Columns and Struts

Buckling
Compression Members
Classification of Columns
 MODES OF FAILURE OF THE COLUMNS
The mode of failure of columns depends upon their lengths

Short Columns: A short column buckles under compression as

shown in figure and fails by crushing. The load causing failure
is called crushing load.
P

The load carrying capacity of a short column

depends only on its cross sectional area(A) and the
crushing stress of the material(σcu). The crushing
load Pu for axially loaded short column is given by
Pcu =σcu × A .
P
The safe load on the column is obtained by dividing the
crushing load by suitable factor of safety. i.e.,
Psafe =Pcu/ FS
Long columns: Long columns, which are also
called slender columns, when subjected to
compression, deflects or bends in a lateral
direction as shown in the figure. The lateral
deflection of the long column is called buckling.

The long column fails when there is excessive

buckling .ie when the load on the column exceeds
critical load. Critical load denotes the maximum
load carrying capacity of the long column.

The load carrying capacity of long column depends upon

several factors like the length of the column, M.I of its cross–
section, Modulus of elasticity of the material, nature of its
support, in addition to area of cross section and the crushing
strength of the material.
Short columns fails by crushing or yielding of the material
under the load P1
Long column fails by buckling at a substantially smaller load
P2 (less than P1).

The buckling load is less than the

crushing load for a long column
The value of buckling load for long
column is low whereas for short column
the value of buckling load is relatively
high.
 Stresses in Columns
Consider a long column of uniform cross sectional area A
throughout its length L subjected to an axial compressive load
P. The load at which the column just buckles is known as
buckling load or crippling load.

Stress due to axial load σc = P/A

Stress due to buckling

σb = ( M.ymax)/ I
= {(P.e). ymax}/ I
= ( P.e) / Z

Where e = maximum bending of the column

at the centre
 Safe Load

Safe load: It is the load to which a column is

subjected to and is well below the buckling load. It
is obtained by dividing the buckling load by a
suitable factor of safety.

safe load = buckling load / factor of safety

Stability factor: The ratio of critical load to the

allowable load on a column is called stability Factor
States Of Equilibrium
Euler’s Column Theory
Assumptions in the Euler’s Column Theory
Basic differential equation for buckling
Sign Conventions
End conditions
Types of columns
Both ends Hinged
Both ends Fixed
One End Fixed and the other end Hinged
One End Fixed and the other end Free
Equivalent Length
The Effective length: of a column with given end conditions is
the length of an equivalent column with both ends hinged,
made up of same material having same cross section,
subjected to same crippling load (buckling load) as that of
given column.
Slenderness ratio: It is the Ratio of the effective length of the
column to the least radius of gyration of the cross sectional
ends of the column.
Slenderness ratio, λ =Le /k
Least radius of gyration, k= √ Imin/A
Imin is the least of I xx and I yy
L =actual length of the column
Le=effective length of the column
A= area of cross section of the column
 Limitation of Euler’s Theory
The validity of Euler’s theory is subjected to condition that
failure is due to buckling. The Euler’s formula for crippling is
Pcr= (π 2 EI) / Le 2
But I =Ak2
∴ Pcr/A= π 2E/(Le/K)2
σcr = π2E/(Le/K)2

Where σcr is crippling stress or critical stress or stress at failure

The term Le/K is called slenderness ratio. As slenderness
ratio increases critical load/stress reduces. The variation of
critical stress with respect to slenderness ratio is shown in
figure 1. As Le/K approaches to zero the critical stress tends to
infinity. But this cannot happen. Before this stage the
material will get crushed.
Hence, the limiting value of crippling stress is the crushing
stress. The corresponding slenderness ratio may be found by
the relation
σcr = σc
∴ σc = π 2E/(Le/K)2
Le/K= √ (π2E / σc)

For steel σc = 320N/mm2

and E =2 x 105 N/mm2

Limiting value (Le/K) is given by

(Le/K)lim =√ (π2E / σc) = √ π2 × 2 × 105/320) = 78.54

Hence if Le /k < (Le /k)lim Euler's formula will not be valid.
Empirical formula or Rankine - Gordon formula
We know that, Euler’s formula for calculating crippling load is
valid only for long columns. But the real problem arises for
intermediate columns which fails due to the combination of
buckling and direct stress.

