Ch 13.

Buckling of Columns
Columns – long slender members subjected to axial compressive
force. Lateral columns deflection is called buckling. Often buckling can
lead to catastrophic failure.

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Stability of Columns
• In the design of columns, cross-sectional area is
selected such that
- allowable stress is not exceeded
P
σ= ≤ σ all
A
- deformation falls within specifications
PL
δ= ≤ δ 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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Buckling Model

• Consider model with two rods and a spring.

After a small perturbation, the restoring force is
F=k∆, while the applied force P causes two
horizontal components P tan θ.
For small θ ∆ = θL/2.
If the restoring force is greater than the disturbing
force (kθL/2 > 2Pθ), then
P< kL/2 is stable equilibrium and
P>kL/2 is unstable equilibrium (will not restore the
original shape)

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Buckling
• 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 θ = K (2θ )
2
PL P θ
= =
4 K Pcr sin θ

• Noting that sinθ < θ , the assumed

configuration is only possible if P > Pcr.

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 Ideal Column. Slenderness Ratio
EI d2vv/dx2=M gives Pcr=pi2EI/L2, see page 672

r – radius of gyration of the cross-sectional area

r=sqrt(I/A) Le=KL
σcr =π2E/(KL/r)2 for σcr< σys

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 Effective Length Factor

π 2 EI
Pcr = 2
(KL)

π 2E
σ cr =
( KL / r )2

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Euler’s Formula for Pinned 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
+ y=0
dx EI

• Solution with assumed configuration

can only be obtained if
π 2 EI
P > Pcr =
L2
P
σ = > σ cr =
π 2 E Ar 2
=
( )
π 2E
2
A L A (L r )2

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Euler’s Formula
• The value of stress corresponding to
the critical load,
π 2 EI
P > Pcr =
L2
P P
σ= > σ cr = cr
A A

σ cr =
( )
π 2 E Ar 2
L2 A
π 2E
= 2
= critical stress
(L r )
L
= slenderness ratio
r

• Preceding analysis is limited to

centric loadings.

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Important Points

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Example 13.1

12

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Fixed End
• 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

Euler’s formula,
π 2 EI
Pcr =
L2e

π 2E
σ cr =
(Le r )2
Le = 2 L = equivalent length

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Buckling Modes

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Maximum Deflection
Symmetrically supported beams: max
deflection is in the middle of the beam length

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Eccentric Loading. Secant Formula
• Eccentric loading is equivalent to a centric
load and a couple.
• Bending occurs for any nonzero eccentricity.
Question of buckling becomes whether the
resulting deflection is excessive.
• The deflection become infinite when P = Pcr
d2y − Py − Pe
2
=
dx EI
 π P   π 2 EI
ymax = e sec  − 1
 Pcr =
  2 Pcr   L2e
• Maximum stress
P  ( ymax + e )c 
σ max = 1+ 
A r2 
P  ec  1 P Le 
= 1 + 2 sec 
A r  2 EA r 

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Secant Formula

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Design: Eccentric Loading
• 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,
σ = σ centric + σ bending
P Mc
σ max = +
A I

• Allowable stress method:

P Mc
+ ≤ σ all
A I
• Interaction method:
P A Mc I
+ ≤1
(σ all )centric (σ all )bending

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Secant Formula

P  ec  1 P Le 
σ max = σ Y = 1 + 2 sec 
A r  2 EA r 

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 Example
The uniform column consists of an 8-ft section
of structural tubing having the cross-section
shown.

a) Using Euler’s formula and a factor of safety

of two, determine the allowable centric load
for the column and the corresponding
normal stress.
b) Assuming that the allowable load, found in
part a, is applied at a point 0.75 in. from the
E = 29 × 106 psi. geometric axis of the column, determine the
horizontal deflection of the top of the
column and the maximum normal stress in
the column.

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Continued
SOLUTION:
• Maximum allowable centric load:
- Effective length,
Le = 2(8 ft ) = 16 ft = 192 in.

- Critical load,

Pcr =
π 2 EI
=
( )(
π 2 29 × 106 psi 8.0 in 4 )
2
Le (192 in )2
= 62.1 kips
- Allowable load,
P 62.1 kips
Pall = cr = Pall = 31.1 kips
FS 2
Pall 31.1 kips
σ= = σ = 8.79 ksi
A 3.54 in 2

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Continued
• Eccentric load:
- End deflection,
 π P  
ym = e sec  − 1

  2 Pcr  
  π  
= (0.075 in )sec  − 1
  2 2  
ym = 0.939 in.
- Maximum normal stress,
P  ec  π P 
σm = 1 + 2 sec 

A r  2 Pcr 
31.1 kips  (0.75 in )(2 in )  π 
= 2 
1+ 2
sec 
3.54 in  (1.50 in )  2 2 

σ m = 22.0 ksi

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Design of Columns
• Previous analyses assumed
stresses below the proportional
limit and initially straight,
homogeneous columns

• Experimental data demonstrate

- for large Le/r, σcr follows
Euler’s formula and depends
upon E but not σY.

- for small Le/r, σcr is

determined by the yield
strength σY and not E.

- for intermediate Le/r, σcr

depends on both σY and E.

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Important Points

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Procedure for Analysis

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Example 13.8

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Continued

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Chapter Review

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