Lecture 4

3.2 DESIGN OF
COMPRESSION MEMBERS
 Compression Members
Members in compression have a limit on their
load carrying capacity, known as the squash
load, which is equal to the yield strength
multiplied by the cross-sectional area. Long
slender struts will fail at much lower loads by
elastic buckling. However most practical
compression members have a slenderness
between these two extremes and will fail by a
combination of yielding and buckling.
 Types of compression members

Compression members are one of the basic

structural elements, and are described by the
terms ‘columns’, ‘stanchions’ or ‘struts’, all of
which primarily resist axial COMPRESSION load.
Columns are vertical members supporting
floors, roofs and cranes in buildings.
Though internal columns in buildings are
essentially axially loaded and are designed as
such, most columns are subjected to axial load
and moment.
The term ‘strut’ is often used to describe other
compression members such as those in trusses,
lattice girders or bracing.

Types of compression members

 Compression member sections
Compression members must resist buckling, so they
tend to be stocky with square sections.

Rolled, compound and built-up sections are used for

columns. Universal columns are used in buildings
where axial load predominates, and universal beams
are often used to resist heavy moments that occur in
columns in industrial buildings.

Single angles, double angles, tees, channels and

structural hollow sections are the common sections
used for struts in trusses, lattice girders and bracing.
Compression member sections
Compression member sections
 Loads on compression
members
Axial loading on columns in buildings is due to loads
from roofs, floors and walls transmitted to the
column through beams and to self weight.
Theory of columns

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 Columns
• Columns are compression members.
• There are various examples of members subjected to
compressive loads.
Various names of compression members as per application:
• Post is a general term applied to a compression member.
• Strut is a compression member whose lateral dimensions are
small compared to it’s length.
• A strut may be horizontal, inclined or vertical and this term is
used in trusses. (Tie is a tension member in a truss)
• But a vertical strut, used in buildings or frames is called
column.
• Columns, pillars and stanchions are vertical
members used in building frames.
Dr.P.Venkateswara Rao, Associate Professor,
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Dept. of Civil Engg., SVCE,Sriperumbudir
 Classification of Columns

• 1.Short column: Short column fails by crushing (compressive

yielding) of the material.

• 2. Slender column: Slender column fails by buckling or bending.

( geometric or configuration failure)

• 3. Intermediate column: Intermediate column fails by

combined buckling and crushing. (failure due to both material
crushing and geometrical instability)

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 Slender Columns
When a slender member is subjected t o an axial
compressive load, it may fail by a condition called buckling.
Buckling is a geometric instability in which the lateral
displacement of the axial member can suddenly become very
large

.
- - - : Orignal shape

: Buckled shape

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Buckled steel columns

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 Buckling examples of structural members

• 1. Building columns that transfer loads to the ground

•
• 2. Truss members in compression

• 3. Machine elements

• 4. Submarine hulls subjected to water pressure

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 Equilibrium States

Three types of equilibrium:

1. Stable equilibrium

2. Unstable equilibrium

3. Neutral equilibrium

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 Buckling Mechanism
1. Stable equilibrium:
If the load P is sufficiently small, when the force F is removed,
the column will go back to its original straight condition .

Elasticity of the column isthe

Gravity is the restoring force restoring force.
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 Buckling Mechanism (contd…)
2. Neutral equilibrium:
When the column carries critical load � � � (Increased value of the
load P) and a lateral force Fis applied and removed, the column
will remain in the slightly deflected position.

Deflection amount depends Elastic restoring force is sufficient

on magnitude of force. to prevent excessive deflection.
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 Buckling Mechanism (contd…)
3. Unstable equilibrium:
When the column carries a load which is more than critical load � � �
(Increased value of the load P) and a lateral force F is applied and
removed, the column will bend considerably and it grows into
excessively large deflection.

Even small disturbance Elastic restoring force is insufficient

causes unstable. to prevent excessive deflection.
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 Buckling Mechanism (contd…)

• Conclusion:
Depending on the magnitude of force P, either
column remains in straight position or in slight
bent position or collapse due to crack extension.

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 Euler’s long column theory

• The direct stress � 0 due to direct load is very small

compared to bending stress � � due to buckling in long
column.

• Euler derived an equation, for the buckling load of long

column based on bending stress (neglecting the effect of
direct stress).

• Buckling load cannot be used in short column.

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 Assumptions in the Euler’s theory
1. The column is initially straight.
2. The cross section is uniform throughout.
3. The ends of the column are frictionless.

