Illustrations: Daniel L.

Schodek: Structures,
fifth edition; Pearson Prentice-Hall, 2004

Schodek fig. 7.1

Elastic Buckling

Illustrations: Daniel L. Schodek: Structures,

fifth edition; Pearson Prentice-Hall, 2004

Illustrations: Daniel L. Schodek: Structures,

fifth edition; Pearson Prentice-Hall, 2004

Schodek fig. 7.1

Schodek fig. 7.3

Metastable

Illustrations: Daniel L. Schodek: Structures,

fifth edition; Pearson Prentice-Hall, 2004

Column Buckling Formula

Pcr = 2EI
L2

Schodek fig. 7.3, 7.1

(Euler Buckling Equation)

Pcr = Critical force that initiates buckling failure

E = Modulus of elasticity of material (material stiffness)
I = Moment of inertia (geometric stiffness)
L = Unbraced column length

Notice it does NOT matter what the STENGTH

of the material is!
Its all about STIFFNESS

Effective
Length
Factors

Schodek fig. 7.5

Schodek fig. 7.10

Illustrations: Daniel L. Schodek: Structures,

fifth edition; Pearson Prentice-Hall, 2004

Illustrations: Daniel L. Schodek: Structures,

fifth edition; Pearson Prentice-Hall, 2004

Schodek fig. 7.7

Real Columns

Columns:
Design Considerations
Have significant architectural impact
due to how they affect space
Establish an organizing grid (structural
bay)
Define lengths of primary girders and
beams framing into them

Columns:
Design Considerations
Most critical structural element

Typically no redundancy
Remove a column and all above it that it
supports will fall
Controlled demolition by selected removal
of columns

Loads to columns typically computed

by tributary area

B C
30

1
3

D
30

E
9

F G
30

8 11 8

J
16

K L
16

Columns:
Design Considerations
Layout of column grid is important for
space planning
Can be difficult to coordinate with
varying needs if different floors,
especially if parking is below

21
4
7
5
25
6
7
7

21
9

10

Sometimes use transfer girders to carry

floors above
Expensive option and requires much
deeper member than regular girder

Col Tributary Area = (9+30)/2+(21+7)/2=546 ft2(2 floors) = 1092 ft2

Columns:
Intermediate-Length
Intermediate-length columns are
normally what is actually used in actual
construction
Failure mode is a combination of
crushing action and buckling action
simultaneously
Computing the allowable axial stress for
these involves complex equations

Columns:
Intermediate-Length
Fortunately, the equations can be
simplified to a table lookup based on
the column slenderness ration. (for
steel, see table C-36)
For pinned-ended columns, the capacity
can be looked up directly in tables that
relate member size to load capacity
relative to the height of the column.

Illustrations: Daniel L. Schodek: Structures,

fifth edition; Pearson Prentice-Hall, 2004

Schodek fig. 7.3

Columns:
Influences on Buckling Capacity
Ratio of length to cross-sectional area
slenderness ratio
End support conditions
Intermediate bracing

2% rule of thumb for bracing design: For

most cases bracing can be achieved with
only 2% of the compressive force in the
column!

Elastic buckling is not an issue of

strength. It is rather one of stiffness.

Columns:
Influences on Buckling Capacity
Eccentric loading dramatically reduces capacity

Creates a moment at the top of column that causes

stress needing to be resisted in addition to axial
load.

Illustrations: Daniel L. Schodek: Structures,

fifth edition; Pearson Prentice-Hall, 2004

P- (P-Delta) Effect:

As building moves laterally, this induces an

eccentric loading, even on columns concentrically
loaded.

For some materials (e.g. concrete), design for

a minimal eccentricity is mandatory by code.

Columns:
Transfer Girder
Transfer
Grider

Column Variations

BCE Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Santiago Calatrava

Bath House, Jewish Community Center, Trenton, New Jersey Louis Kahn

Hurva Synagogue, Jerusalem, Israel (unbuilt project) Louis Kahn

Illustration: Understanding Structures, Fuller Moore, WCB/ McGraw-Hill, 1999

Dulles International Airport Terminal, Chantilly, Virginia Eero Saarinen

Stuttgart Airport, Germany Von Gerkan Maarg

Stuttgart Airport, Germany Von

Gerkan Maarg

Stuttgart Airport, Germany Von Gerkan Maarg

Student Model by Caroline Addis, Philadelphia University

Rose Center for Earth & Space, NYC

Polsheck & Partners

Stanstead Airport, Essex, England

Norman Foster

Foster & Partners web site

Stanstead Airport, Essex, England

Norman Foster

Stanstead Airport, Essex, England Sir Norman Foster

Student Model by James Fickes, Philadelphia University

Stanstead Airport, Essex, England

Norman Foster

Lincoln School Library, Sprekles, CA

10

Illustration: Understanding Structures, Fuller Moore,

WCB/ McGraw-Hill, 1999

Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank, Hong Kong, China Norman Foster

Illustration: Understanding Structures, Fuller Moore, WCB/ McGraw-Hill, 1999

Illustration: Understanding Structures, Fuller Moore,

WCB/ McGraw-Hill, 1999

11

Illustration: Understanding Structures, Fuller Moore,

WCB/ McGraw-Hill, 1999

Alamillo Bridge, Near Barcelona, Spain Santiago Calatrava

Library, Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NU

Louis I Kahn

12

Sendai Mediatheque, Sendai, Japan

Toyo Ito

Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo, Japan

Rafael Violy

13

14