LECTURE

Third Edition

COLUMNS: BUCKLING (PINNED

ENDS)
A. J. Clark School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

26

by
Dr. Ibrahim A. Assakkaf
SPRING 2003
ENES 220 Mechanics of Materials
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Maryland, College Park

Chapter
10.1 10.3

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling

Slide No. 1
ENES 220 Assakkaf

Introduction
Buckling is a mode of failure generally
resulting from structural instability due to
compressive action on the structural
member or element involved.
Examples

Overloaded metal building columns.

Compressive members in bridges.
Roof trusses.
Hull of submarine.

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling

Slide No. 2
ENES 220 Assakkaf

Introduction
Examples (contd)
Metal skin on aircraft fuselages or wings with
excessive torsional and/or compressive
loading.
Any thin-walled torque tube.
The thin web of an I-beam with excessive
shear load
A thin flange of an I-beam subjected to
excessive compressive bending effects.

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling

Slide No. 3
ENES 220 Assakkaf

Introduction
In view of the above-mentioned examples,
it is clear that buckling is a result of
compressive action.
Overall torsion or shear, as was discussed
earlier, may cause a localized compressive
action that could lead to buckling.
Examples of buckling for commonly seen
and used tools (components) are provided
in the next few viewgraphs.

Slide No. 4

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Buckling

Introduction
Figure 1

Slide No. 5

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Introduction
Figure 1 (contd)

Slide No. 6

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Introduction
Figure 1 (contd)

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling

Slide No. 7
ENES 220 Assakkaf

Introduction
In Fig. 1, (a) to (d) are examples of
temporary or elastic buckling.
While (e) to (h) of the same figure are
examples of plastic buckling
The distinctive feature of buckling is the
catastrophic and often spectacular nature
of failure.

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling

Slide No. 8
ENES 220 Assakkaf

Introduction
Figure 2. Reinforced Concrete

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling

Slide No. 9
ENES 220 Assakkaf

Introduction
Figure 3. Steel Beam Buckling

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling

Slide No. 10
ENES 220 Assakkaf

Introduction
The collapse of a column supporting
stands in a stadium or the roof of a building
usually draws large headlines and cries of
engineering negligence.
On a lesser scale, the reader can witness
and get a better understanding of buckling
by trying to understand a few of the tests
shown in Fig. 1.

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling

Slide No. 11
ENES 220 Assakkaf

The Nature of Buckling

In the previous chapters, we related load to
stress and load to deformation.
For these non-buckling cases of axial,
torsional, bending, and combined loading,
the stress or deformation was the
significant quantity in failure.
Buckling of a member is uniquely different
in that the quantity significant in failure is

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling

Slide No. 12
ENES 220 Assakkaf

The Nature of Buckling

the buckling load itself.
The failure (buckling) load bears no unique
relationship to the stress and deformation
at failure.
Our usual approach of deriving a loadstress and load-deformation relations
cannot be used here, instead, the
approach to find an expression for the
buckling load Pcr.

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling

Slide No. 13
ENES 220 Assakkaf

The Nature of Buckling

Buckling is unique from our other
structural-element considerations in that it
results from a state of unstable equilibrium.
For example, buckling of a long column is
not caused by failure of the material of
which the column is composed, but by
determination of what was a stable state of
equilibrium to an unstable one.

Slide No. 14

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Buckling

The Nature of Buckling

Mechanism of Buckling
Lets consider Fig. 4, 5, and 6, and study them
very carefully.
In Fig. 4, some axial load P is applied to the
column.
The column is then given a small deflection by
applying the small lateral force F.
If the load P is sufficiently small, when the force
F is removed, the column will go back to its
original straight condition.

Slide No. 15

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Buckling

The Nature of Buckling

Mechanism of Buckling

Figure 4
P < Pcr

P < Pcr

P < Pcr

Before
F
During
F

After
F

F
Before
F

During
F

After
F

Stable Equilibrium

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling

Slide No. 16
ENES 220 Assakkaf

The Nature of Buckling

Mechanism of Buckling
The column will go back to its original straight
condition just as the ball returns to the bottom
of the curved container.
In Fig. 4 of the ball and the curved container,
gravity tends to restore the ball to its original
position, while for the column the elasticity of
the column itself acts as restoring force.
This action constitutes stable equilibrium.