4. The material is homogeneous and isotropic.

5. The self weight of the column is neglected.

6. The line of thrust coincides exactly with the axis of the column.
7. The shortening of column due to axial compression isnegligible.
8. The column failure occurs due to buckling only.

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Cases of long columns based on end conditions

1. Both end pinned

2. Both ends fixed

3. One end fixed and the other end pinned

4. One end fixed and the other end free

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 Sign conventions for bending moments

Convexity towards centre line, Concavity towards centre line,

� � is +ve � � is -ve

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 End conditions of column
Three important end conditions based on support types.

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 Case 1. Both ends hinged
• Consider a column AB of length � with its both
ends free to rotate around frictionless pins
and carrying a critical load P.

• As a result of critical loading, let the column

deflect into a buckled shape A X1 � as shown
in the figure.

• Prior to this critical load, the column is

straight.

• Smallest force at which buckled shape is P

possible is known as critical force.

Case 1. Both ends hinged (contd…)

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Case 1. Both ends hinged (contd…)

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Case 1. Both ends hinged (contd…)

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Case 1. Both ends hinged (contd…)

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2. Both ends fixed

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2. Both ends fixed (contd…)

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2. Both ends fixed (contd…)

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2. Both ends fixed (contd…)

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2. Both ends fixed (contd…)

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 3. One end fixed and other hinged

� � = Fixed end moment at A and

H= Horizontal reaction at A and Bas shown

in Figure.

Moment at Xdue to critical load P,

� = −� � + � (� − � )

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3. One end fixed and other hinged (contd…)

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3. One end fixed and other hinged (contd…)

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3. One end fixed and other hinged (contd…)

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3. One end fixed and other hinged (contd…)

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3. One end fixed and other hinged (contd…)

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4. One end fixed, other free

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4. One end fixed, other free (contd…)

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4. One end fixed, other free (contd…)

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4. One end fixed, other free (contd…)

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4. One end fixed, other free (contd…)

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Equivalent Length of a column

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Equivalent length (Effective Length)

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 Effective Length

Physically, the effective length is the distance between

points on the buckled column where the moment goes to
zero, i.e., where the column is effectively pinned.
Considering the deflected shape, the moment is zero
where the curvature is zero (from beam theory).

Zero curvature corresponds to an inflection point in the

deflected shape (where the curvature changes sign).

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Effective length for columns with common end
conditions

0.7
� � = 0.5 �
� �
2
�

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Effective length for columns with common end
conditions

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Effective length for columns with common end
conditions

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Critical stress of a column

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Critical stress of a column(contd…)

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Critical stress of a column(contd…)

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 Limitations of Euler’s formula

• 1. It is applicable to an ideal strut only and in practice,

there is always crookedness in the column and the load
applied may not be exactly co-axial.

• 2. It takes no account of direct stress. It means that it

may give a buckling load for struts, far in excess of load
which they can be withstand under direct
compression.

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 Problems

Problem 1.
A hollow circular column of internal diameter 20 mm
and external diameter 40 mm has a total length of 5m.
One end of the column is fixed and the other end is
hinged. Find out the crippling stress of the column if �
= 2 × 105 N/mm2. Also findout the shortest length of this
column for which Euler’s formula is valid taking the yield
stress equal to 275 N/mm2 .

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 Problems
Solution.

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 Problems
Solution.

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 Problems

Problem 2.
A T-section 150 mm x 120 mm x 20 mm is used as a
strut of 4 m long with hinged at its both ends. Calculate
the crippling load if modulus of elasticity for the
material be 2.0 x 105 N/mm2.

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 Problems
Problem figure:
150 mm
20 mm

120 mm

20 mm

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 Problems
• Solution :

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 Problems
Solution (contd…)
150 mm

� =34 20 mm
mm
120 mm

20 mm

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 Problems
150 mm
Solution (contd…) Y
� =34 20 mm
mm X X 120 mm
20 mm

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 Problems
Solution (contd…)

= 702.2 kN
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 Problems

• Problem 3:
• Compare the ratio of the strength of a solid steel
column to that of a hollow of the same cross-
sectional area. The internal diameter of the hollow
column is ¾ of the external diameter. Both the
column have the same length and are pinned at
both ends.

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 Problems

• Solution:

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 Problems
Solution (contd…):

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 Problems
Solution (contd…):

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 Problems (contd…)

Solution (contd…)

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