UNIT - V:

Columns and Struts: Columns and classification, Empirical formulae Column & Struts, Failure
of short, medium & slender column, Different end conditions of columns, Euler's theory for long
columns. Rankine - Gordon's formula. Eccentrically loaded columns, Secant and Prof. Perry's
formulae.

❖ Once a member shows signs of buckling, it will lead to the failure of the member.
❖ This load at which the member just buckles is called the buckling load or critical load or
crippling load.

❖ The buckling load is less than the crushing load. The value of buckling load is low for long
columns and relatively high for short columns.

❖ The value of the buckling load for a given member depends upon the length of the
member and the least lateral dimension.

❖ It also depends upon the types of end-constraints of the column, (hinged, fixed etc.).
Thus, when an axially loaded compression member just buckles, it is said to develop an
elastic Instability.
Column or strut is a compression member in which the length is considerably larger
compared to the cross-section dimension. Column denotes vertical member in
compression.

The terms pillar and stanchion are used for long vertical compression members.

Strut is any member in a truss (Vertical, diagonal or horizontal) subjected to compression.

Post is general term applied to a compression member

Boom is the principal compression member in crane

In case of long compression members, the load causes the column to bend and Stresses are
affected by the deflection produced. The stress due to direct compression is very small
compared to stress due to bending. This phenomenon is known as buckling.
The load at which the member just buckles is called the buckling load or critical load or
crippling load.
❖ The buckling load is less than the crushing load. The value of buckling load is low for
long columns and relatively high for short columns.
❖ The value of the buckling load for a given member depends upon the length of the
member and the least lateral dimension.
❖ It also depends upon the types of end-constraints of the column, (hinged, fixed etc.).
Thus, when an axially loaded compression member just buckles, it is said to develop an
10kN
elastic Instability.

10kN
Columns of same cross-section but different lengths
subjected to same vertical load.

10kN

10kN
COLUMN FAILURE
DUE TO CRUSHING
 ❖ The first solution for the buckling of long slender columns was published in 1757 by the
Swiss mathematician Euler (1707-1783). Although the results of this article can be used only
tor slender columns

Assumptions Made in Euler's Theory of Columns and Struts

(a) The column is initially perfectly straight and is axially loaded.
(b) Column section is uniform and material is perfectly elastic, homogeneous, isotropic and
obeys Hooke's law.
(c) Length of the column is very large as compared to the lateral dimensions.
(d) The direct stress is very small compared with the bending stress corresponding
to the buckling condition.
(e) Self weight of the column is negligible and the column will fail by buckling only.
(f) Joints are frictionless.
Euler’s Theory for long columns:

Very long columns – very low crippling load

The stress fc due to direct load is very small in comparison with the stress fb due to
buckling

Therefore the failure of these members are entirely due to buckling.

The following four cases arise:

1. When both ends of the column are pinned

2. When on end is fixed and the other is free

3. When both ends are fixed

4. When one end is fixed and the other is pinned

Both ends Hinged Fixed and free Fixed and fixed Fixed and hinged
That critical load is proportional to flexural rigidity and inversely proportional to length does
not depend upon permissible and stress of material from which the column is made.
Both ends hinged: Let P be the crippling load at which the column has just buckled.

(If both C1 and C2 are zero the column will not bend at all)
 𝑃
Hence sin (L ) =0
𝐸𝐼
𝑃
∴ L = 0, 𝜋, 2𝜋, 3𝜋, 4𝜋, … … … … . .
𝐸𝐼
Considering the least practical value,
𝑃
∴ L =𝜋
𝐸𝐼
𝜋2𝐸𝐼
P=Pcr= 𝐿2
Example1: A steel bar of rectangular cross section 30 x 50 mm pinned at each end is 2 m long.
Determine the buckling load when it is subjected to axial compression and also calculate axial-
stress using Euler's expression. E=2.0*105 N/mm2. y
30mm
Given : 30*50mm= 1500mm2

50mm
Ixx= 30*503/12= Pcr=π2*2.0*105*Iyy/20002 x
x
Iyy=50*303/12= =55510N=55.51kN
σcr=55.51*103/(50*30)=37.0 N/mm2

y
Example2: Calculate safe compressive load on a hollow cast iron column with both ends
hinged. The external and internal diameters are 120mm and 90 mm respectively and length
of the column is 9m.
Take factor of safety as 3 and E=95GPa. Also calculate the critical axial stress.

