 2𝐿
Pb#01: A 50 mm x 100 mm timber is used as a column with fixed ends. (a)
Determine the minimum length at which Euler formula can be used? (b) If
E=10 GPa and the proportional limit stress is 30 MPa, what central load can
be carried with a FOS=2, if the length of the column is 2.5 m.

(𝑎)
𝐹𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑 𝐸𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛 50 mm

𝐸 = 10 𝐺𝑃𝑎 = 10 × 103 𝑀𝑃𝑎

𝜎𝑝𝑙 = 30 𝑀𝑃𝑎
100 mm
𝐿 =?

(𝑏)
𝐹𝑂𝑆 = 2
𝐿 = 2.5 𝑚
𝑃𝑎𝑙𝑙?
 𝑎 𝐴𝑠 𝜎𝑐𝑟 < 𝜎𝑝𝑙 𝑠𝑜

𝜋2 𝐸
𝜎𝑐𝑟 = 2
𝐿𝑒
𝑟

2
𝐿𝑒 𝜋2 𝐸
=
𝑟 𝜎𝑝𝑙

𝐿𝑒 𝜋2 𝐸
=
𝑟 𝜎𝑝𝑙

𝐿𝑒 𝜋 2 × 10 × 103
= = 57.35
𝑟 30

𝐿𝑒
= 57.35 (𝑖)
𝑟
𝑏ℎ3 100 × 503
𝐼= = = 1.04 × 106 𝑚𝑚4
12 12
𝐴 = 𝑏 × ℎ = 100 × 50 = 5000 𝑚𝑚2

𝐼 1.04 × 106
𝑟= = = 14.43 𝑚𝑚
𝐴 5000

𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 (𝑖)

𝐿𝑒
= 57.35
14.43

𝐿𝑒 = 57.35 × 14.43 = 827.56 𝑚𝑚

𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝐹𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑 𝐸𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛; 𝐿𝑒 = 0.5𝐿 = 𝐿 = 2𝐿𝑒

𝐿 = 2𝐿𝑒 = 2 × 827.56 = 1655 𝑚𝑚

𝐿 = 1.655 𝑚
(𝑏)

𝜋 2 𝐸𝐼
𝑃𝑐𝑟 =
𝐿𝑒2

𝜋 2 𝐸𝐼
𝐹𝑂𝑆 × 𝑃𝑎𝑙𝑙 =
𝐿𝑒2

𝑃𝑐𝑟
𝐹𝑂𝑆 = 𝑃𝑐𝑟 = 𝐹𝑂𝑆 × 𝑃𝑎𝑙𝑙
𝑃𝑎𝑙𝑙

𝐿𝑒 = 0.5𝐿 = 0.5 × 2.5 = 1.25 𝑚

𝜋 2 10 × 103 1.04 × 106

2 × 𝑃𝑎𝑙𝑙 =
1.25 × 1000 2

𝑃𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 32.84 × 103 𝑁

𝑃𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 32.84 𝑘𝑁
Pb#02: A square steel bar is to support a load of 20 kips on a length of
10 feet. Assume pin ends determine the length of each side. Use E=
29 x106 psi.

𝑆𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑙 𝑏𝑎𝑟

ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑑 − ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛
b
𝐸 = 29 × 106 𝑝𝑠𝑖
𝑃 = 𝑃𝑐𝑟 = 20 𝐾𝑖𝑝𝑠 = 20 × 103 𝑙𝑏
𝐿 = 10 𝑓𝑡 b
𝑏 =?
 𝜋 2 𝐸𝐼
𝑃𝑐𝑟 =
𝐿𝑒2

𝐹𝑜𝑟 ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑑 − ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛; 𝐿𝑒 = 𝐿 = 10′ × 12 = 120 𝑖𝑛

3
𝜋 2 29 × 106 × 𝐼
20 × 10 =
120 2

20 × 103 × 120 2
𝐼= = 1.006 𝑖𝑛4
𝜋 2 (29 × 106 )

𝑏𝑏3
= 1.006 𝑖𝑛4
12

𝑏4 = 1.006 × 12 = 12.072 𝑖𝑛4

𝑏 = 1.86 𝑖𝑛
Pb#02: Two C 310 x 45 channels are combined together so that they have equal
moment of inertia about the principal axis. (a) Determine the minimum length
of the column having this section. Assume pin ends, E=200 GPa and
proportional limit stress is 240 MPa. (b) What safe load will the column carry
for a length of 12 m with a FOS of 2.5.

(𝑎)
𝐻𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑑 − 𝐻𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛
𝐸 = 200 𝐺𝑃𝑎 = 200 × 103 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝜎𝑝𝑙 = 240 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝐿 =?

(𝑏)
𝐹𝑂𝑆 = 2.5
𝐿 = 12 𝑚
𝑃𝑎𝑙𝑙?
𝑎 𝐴𝑠 𝜎𝑐𝑟 < 𝜎𝑝𝑙 𝑠𝑜

𝜋2 𝐸
𝜎𝑐𝑟 = 2
𝐿𝑒
𝑟

2
𝐿𝑒 𝜋2 𝐸
=
𝑟 𝜎𝑝𝑙

𝐿𝑒 𝜋2 𝐸
=
𝑟 𝜎𝑝𝑙

𝐿𝑒 𝜋 2 × 200 × 103
= = 90.69
𝑟 240

𝐿𝑒
= 90.69 (𝑖)
𝑟
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑇𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒

𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐼𝑥 = 67.4 × 106 𝑚𝑚4

𝐼 = 2𝐼𝑥 = 2 × 67.4 × 106 = 134.8 𝑚𝑚4

𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑟𝑥 = 109 𝑚𝑚

𝑟 = 109 𝑚𝑚
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 (𝑖)

𝐿𝑒
= 90.69
109

𝐿𝑒 = 90.69 × 109 = 9885 𝑚𝑚

𝐹𝑜𝑟 ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑑 − ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛; 𝐿𝑒 = 𝐿

𝐿 = 9885 𝑚𝑚

𝐿 = 9.88 𝑚
(𝑏)

𝜋 2 𝐸𝐼
𝑃𝑐𝑟 =
𝐿𝑒2

𝜋 2 𝐸𝐼
𝐹𝑂𝑆 × 𝑃𝑎𝑙𝑙 =
𝐿𝑒2

𝑃𝑐𝑟
𝐹𝑂𝑆 = 𝑃𝑐𝑟 = 𝐹𝑂𝑆 × 𝑃𝑎𝑙𝑙
𝑃𝑎𝑙𝑙

𝐿𝑒 = 𝐿 = 12 𝑚

𝜋 2 200 × 103 134.8 × 106

2.5 × 𝑃𝑎𝑙𝑙 =
12 × 1000 2

𝑃𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 739.12 × 103 𝑁

𝑃𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 739.12 𝑘𝑁