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LAGUARDIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

MAE101.1503
ENGINEERING LABORATORY I

EXPERIMENT 1.2.2 Compression Test
9/21/2014








Student: Larisa Vlad


Group Members:
James Valdez
Michael Vasquez











Instructor: Professor Yves Ngabonziza




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ABSTRACT:
In this experiment will study The Compression Test. This will be conducted on three
ruler with different length, width and depth. Will test the rulers for buckling. In the following
report using will determine with Eulers column formula, the critical load for each ruler.

INTRODUCTION:
When a column is compressed its length will decrease. The change in length is related to
the load applied, the length of the member, the cross sectional area and the material the structural
member is made of.

OBJECTIVE:
The objective of this experiment is to demonstrate the types of compression failures.
BACKGROUND
There are two possible types of the failures in compression members.
1. The number is short and is unable to carry the compressive load and the member fails by
crushing. Short member is called strut.
2. The member is long and under the influence of the compressive load, the member cannot
remain straight and it fails by buckling.
The critical load P
cr
to cause buckling is defines as:
P
Cr

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I-moments of inertia * for rectangular

E-modulus of elasticity
L- Length of the column

APPARATUS
3 Plastic Rulers
Platform Scales
Sponge
Test weights
PROCEDURE
Buckling Failure
measure the length, thickness (or depth) and width for each ruler
hold the plastic ruler vertically on the scale
Applied vertical force on the ruler by pressing down until it bows out of plane.
Read and recorded the load that caused buckling
Repeated the steps for the other two rulers of different length.



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RESULTS
Length inch Width (b) inch Depth (d) inch Buckling lbs.
Ruler 1 6.2515 1.0075 0.0915 7.225
Ruler 2 12.2580 1.2045 0.0810 1.600
Ruler 3 18.25 1.5610 0.117 3.150


Calculations:
Moment of Inertia

Ruler 1:

(

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Ruler 2:

(

Ruler 3:

(

Critical Loads
E for Ruler is 2.8 x 10
9
N/m
2

Or 406105.67 lb. / in
2
= 4.061 x 10
5

Ruler 1:

Ruler 2:

Ruler 3:

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Discussion of Results:
The failure occurred faster at the Ruler 2 because his length is between Ruler one and
Ruler 3 but is the ruler with the smallest depth therefore the buckling occurred under a
compressive load of 1.6 lbs. For example most columns failure occurs at a lower load than the
crushing strength; this is because most columns are relatively slender, i.e. they are long in
relation to their lateral dimensions.
A slender column or strut will fail by buckling, where a relatively large bending
distortion will develop along its length. The member does not collapse immediately but remains
in bent equilibrium unless the yield strength of the material has been exceeded.
The buckling phenomenon is an example of unstable equilibrium, whereas the behavior
of a short strut is that of stable equilibrium.
The axial load to cause buckling is called the critical load (P). For a given load, a critical
length may also be deduced. In the case of slender structural columns or struts, the critical
buckling load and the critical length depend upon a number of factors, such as the shape and size
of the cross-section, the relationship between the length of the column and its lateral dimensions
and the degree of fixity at both ends.




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CONCLUSION:
The rulers are long comparative with depth and width therefore under the influence of the
compressive load, the ruler cannot remain straight and it fails by buckling. The ruler 2 buckled at
the lowest load, followed by Ruler 3 and Ruler1.











References:
Columns http://www.jfccivilengineer.com/columns.htm
Benenson, Ganatos, Ghosn. Activities and Assignments for ENGR 10100: Engineering
Design Freshman Manuel. Third Edition. 2006.