The Rankine suggested an empirical formula which is valid for

all types of columns. The Rankine’s formula is given by,

1 1 1
= +
PR PC PE

PR = crippling load by Rankine’s formula

Pc = crushing load = σc .A
PE = buckling load= PE= (π 2 EI) / Le 2
For short columns: The effective length will be small and
hence the value of PE =(π 2 EI) / Le2 will be very large.
Hence 1/ PE is very small and can be neglected.
therefore 1/ PR= 1/ Pc or PR =Pc

For long column: we neglect the effect direct compression or

crushing and hence the term 1/ Pc can be neglected.
therefore 1/ PR= 1/ PE or PR =PE

Hence Rankines formula,

1/ PR= 1/ Pc + 1/ PE is satisfactory for all types of columns
 1 1 1
 
PR PC PE
1 PC  PE

PR PC  PE
PC  PE PC
PR  
PC  PE P
1 C
PE
(I=AK2)
π 2 EI
substituting PC  σ c A and PE 
Le 2
σc A σc A σc A σc A
PR    
σc A σc A σ Le 2
σ (Le/K)2
1 2 1 2 1 2 c
1 c
2
π EI π E (AK ) π EK 2
π2 E
Le 2 Le 2
σc A
PR 
1  a (Le/K)2

PR = σc A / (1+a.λ2 )
where a = Rankine’s constant =σc / π 2E
and λ = slenderness ratio = Le/ k
Crushing Stress and Rankine’s constant for various materials
Eccentric Load On Columns
Secant Formula
1. A solid round bar 60mm in diameter and 2.5m long is used
as a strut. One end of the strut is fixed, while its other end is
hinged. Find the safe compressive load, for this strut, using
Euler’s formula. Assume E=200GN/m2 and factor of safety =3.

Solution: end condition: one end hinged, other end fixed

effective length Le = L /(√ 2)= 2.5/ (√ 2)= 1.768m

Euler’s crippling load =PE= (π2EI) / Le 2
= [π 2 × 200 × 109 × π × (0.06)4 /64] / (1.7682)
= 401.7 ×103 N =401.4 kN

Safe compressive load = PE /3 =133.9kN

2.A slender pin ended aluminium column 1.8m long
and of circular cross-section is to have an outside
diameter of 50mm. Calculate the necessary internal
diameter to prevent failure by buckling if the actual
load applied is 13.6kN and the critical load applied is
twice the actual load. Take Ea = 70GN/m2.

Solution:
outside diameter of the column =D =50mm =0.05m;
E=70 × 10 9N/m2
Inside diameter = ?
End condition: pin-ended ( hinged)

Le =L =1.8m

Euler’s crippling load =PE= π 2 (EI) / Le 2

Critical load =PE = 2 × safe load (given condition)

= 2 × 13.6=27.2kN

I= π (D4-d4) /64 = π (0.054-d4) /64

 (0.05 4  d 4)
  70 10 
2 9

27.2 103  64
1.82
d = 0.0437m = 43.7mm
3.Find the Euler’s crushing load for a hollow cylindrical cast
iron column, 15cm external diameter and 2cm thick, if it is
6m long and hinged at both ends. E = 80GPa. Compare this
load with the crushing load as given by the Rankine’s
formula, using σc= 550MPa and a =1/600. For what length
of the strut of this cross-section does the Euler’s formula
ceases to apply ?
Solution: Internal diameter = 15 – 2 × 2 = 11 cm
A = π/4[ 0.152- 0.112 ] = 81.7 × 10-4 m2.
I = π [ 0.154 - 0.114 ] /64
=17.66 × 10-6 m4 .

