LESSON 2

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3. Buckling of initially straight elastic struts

3.1 Simply supported strut

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 Buckling of a
simply supported strut

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Set up equation using deflected shape

0
V=0
0 0

𝑑! 𝑦
𝑀 = 𝐸𝐼 !
𝑑𝑥 𝑀 = −𝑃𝑦

𝑑! 𝑦
𝑀 = −𝑃𝑦 = 𝐸𝐼 !
𝑑𝑥

d2y P d2y P
+ y=0 ð + a 2
y=0 where a 2 =
dx 2
EI dx 2
EI

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 d2y P
+ a 2
y=0 where a 2 =
dx 2
EI

Solution: y = A sin a x + B cosa x

where A and B are constants determined by the boundary conditions:
(a) Left hand end: y = 0 at x = 0 Þ B=0
(b) Right hand end: y = 0 at x = L Þ Asin a L = 0

Case 1. A = 0 , y = 0 . This means that the strut retains its undeformed state.
Case 2. sin a L = 0 .This equation holds when
a L = np

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 np x
a L = np (n = 1,2,3,...) ð y = A sin a x = A sin
L

p 2 EI
P= 2
The smallest
L

4p 2 EI
P=
L2

9p 2 EI
P=
L2

P P p 2 EI
Since a2 = ð a L = L2 = n2p 2
2 2
ð P=n 2

EI EI L2

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 p 2 EI
Pc = PE =
L2
Pc is called the critical buckling load or (for this special case of a simply supported
strut) the Euler buckling load.
When P is increased from 0 to PE, the column buckles and will assume a half sine
px
wave mode shape (because y = A sin ).
L
When P = PE, The entire system is
(a) in equilibrium.
(b) Amplitude A can take any value without increasing P until material fails
(c) The equilibrium is unstable.

Half a sine wave

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Comparison

Rigid rods/spring system

Rigid rods/spring system has

elasticity confined to one or more
places

• Use slightly perturbed position

to set up equilibrium equation.

• Find critical load

• Determine stability of
equilibrium paths with energy
approach

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Buckling of a simply supported and initially straight elastic strut

The entire strut is elastic.

Again we use slightly deflected strut

to establish equilibrium equation
(relating moment to curvature)

Solution other than y = 0

np x
y = A sin
L

px
y = A sin
L

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3.2 Cantilever strut

The first quadrant

-d -y

d y

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3.2 Cantilever strut

𝑑! 𝑦
𝑀 = 𝐸𝐼 !
𝑑𝑥 𝑀 = −𝑃𝑦

𝑑! 𝑦
𝑀 = −𝑃𝑦 = 𝐸𝐼 !
𝑑𝑥

d2y P d2y P
+ y=0 ð + a 2
y=0 where a 2 =
dx 2
EI dx 2
EI

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 d2y P
+ a 2
y=0 where a 2 =
dx 2
EI

Solution: y = A sin a x + B cosa x

where A and B are constants determined by the boundary conditions:
(a) Left hand end: y = 0 at x = 0 Þ B=0
dy
(b) Right hand end: = 0 at x = L Þ Aa cosa L = 0 ð cosa L = 0
dx

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 p
cosa L = 0 ð a L = (2n - 1) (n = 1, 2, 3,...)
2

P p 2 EI
Since a =
2
ð P = (2n - 1) 2
2
(n = 1, 2, 3,...)
EI 4L
p 2 EI (2n - 1)p x px
The smallest one is when n = 1: Pc = , y = A sin = A sin
4 L2 2L 2L

p 2 EI
Pc =
4 L2

A quarter of
a sine wave

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 p 2 EI
Pc = PE =
L2

Replace L with 2L,

p 2 EI
PE =
4 L2

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3.3 Fixed-ended strut

Buckling of a
fixed end strut

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V=0 V=0

𝑑! 𝑦
𝑀 = 𝑀" − 𝑃𝑦 = 𝐸𝐼 !
𝑑𝑥

d2y M0 P
+ a 2
y = where a 2 =
dx 2 EI EI
M0 M0 M
y = A sin a x + B cos a x + a 2 yp = Þ yp = 2 0
a 2 EI EI a EI
dy
= Aa cos a x - Ba sin a x
dx

