Practical -1

Buckling of Columns

NAME : Jayasinghe. W.G.P.

INDEX NO : 050180T
SUBJECT : Mechanics of Materials I.
FIELD : Materials Science and Engineering.
GROUP : MT02
PERFORMED ON : 04-10-2010
SUBMITTED ON : 29-11-2010
Experiment: Buckling of Columns.
Aims : Understand the buckling of columns under different orientation of the section and different
end conditions.
Introduction:
When a column is subjected to a force as shown in below figure, there are three different
phenomenal happening.
i. Shorten of column.
ii. Crushed of column.
iii. Buckling of column.

During this experiment basically focus on Buckling of column. There are many parameter
effects to this event, but during this practical basically focus on four different properties. They are
applied force, length of the column, cross section of the column and end condition of the column.

Generally there is a limit for the applied force to can stand without a failure occurs. When
the length of the column is increase the stability of the column is reduce. The second moment of
initia is also mainly effect for limit of stability. When second moment of intia is high the column is
more stable. Depending on the end condition of the column is effect to the stability. More rigid the
ends are more stable the column. End point effect can be show as below.

i. Both fixed point. ii. One end fixed point. iii. Both pin joint.

Experiment:
Measure the weight limit can be stand for different length columns which have pin joints
in both ends. Calculate the critical loads of the columns under given condition in theory. Measure the
critical loads of the columns in practical.
Graphs:

Discussion:
Depend on the beam length and the beam material properties, they have different
properties. When considering same material made column characteristic graph like below. When
considering the short length column they are failure by crushing due to high rigidity to buckling. So
consider the pure crushing force mechanism, it theoretically independent on the length of the column.
When consider the buckling limit force is proportional to the inverse square of the column length.

Pure Crushing
 When a short beam (length is relatively small compare with area of the beam) are face to
gradually increasing force then it’s fail by crushing. When a long beam (length is relatively higher
compare with area of the beam) is faced to gradually increasing force they fail by buckling. The
effective length of a beam is varying with the end condition of the beam.
1. Both are pin joint,

Effective length = L

2. Both are fixed point.

L
Effective length =
2

L
 3. One end fixed point other pin joint.

L Effective length =2 L

If we considering pure buckling

When considerin g the applied force on ( F ) a column when its buckling

1
F∝ 2
Lef = Effective Length .
Lef
F ∝I I =Second moment of initia .
F ∝E E = Young ' s Moduls of the materials
IE
F∝
L2ef
IE
F = π2
L2ef

Radius of Gyration

I R

I = A R 2 , where , I 2 nd moment of Initia

" R" radius of the equal 2 nd momntum initia circle
" A" area of the column sec tion.
 A R2 E
∴F = π 2
L2ef
F π2 E
= 2
A  Lef 

 R  
 
π2 E Lef F
σ = , where γ = ; slendernes t ratio , σ = ; stress
γ R A

When the theoretical and practical compare with each other there are some deviation is can
be occur. Because of below reasons,
i. During practical we assume the column failure only by buckling, but in practical it is face
a compression also.
ii. Consider the both ends are perfectly in pin joints; but in practically it is not a perfectly in
pin joints therefore there are some issues in both ends.
iii. Initial buckling due to previous used and transportation is neglecting but in practically
there are these issues so they effect to the final result.
iv. Applied force considers acting on the center of the beam. But they are can acting in
different place respect to center.

In practical application of column must have been a rigidity to increase the stability of the
structure. Different techniques are used to do that. Some of them are given below,
i. Use hollow cross section to increase the second moment of inertia. Due to increasing the
second moment of inertia buckling failure force limit goes up. So more force can be stand
on the column.
ii. Use different such as I section to increase the second moment of inertia.
iii. Used higher young’s modulus material such a titanium, steel alloy, etc to increase the
limit of buckling failure force can be increase.
iv. Used reinforce mechanism such as concrete to increase the strength and increase the limit
of the buckling failure force.
v. Keep column length is lower as possible to increase the buckling failure force of the
column.