I min
K = 0.0465 m
A
 Euler’s critical load is given by
PE = π 2 (EI) / Le 2
= (π 2 × 80 × 10 9 × 17.66 × 10 -6 ) / 62
= 387327.14 N (higher)
Rankine’s critical load, PR = (σc A) / [1+ a (Le / K)2]
= (550 × 10 6 × 81.7 × 10 -4)/ [1+1/600 (6/0.0465)2]
= 156301.78

To calculate limiting length :

σc = 550 MPa =550N/mm2 = PE / A
550 = π 2 (EI) / A Le 2
therefore Le = 1.761m
4. A built up beam shown in the figure is simply supported at
its ends. Compute its length, given that when it subjected to a
load of 40kN per metre length. It deflects by 1cm. Find the safe
load, if this beam is used as a column with both ends fixed.
Assume a factor of safety of 4. use Euler’s formula. Take E =
210GN/m2.
300 mm

50 mm

20 mm 1000 mm
Load =40kN/m , length of the beam =?

Moment of inertia of section about X-X axis,

 300  503  20 1000 3
I xx  2   (300  50) 525 2  
 12  12
= 994166 × 104 mm4.= 99.41×10-4m

Using the relation, δ = 5 wL4

384EI

5 × 40 × 10 3 × L 4
0.01 =
( 384 × 210 × 109 × 99.41 × 10-4

L = 14.15m
Safe load, the beam can carry as column:
End condition: Both ends fixed
Le = L/2 = 14.15/2 = 7.07m
Iyy = 2[ (50 × 300 3) /12] + (1000 × 20 3 ) /12
= 22567 × 10 4 mm4 = 2.25 × 10 -4 m4

PE = π 2 (EIyy) / Le 2
= (π 2 × 210 × 109 × 2.25 × 10 -4) / (7.07)2
= 9.33 × 10 6 N = 9.33 × 10 3 kN

Safe load = Pe /F.S = 9.33 × 10 3 / 4 = 2.333 × 10 3 kN

5.From the test on steel struts with ends fixed in position and
fixed in direction the following results are obtained.

Assuming the values in agreement with Rankine’s formula ,find

the two constants
Rankine’s critical load = PR = σcA / (1+a.λ2 )
Rankine’s critical stress = PR / A
200= σc / [1+a.(70 2 ) ] …. (1)
69= σc / [1+a.(170 2 ) ] … (2)
(1) / (2) gives
200 1  a (170) 2

69 1  a (70) 2

 
2.8986 1  a (70) 2  1  a (170) 2
constant a = 1.29 × 10 -4
substituting ‘a ‘ in (1) or (2)
we get σc = 326.4 N/ mm
 Exercise problems
1. Calculate the safe compressive load on a hollow cast iron
column one end fixed and other end hinged of 150mm
external diameter,100mm internal diameter and 10m
length. Use Euler's formula with a factor of safety of 5 and
E=95GN/m2
Ans: 74.8kN
2. Bar of length 4m when used as a simply supported beam
and subjected to a u.d.l of 30kN/m over the whole span.,
deflects 15mm at the centre. Determine the crippling loads
when it is used as a column with the following end
conditions:
(i) Both ends pin jointed (ii) one end fixed and other
end hinged (iii) Both ends fixed
Ans: (i) 4108 kN (ii) 8207kN (iii) 16432 kN
 Exercise problems

3.Determine the ratio of the buckling strengths of two

columns of circular cross-section one hollow and other
solid when both are made of the same material, have the
same length, cross sectional area and end conditions. The
internal diameter of the hollow column is half of its
external diameter
Ans: 1.66
4. Calculate the critical load of a strut 5m long which is
made of a bar circular in section and pin jointed at both
ends. The same bar when freely supported gives mid span
deflection of 10mm with a load of 80N at the centre.
Ans: 8.22kN
 Exercise problems

5. A hollow C.I column whose outside diameter is 200mm

has a thickness of 20mm. It is 4.5m long and is fixed at
both ends. Calculate the safe load by Rankine’s formula
using a factor of safety of 4. Take σc =550MN/m2 ,
a=1/1600
Ans: 0.877 MN
6. A hollow cylindrical cast iron column is 4m long with
both ends fixed. Determine the minimum diameter of the
column, if it has to carry a safe load of 250kN with a factor
of safety of 5. Take the internal diameter as 0.8 times the
external diameter.
σC =550MN /m 2 a= 1/1600
Ans: D= 136mm d= 108.8mm