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 M0
y = A sin a x + B cos a x +
a 2 EI
dy
= Aa cos a x - Ba sin a x
dx

The boundary conditions are:

M0
(a) Left hand end: y = 0 at x = 0 Þ B=-
a 2 EI
dy
(b) Left hand end: = 0 at x = 0 Þ A=0
dx
dy
(c) Right hand end: = 0 at x = L Þ -Ba sin a L = 0
dx
M0 M0
(d) Right hand end: y = 0 at x = L Þ B cos a L +
a 2 EI
= 0 ð 2 (1 - cos a L ) = 0
a EI
4p 2 EI P
Solution a L = 2np Take n = 1, a L = 2p or Pc = because a 2 =
L2 EI
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 4p 2 EI
Pc =
L2
M0 M0 2p x
A = 0, B = - y = A sin a x + B cos a x + = B (cos - 1)
a 2 EI a EI
2
L

“Turning points” or
contraflexure because M = 0

4p 2 2p x L 3L
¢¢
M = - EIy = - 2 B cos = 0 Þ x = or
L L 4 4

One sine wave

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 p 2 EI
Half a sine wave Pc = PE =
L2

p 2 EI
A quarter of Pc =
4 L2
a sine wave

One sine wave 4p 2 EI

Pc =
L2

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 3.4 Pinned/fixed boundary conditions

Buckling of a
pinned/fixed strut

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3.4 Pinned/fixed boundary conditions

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3.4 Pinned/fixed boundary conditions

𝑑! 𝑦
𝑀 = 𝑉𝑥 − 𝑃𝑦 = 𝐸𝐼 !
𝑑𝑥
d2y V P
2
+ a 2
y = x where a 2 =
dx EI EI

V V V V
y = A sin a x + B cosa x + x a 2 yp = x Þ yp = 2 x = x
P EI a EI P

dy V
= Aa cosa x - Ba sin a x +
dx P
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The boundary conditions are:
(a) Left hand end: y = 0 at x = 0 Þ B=0
V
(b) Right hand end: y = 0 at x = L Þ A sin a L + L=0
P
dy V
(c) Right hand end: = 0 at x = L Þ Aa cosa L + =0
dx P

0 = Asin a L - Aa L cosa L
This equation has two possible solutions:
Case 1. A=0
Case 2. sin a L - a L cosa L = 0 Þ a L = tan a L
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 a L = tan a L

a L » 4.493 » 1.430p

P
Because a 2 =
EI
EI (a L )
2
p 2 EI p 2 EI p 2 EI
Pc = » 2.046 2 » =
L2 L (0.7 L) 2 0.49 L2

p 2 EI
Comparing with PE =
L2

L is replaced by 0.7L
0.7L

M = - EIy¢¢ = 0 Þ x = 0.7 L

“Turning points” or
contraflexure 55
3.5 Standard solutions
IN YOUR HLT !

𝜋 ! 𝐸𝐼 𝜋 ! 𝐸𝐼 𝜋 ! 𝐸𝐼 𝜋 ! 𝐸𝐼
(2𝐿)! (𝐿)! (0.7𝐿)! (0.5𝐿)!
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3.6 Effective length

The concept of effective length is a useful way to visualise the effect of different
boundary conditions on the buckling load.

A point of contraflexure in the buckled mode: a point where the curvature of the
beam changes sign, implying that the curvature and hence the moment there is zero.

LE

If the distance between the points of contraflexure = LE

(the equivalent Euler length or the effective length), then
2
p EI
2
æLö
Pc = = PEç ÷
L2E L
è Eø

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 𝜋 ! 𝐸𝐼
(𝐿)!

𝜋 ! 𝐸𝐼
(0.7𝐿)!

𝜋 ! 𝐸𝐼
(0.5𝐿)!

𝜋 ! 𝐸𝐼
(2𝐿)!

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END OF LESSON 2

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