Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Tsing Yi)

Department of Construction
Laboratory Report

Experiment Title: Column Buckling Test

Date: 4 November, 2015
Time: 10:00am to 11:30am
Programme/Class: EG314101 / 2PD01
Group No.: 3

Reported by:
Signed by the
Student Name Student Number Contribution
student
1 Wong Tsz Him 140695283 20%
2 Lo Hiu Tung 140695271 20%
3 Chu Ka Long 140695295 20%
4 Woo Hin Hung 140695480 20%
5 Lo Hung Fei 140695535 20%
Total: 100%
EG314101-2PD01 IVE(TY) Column Buckling Test

Objective:
1. To study the effect of support conditions on the load carrying capacity of a slender
column.

2. To compare the experimental buckling loads Pcr of test specimens with those
predicted by the Euler equation.

Apparatus:
SM105 strut apparatus, mild steel specimen (203600 mm approx.)

Theory
Buckling load for a slender column:

(1) Pinned at both Ends

2
Buckling load, =
2

(2) Fixed at both Ends

42
Buckling load, =
2

(3) Pinned at one End and Fixed at the other End

22
Buckling load, =
2

where E is the Modulus of Elasticity.

I is the minimum moment of inertia of the column section.
L is the height of the column.

* Given that the modulus of elasticity E of specimen E of specimen is

200103 N/mm2.

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EG314101-2PD01 IVE(TY) Column Buckling Test

Experimental Procedures
(Determination of buckling loads for various end conditions)

(A) Pinned Supports at Both Ends

1. Select the required slender column sample and adjust the rear specimen beam
to the correct position and insert the dowel pins.

2. Measure the length, width and thickness by venier caliper and recorded the
measured dimensions in Table1.

3. Insert the specimen with its ends in the Vee shape specimen holders to
simulate pinned end conditions. Unscrew the loading knob to reduce the load
to zero after the specimen is inserted.

4. Adjust the position of the central cross member so that the dial gauge foot
(ball end) rests on the centre-line of the specimen at mid-span.

5. By using the load cell, apply a load P to the specimen and ensure that the
deflection is away from the dial gauge. If the deflection is towards
the dial gauge, remove the load, turn the specimen over and reload.

6. Apply load P by increments, tapping the dial gauge stem very gently whilst
applying the load and record the load and dial gauge reading for each
increment of load in table 2.

(B) Fixed Supports at Both Ends

1. Repeat the above procedures for the fixed supports.

2. Record the results in Tables 1 & 3 as appropriate.

(C) Pinned Support at One End and Fixed Support at the Other End
1. Repeat the above procedures for the support conditions as stipulated in (C).

2. Record the results in Table 1 & 4 as appropriate.

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EG314101-2PD01 IVE(TY) Column Buckling Test

Result:
1. Test Data

Table 1 - Dimensions of Specimens

Length L (mm) Width W (mm) Thickness t (mm)
Specimen 1 600 18.96 3.06
Specimen 2 550 18.97 3.09
Specimen 3 576 18.98 3.08

Table 2 - Pinned Ends

Load "P"
20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 255 255
(N)
Deflection
0 0 0 0.14 0.38 0.43 0.66 0.92 1.47 2.40 4.42 7.69 16.2 19.1
"" (div)

Table 3 - Fixed Ends

Load "P"
50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650
(N)
Deflection
0 0 0 0.01 0.03 0.06 0.09 0.12 0.16 0.20 0.25 0.32 0.40
"" (div)
Load "P"
700 750 800 850 900 950 1000 1050 1100 1120 1120
(N)
Deflection
0.48 0.60 0.76 0.97 1.27 1.69 2.55 4.33 11.27 18.2 21.12
"" (div)

Table 4 - One End Pinned and the Other End Fixed

Load "P"
30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 390
(N)
Deflection
0.06 0.10 0.15 0.19 0.24 0.29 0.36 0.46 0.56 0.65 0.78 1.01 1.31
"" (div)
Load "P"
420 450 480 510 540 570 580 580
(N)
Deflection
1.59 1.92 2.82 3.84 4.52 5.51 8.75 13.22 . .
"" (div)

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EG314101-2PD01 IVE(TY) Column Buckling Test

2. Graphical Presentation of Test Data

Table 2 - Pinned Ends

300

Pcr = 255
250

200
Load "P" (N)

150

100

50

0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Deflection "" (div)

Deflection angle Pinned Ends

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EG314101-2PD01 IVE(TY) Column Buckling Test

Table 3 - Fixed Ends

1200
Pcr = 1120

1000

800
Load "P" (N)

600

400

200

0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Deflection "" (div)

P.I.

Deflection angle Fixed Ends

Point of infection = (L-Le)/2

= (550-0.5*550)/2
= 137.5mm (from the end)

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EG314101-2PD01 IVE(TY) Column Buckling Test

Table 4 - One End Pinned and the Other End Fixed

700

600 Pcr = 580

500
Load "P" (N)

400

300

200

100

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Deflection "" (div)

P.I.

Deflection angle

Point of infection = L-Le

= 576-0.707*576
= 168.8mm (from the fixed end)

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EG314101-2PD01 IVE(TY) Column Buckling Test

Discussion of Results:
Result of Buckling Load
Theoretical (N) Experimental (N) Deviation (%)
Specimen 1 248 255 3%
Specimen 2 1217 1120 -8%
Specimen 3 550 580 5%
According to the findings obtained above, the experimental results are very close to
the theoretical results, which have only 3~8% deviation. Therefore, the results are
satisfactory to the theory.

Buckling is a mathematical instability, leading to a failure mode. When a column

buckles, it maintains its deflected shape after the application of the critical load. In
most applications, the critical load is usually regarded as the maximum load
sustainable by the column. The end conditions of a column significantly influence the
buckled shape, which can be used to compute the buckling load.

The followings are the error involved in this experiment and some suggestions for
improvement:
1. Due to the difference of the experiment skills, data may be subject to certain
random human error. For example, as we always use a steel ruler to measure the
length, the reading may subject to a factor of viewing angle. It is recommended
that the reading should be observed by at least three different people and take the
mean.
2. Sometimes the steel may buckling in a wrong direction. In our experiment, the
steel bend to the opposite way which have a digital dial gauge and the steel will
then be obstructed. It is suggested that observe the deflection of mild steel to
identify the buckling direction. If the value is in negative, which means a wrong
direction and the mild steel should be reversed until the machine shows a
positive value.

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