Column Buckling

(Eccentric Loaded)
Dr. Sardar Kashif Ur Rehman
Assistant Professor
Civil Engineering Department
COMSATS University Islamabad,
Abbottabad Campus.
 Eccentric Axial Loads
• Generally, columns are designed so that the
axial load is inline with the column.
• However, there are situations that the load
will be off center and cause a bending in the
column in addition to the compression.
• This type of loading is called eccentric load
and is analyzed differently.
• For simplification, only pin-pin columns will be
analyzed in this section for eccentric loading.
• Stresses for the other column types (pin-fixed,
fixed-fixed, and fixed-free) with eccentric
loading can be determined by using the
effective length concept.
• When a column is load off center, bending
can be sever problem and may be more
important than the compression stress or
buckling.
• To better understand this, take an
eccentrically loaded column and cut it at a
distance x from the bottom pin as shown in
the diagram on the left.
• The horizontal direction is labeled as v
which represents the deflection of the
column.
• At the cut surface, there will be both an
internal moment, m, and the axial load P.
 Derivation
• This partial section of the column must still be
equilibrium,
• Moments can be summed at the cut surface,
giving,
•  ΣM = 0
•    m + P (e + v) = 0
• bending in a structure can be modeled as
m = EI d2v/dx2, giving
 EI d2v/dx2 + Pv = -Pe
This is a classical differential equation that can be
solved using the general solution,
• v = C1 sin kx + C2 cos kx – e
• where k = (P/EI)0.5.
• In Euler’s Formula

• The constants C1 and C2 can be determined using the boundary

conditions.
• At x=0 ; v = 0 ; sin 0 = 0 ; cos 0 = 1 ; 0 = C1 (0) + C2 (1) – e => C2 = e
• The second boundary condition specifies the deflection, v, at X = L is
also 0, giving
• 0 = C1 sin kL + e cos kL – e
• C1
• Substituting the values of constant in equation

• Maximum Deflection case at x=L

• Simplifying it
 Maximum Stress
• Unlike basic column buckling, eccentric loaded
columns bend and must withstand both bending
stresses and axial compression stresses.
• This can be illustrated by looking at both these
stresses separately.
• The axial load P, will produce a compression stress
P/A.
• Since the load P is not at the center, it will cause a
bending stress My/I.
• The maximum compression stress will be total of
both these stress, giving
• While generally compression stress is noted as
negative, the maximum is considered an absolute
value and thus positive.
• The c term is the largest distance from the neutral
axis.
• The maximum moment, Mmax, is at the mid-point of
the column (x = L/2),
• Mmax = P (e + vmax)
• But I and A can be related using the radius of gyration,
• r, as I = Ar2.
• This gives the final form of the secant formula as

• Again, remember, tan, sin and cos, are radians not degrees.
• Also, L is for a pin-pin column. For other column boundary conditions,
L effective can be used.
• For the eccentricity ratio of 0, the Euler equation is used