Third Edition

CHAPTER MECHANICS OF

10 MATERIALS
Ferdinand P. Beer
E. Russell Johnston, Jr.
John T. DeWolf
Columns
Lecture Notes:
J. Walt Oler
Texas Tech University

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 MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
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Beer • Johnston • DeWolf

Columns

Stability of Structures
Euler’s Formula for Pin-Ended Beams
Extension of Euler’s Formula
Sample Problem 10.1
Eccentric Loading; The Secant Formula
Sample Problem 10.2
Design of Columns Under Centric Load
Sample Problem 10.4
Design of Columns Under an Eccentric Load

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Stability of Structures
• In the design of columns, cross-sectional area is
selected such that
- allowable stress is not exceeded
P
   all
A
- deformation falls within specifications
PL
   spec
AE

• After these design calculations, may discover

that the column is unstable under loading and
that it suddenly becomes sharply curved or
buckles.

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Stability of Structures

• Consider model with two rods and torsional

spring. After a small perturbation,
K  2   restoring moment
L L
P sin   P   destabilizing moment
2 2

• Column is stable (tends to return to

aligned orientation) if
L
P   K  2 
2
4K
P  Pcr 
L

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Stability of Structures
• Assume that a load P is applied. After a
perturbation, the system settles to a new
equilibrium configuration at a finite
deflection angle.
L
P sin   K  2 
2
PL P 
 
4 K Pcr sin 

• Noting that sin <  , the assumed

configuration is only possible if P > Pcr.

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Euler’s Formula for Pin-Ended Beams

• Consider an axially loaded beam.
After a small perturbation, the system
reaches an equilibrium configuration
such that
d2y M P
2
   y
dx EI EI

d2y P
2
 y0
dx EI

• Solution with assumed configuration

can only be obtained if
 2 EI
P  Pcr 
L2
P
    cr 
 
 2 E Ar 2

 2E
A 2
L A  L r2

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Euler’s Formula for Pin-Ended Beams

• The value of stress corresponding to
the critical load,
 2 EI
P  Pcr 
L2
P P
   cr  cr
A A

 cr 
 
 2 E Ar 2
L2 A
 2E
  critical stress
 L r 2

L
 slenderness ratio
r

• Preceding analysis is limited to

centric loadings.

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Extension of Euler’s Formula

• A column with one fixed and one free
end, will behave as the upper-half of a
pin-connected column.

• The critical loading is calculated from

Euler’s formula,
 2 EI
Pcr 
L2e

 2E
 cr 
 Le r  2
Le  2 L  equivalent length

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Extension of Euler’s Formula

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Sample Problem 10.1

An aluminum column of length L and
rectangular cross-section has a fixed end at B
and supports a centric load at A. Two smooth
and rounded fixed plates restrain end A from
moving in one of the vertical planes of
symmetry but allow it to move in the other
plane.

a) Determine the ratio a/b of the two sides of

the cross-section corresponding to the most
efficient design against buckling.
L = 20 in. b) Design the most efficient cross-section for
the column.
E = 10.1 x 106 psi
P = 5 kips
FS = 2.5

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Sample Problem 10.1

SOLUTION:
The most efficient design occurs when the
resistance to buckling is equal in both planes of
symmetry. This occurs when the slenderness
ratios are equal.
• Buckling in xy Plane:
1 ba3 2
2 I z a a
rz   12  rz 
A ab 12 12
Le, z 0.7 L
 • Most efficient design:
rz a 12 Le, y
Le, z

• Buckling in xz Plane: rz ry
1 ab3
Iy b2 b 0.7 L 2L
ry2   12  ry  
A ab 12 12 a 12 b / 12
Le, y 2L a 0 .7 a
   0.35
ry b / 12 b 2 b

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Sample Problem 10.1

• Design:
Le 2L 2 20 in  138.6
  
ry b 12 b 12 b
Pcr   FS  P   2.5 5 kips   12.5 kips
P 12500 lbs
 cr  cr 
A  0.35b  b

 cr 
 2E


 2 10.1  106 psi 
 Le r  2
138.6 b  2
L = 20 in. 
12500 lbs  2 10.1  106 psi


 0.35b  b 138.6 b  2
E = 10.1 x 106 psi
P = 5 kips b  1.620 in.
a  0.35b  0.567 in.
FS = 2.5
a/b = 0.35
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Eccentric Loading; The Secant Formula

• Eccentric loading is equivalent to a centric
load and a couple.
• Bending occurs for any nonzero eccentricity.
Question of buckling becomes whether the
resulting deflection is excessive.
• The deflection become infinite when P = Pcr
d2y  Py  Pe
2

dx EI
  P    2 EI
ymax  e sec   1
 Pcr 
  2 Pcr   L2e

• Maximum stress
P   ymax  e  c 
 max  1
A  r2


P  ec  1 P Le 
 1  sec 
A  r 2  2 EA r 

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Eccentric Loading; The Secant Formula

P  ec  1 P Le 
 max   Y  1  2 sec 
A r  2 EA r 
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Sample Problem 10.2

The uniform column consists of an 8-ft section
of structural tubing having the cross-section
shown.

a) Using Euler’s formula and a factor of safety

of two, determine the allowable centric load
for the column and the corresponding
normal stress.
b) Assuming that the allowable load, found in
part a, is applied at a point 0.75 in. from the
E  29  106 psi. geometric axis of the column, determine the
horizontal deflection of the top of the
column and the maximum normal stress in
the column.