D=120mm, d=90mm
I= (π/64)*(D4-d4)=π/64*(1204-904)= 6958136.mm4

Pcr=π2EI/l2 = π20.95*105*6958136/90002 = 80543N

Psafe=80543/3= 26847N 26.85kN

σcr= 80543/A , A=π/4*(1202-902)
Critical stress=16.28N/mm2
One end fixed and the other is free: Let ’a’ be the deflection at the top end.

a
 𝑃
∴ 0= C2 , ∴C2=0
𝐸𝐼
𝑃 𝑃
@x=L, y=a, a= -a cos (L ) +a ∴ cos (L ) =0
𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼
𝑃 𝜋 3𝜋 5𝜋
∴L =2, , 2 ----------
𝐸𝐼 2

Considering the first practical value,

𝑃 𝜋
L =
𝐸𝐼 2
𝜋2 𝐸𝐼
P= 4𝐿2 = Pcr
 P Because of restraint t A and B , there will be a restraint moment Mo
𝑑2𝑦
At each end. ∴ 𝐸𝐼 2 = 𝑀𝑜 − 𝑃𝑦
𝑑𝑥
𝑑2𝑦
𝐸𝐼 + 𝑃𝑦 = Mo
𝑑𝑥2
Mo 𝑑𝑦 2
𝑃 𝑀
+ 𝑦= 𝑜
𝑑𝑥2 𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼
The solution to the above equation is
𝑃 𝑃 𝑀
y=C1 cos(x )+C2 sin(x )+ 𝑜
y 𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼 𝑃
L x x 𝑑𝑦 𝑃 𝑃 𝑃 𝑃
= 𝐶1 sin (x ) + C2 cos (x )
𝑑𝑥 𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼
𝑑𝑦
At B, x=0, y=0 and =0
x 𝑑𝑥
𝑀𝑜
∴ 𝐶1 + = 0 ∴ C1= -Mo/P
𝑃
Mo 𝑃
C2 =0 ∴ 𝐶2 = 0
𝐸𝐼
@ x=0, y=0
P 𝑃 𝑀𝑜
- Mo/P cos(L )+ =0
𝐸𝐼 𝑃
𝑀0 𝑃
∴ [1-cos(L )] =0
𝑃 𝐸𝐼)
𝑃
1-cos(L )=0
𝐸𝐼
 P

H A There will be a restraint moment Mb at the lower fixed end.

The existence of the restraint moment therefore justifies the need for a
horizontal force also at the top end A without which no bending moment can
occur at B. Hence the hinge at A must exert a horizontal force H at A.

𝑑2𝑦
y EI = -Py + H(L-x)
𝑑𝑥22
X X EI
𝑑𝑦
+ Py = H(L-x)
2
𝑑𝑥2
𝑑𝑦 𝑃 𝐻
x L + y = (L-x)
2
𝑑𝑥 𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼
The solution to the above equation is
𝑃 𝑃 𝐻
y= C1cos(x ) + C2 sin(x ) + (l-x)
𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼 𝑃
Mb 𝑑𝑦 𝑃 𝑃 𝑃 𝑃 𝐻
= -C1 sin(x ) + C2 cos(x )-
𝑑𝑥 𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼 𝑃
𝐻 𝐻
B @ x= 0, y=0, C1+ L=0, ∴ 𝐶1 = − l
𝑃 𝑃
P 𝑑𝑦 𝑃 𝐻 𝐻 𝐸𝐼
@x=0, =0, C2 - =0, ∴ 𝐶2 =
𝑑𝑥 𝐸𝐼 𝑃 𝑃 𝑃