CHAPTER MECHANICS OF

SOLIDS
10 Columns

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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Columns

Stability of Structures
Eulers Formula for Pin-Ended Beams
Extension of Eulers Formula
Sample Problem 10.1
Design of Columns Under Centric Load
Sample Problem 10.4
Design of Columns Under an Eccentric Load

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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
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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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Stability of Structures

Consider model with two rods and torsional

spring. After a small perturbation,
K 2 restoring moment
L L
P sin P destabiliz ing 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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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
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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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Eulers 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
y0
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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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Eulers 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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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Extension of Eulers 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

Eulers formula,
2 EI
Pcr
L2e

2E
cr
Le r 2
Le 2 L equivalent length

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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Extension of Eulers Formula

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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
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 ba 3 2
2 I a a
rz 12
z 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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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Sample Problem 10.1
Design:
Le 2L 220 in 138.6

ry b 12 b 12 b
Pcr FS P 2.55 kips 12.5 kips
Pcr 12500 lbs
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


E = 10.1 x 106 psi
0.35b b 138.6 b 2
P = 5 kips b 1.620 in.
a 0.35b 0.567 in.
FS = 2.5
a/b = 0.35

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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
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
Eulers 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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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Design of Columns Under Centric Load
For Le/r > Cc
Structural Steel
2E cr
cr all
American Inst. of Steel Construction Le / r 2 FS
FS 1.92

For Le/r < Cc

Le / r 2 cr
cr Y 1 2
all
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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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Design of Columns Under Centric Load
Alloy 6061-T6
Aluminum Le/r < 66:
Aluminum Association, Inc. all 20.2 0.126Le / r ksi
139 0.868Le / 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 0.23Le / r ksi
212 1.585Le / r MPa
Le/r > 55:
54000 ksi 372 103 MPa
all
Le / r 2
Le / r 2

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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
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 necessary.
Using the aluminum alloy2014-T6,
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
c 18.44 mm
c 2
0.750 m
2

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

A c 2 2
d 2c 36.9 mm

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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
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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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
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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