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Sample Problem 10.2

SOLUTION:
• Maximum allowable centric load:
- Effective length,
Le  2 8 ft   16 ft  192 in.

- Critical load,

Pcr 
 2 EI

 
 2 29  106 psi 8.0 in 4 
2
Le 192 in  2
 62.1 kips

- Allowable load,
P 62.1 kips Pall  31.1 kips
Pall  cr 
FS 2
P 31.1 kips
  all    8.79 ksi
A 3.54 in 2
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Sample Problem 10.2

• Eccentric load:
- End deflection,
  P  
ym  e sec   1

  2 Pcr  
    
  0.075 in  sec   1
 2 2 
ym  0.939 in.

- Maximum normal stress,

P  ec   P 
m  1  2 sec 

A r  2 Pcr 
31.1 kips   0.75 in  2 in    
 2 
1 sec 
3.54 in  1.50 in  2  2 2 

 m  22.0 ksi

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Design of Columns Under Centric Load

• Previous analyses assumed
stresses below the proportional
limit and initially straight,
homogeneous columns

• Experimental data demonstrate

- for large Le/r, cr follows
Euler’s formula and depends
upon E but not Y.
- for small Le/r, cr is
determined by the yield
strength Y and not E.
- for intermediate Le/r, cr
depends on both Y and E.

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Design of Columns Under Centric Load

• For Le/r > Cc
Structural Steel
 2E 
 cr   all  cr
American Inst. of Steel Construction  Le / r  2 FS
FS  1.92

• For Le/r > Cc

  Le / r  2  
 cr   Y 1  2 
 all  cr
 2Cc  FS
3
5 3 L / r 1 L / r 
FS   e   e 
3 8 Cc 8  Cc 

• At Le/r = Cc
2 2 E
 cr  1
2 Y
Cc2 
Y

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Design of Columns Under Centric Load

• Alloy 6061-T6
Aluminum Le/r < 66:
Aluminum Association, Inc.  all   20.2  0.126 Le / r   ksi
 139  0.868 Le / r   MPa

Le/r > 66:

51000 ksi 351  103 MPa
 all  
 Le / r  2
 Le / r  2

• Alloy 2014-T6
Le/r < 55:
 all   30.7  0.23 Le / r   ksi
  212  1.585 Le / r   MPa
Le/r > 66:
54000 ksi 372  103 MPa
 all  
 Le / r  2
 Le / r  2

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Sample Problem 10.4

SOLUTION:
• With the diameter unknown, the
slenderness ration can not be evaluated.
Must make an assumption on which
slenderness ratio regime to utilize.

• Calculate required diameter for

assumed slenderness ratio regime.

• Evaluate slenderness ratio and verify

initial assumption. Repeat if
Using the aluminum alloy2014-T6, necessary.
determine the smallest diameter rod
which can be used to support the centric
load P = 60 kN if a) L = 750 mm,
b) L = 300 mm

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Sample Problem 10.4

• For L = 750 mm, assume L/r > 55

• Determine cylinder radius:

P 372  103 MPa
 all  
A  L r 2
60  103 N 372  103 MPa
2
 2
c  18.44 mm
c  0.750 m 
 
 c/2 

• Check slenderness ratio assumption:

c  cylinder radius
L L 750mm
r  radius of gyration    81.3  55
r c / 2 18.44 mm
I c 4 4 c assumption was correct
  2

A c 2
d  2c  36.9 mm

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Sample Problem 10.4

• For L = 300 mm, assume L/r < 55

• Determine cylinder radius:

P   L 
 all   212  1.585  MPa
A   r 
60  103 N   0 .3 m   6
 212  1.585   10 Pa
c 2   c / 2 
c  12.00 mm

• Check slenderness ratio assumption:

L L 300 mm
   50  55
r c / 2 12.00 mm 

assumption was correct

d  2c  24.0 mm

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Design of Columns Under an Eccentric Load

• An eccentric load P can be replaced by a
centric load P and a couple M = Pe.

• Normal stresses can be found from

superposing the stresses due to the
centric load and couple,
   centric   bending
P Mc
 max  
A I

• Allowable stress method:

P Mc
   all
A I

• Interaction method:
P A Mc I
 1
  all  centric   all  bending

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