Buckling of Struts
31 October 2024
Objectives
In this lecture, the following will be learned:
Study Euler's theory of buckling.
Examine the effect of different end conditions on the buckling load.
Introduce the concept of "effective length."
Study struts with imperfections, including:
•Eccentricity
•Initial curvature
Calculate the critical buckling load for struts with imperfections.
Present the practical curves used in various design codes.
Definition
A strut is a member of structure which is in
compression.
The term ‘strut’ is usually reserved for long slender
members that are liable to fail by buckling.
Buckling is a failure mode which happens suddenly.
Short, stocky columns fail by crushing.
Modes of failure of Struts
Perfect (Ideal) struts
(1) Straight without initial curvature.
(2) The load is concentric.
(3) Sections are isotropic.
(4) Free from residual stresses.
Pin-ended struts under axial load
Pin-ended struts under axial load
From Euler’s Theory:
Put
The solution is:
At
At
Either (not acceptable, No buckling!)
or
The value of P from (1.5) which causes the strut to
buckle is known as “Euler Crippling load”.
where:
is the minimum moment of inertia
from (3)
Direction fixed at both ends
Put
Complete solution of equation (2.4) is:
At
At
At
This is equivalent to hinged strut with Length of .
Direction fixed at one end and free at the other
M M=P
x
𝒂 𝒚
𝒙
𝑷
Put
The complete solution of equation (3.4) is:
At
At
or
This is equivalent to hinged strut with length
of
Direction fixed at one end and pinned at the other
Put
The complete solution is:
At
From (4.5) and (4.6)
𝟐 Effective Length
𝝅
𝑷 𝒆= 𝟐
𝑬𝑰
( 𝑳𝒆 )
Slenderness Ratio
𝟐
𝒓 =𝑰/ 𝑨
𝟐
𝝅
𝑷 𝒆= 𝟐
𝑬𝑰
( 𝑳𝒆 )
=
Slenderness Ratio
Struts with Imperfections
Buckling of struts with imperfections usually means
struts with initial curvature or/and eccentric loading
Struts with Eccentric Loads
Use the Euler theory.
Calculate the couple moment due to eccentricity (e).
No matter how small the load (P) and the eccentricity (e)
are, the couple (MA) will cause some bending of the column.
As the eccentric load increases, both the couple (MA) and
the axial force (P) increase, causing the column to bend
further.
Strut with an Eccentric Load
Note:
y measured from the line of action of
the load
Strut with an Eccentric Load
From Euler’s theory:
Put
The solution is:
At
At
or
Max. deflection at
This the same crippling load (but not the same failure
load !!!)
• Due to the additional moment, the strut will
always fail by compressive stress before the
Euler load is reached (i.e. will not reach )
• At ,
Struts with initial curvature
Treating as a beam with initial curvature:
,
Struts with initial curvature
,
(6.1)
(6.2)
(6.3)
Struts with initial curvature
(6.4)
The complete solution is:
(6.5)
At & At
(6.6)
(6.7)
Limitations of Euler Theory
The challenge of buckling in struts with
imperfections is not simply about determining how
long the column can stay straight and stable as the
load increases.
Rather, it’s about understanding how much
bending the column can sustain under this load
without exceeding the allowable stress and
ensuring the maximum deflection remains within
acceptable limits.
Limitations of Euler’s Theory
• The stress to cause buckling from the Euler
formula for pined-ended strut is:
• This gives the curve ABC.
• For values of the error in applying Euler’s theory
is too great to allow its use.
• If the strut fails by crushing along the line BD
(short column region)
• Allowing for imperfections of loading and strut,
the actual values at failure must lie within and
below the line ABD.
• The practical strut formulae have been devised
to cover the intermediate zone between
columns and struts and to allow for
imperfections.
Rankine-Gordon Formula
(7.1)
where is the actual stress to failure, is yield stress in
compression, is the Euler stress.
• Equation (7.1) will produce a curve which is
tangential to as tangential to as .
• For intermediate values will be less than both .
= (7.2)
For pin-ended strut:
Hence,
(7.3)
= (7.4)
Put
=
• To make allowance for imperfections, the value of
depending on the material and on the end
conditions.
• The permissible load is given by:
• Typical values of :
Mild steel 1/7500 (pinned), 1/30,000 (fixed)
Cast iron 1/1600 (pinned), 1/6400 (fixed)
Timber 1/3000 (pinned), 1/12,000 (fixed).
• A factor of safety may be included in the Rankine
formula by reducing the value of , which becomes
the working stress.
Perry-Robertson Formula
The maximum compressive stress due to bending and direct
load is:
(7.6)
h = the maximum distance from the neutral axis.
(7.7)
=
Rearranging as a quadratic in P/A:
-+ (7.8)
(7.9)
Questions???
H.W. (3)
Revise the following:
• Struts (G H Ryder)
• Examples 1,3-7