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling

Slide No. 17
ENES 220 Assakkaf

The Nature of Buckling

Mechanism of Buckling
The same procedure can be repeated for
increased value of the load P until some critical
value Pcr is reached, as shown in Fig. 5.
When the column carries this load, and a lateral
force F is applied and removed, the column will
remain in the slightly deflected position. The
elastic restoring force of the column is not
sufficient to return the column to its original

Slide No. 18

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Buckling

The Nature of Buckling

Figure 5

Mechanism of Buckling

P = Pcr

P = Pcr

P = Pcr

Before
F
During
F

F
F
Before
F

After
F

After
F

Precarious Equilibrium

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling

During
F

Slide No. 19
ENES 220 Assakkaf

The Nature of Buckling

Mechanism of Buckling
straight position but is sufficient to prevent
excessive deflection of the column.
In Fig. 5 of the ball and the flat surface, the
amount of deflection will depend on the
magnitude of the lateral force F.
Hence, the column can be in equilibrium in an
infinite number of slightly bent positions.
This action constitutes neutral or precarious
equilibrium.

10

Slide No. 20

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Buckling

The Nature of Buckling

Mechanism of Buckling
If the column is subjected to an axial
compressive load P that exceeds Pcr, as shown
in Fig. 6, and a lateral force F is applied and
removed, the column will bend considerably.
That is, the elastic restoring force of the column
is not sufficient to prevent a small disturbance
from growing into an excessively large
deflection.

Slide No. 21

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Buckling

The Nature of Buckling

Figure 6

Mechanism of Buckling

P > Pcr

P > Pcr

Before
F
During
F

F
Before
F

After
F

Small
disturbance

During
F

P > Pcr

Possible
buckle
or
collapse
After
F

Unstable Equilibrium

11

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling

Slide No. 22
ENES 220 Assakkaf

The Nature of Buckling

Mechanism of Buckling
Depending on the magnitude of P, the column
either will remain in the bent position or will
completely collapse and fracture, just as the
ball will roll off the curved surface in Fig. 6.
This type of behavior indicates that for axial
loads greater than Pcr, the straight position of a
column is one of unstable equilibrium in that a
small disturbance will tend to grow into an
excessive deformation.

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling

Slide No. 23
ENES 220 Assakkaf

The Nature of Buckling

Definition
Buckling can be defined as the sudden
large deformation of structure due to a
slight increase of an existing load under
which the structure had exhibited little,
if any, deformation before the load was
increased.

12

Slide No. 24

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

Critical Buckling Load

The purpose of this analysis is to
determine the minimum axial compressive
load for which a column will experience
lateral deflection.
Governing Differential Equation:
Consider a buckled simply-supported column of
length L under an external axial compression
force P, as shown in the left schematic of Fig.
7. The transverse displacement of the buckled
column is represented by .

Slide No. 25

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

Critical Buckling Load

P

Figure 7

y
y
(a)

(b)

13

Slide No. 26

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

Critical Buckling Load

Governing Differential Equation:
The right schematic of Fig. 7 shows the forces
and moments acting on a cross-section in the
buckled column. Moment equilibrium on the
lower free body yields a solution for the internal
bending moment M,

Py + M = 0

(1)

Slide No. 27

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

Critical Buckling Load

Governing Differential Equation (contd):
Recall the relationship between the moment M
and the transverse displacement y for the
elastic curve,

dy 2
EI 2 = M
dx

(2)

Eliminating M from Eqs. 1 and 2 results in the

governing equation for the buckled slender
column,

14

Slide No. 28

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

Critical Buckling Load

Governing Differential Equation (contd):
d2y P
+
y=0
dx 2 EI

(3)

Buckling Solution:
The governing equation is a second order
homogeneous ordinary differential equation
with constant coefficients and can be solved by
the method of characteristic equations. The
solution is found to be,

Slide No. 29

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

Critical Buckling Load

Buckling Solution (contd):
y ( x) = A sin px + B cos px

(4)

Where p2 = P/EI. The coefficients A and B can

be determined by the two boundary conditions,
y(0) = 0 and y(L) = 0, which yields,

B=0
A sin pL = 0

(5)

15

Slide No. 30

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

Critical Buckling Load

Buckling Solution (contd):
The coefficient B is always zero, and for most
values of m L the coefficient A is required to
be zero. However, for special cases of m L,
A can be nonzero and the column can be
buckled. The restriction on m L is also a
restriction on the values for the loading F; these
special values are mathematically called
eigenvalues. All other values of F lead to trivial
solutions (i.e. zero deformation).

Slide No. 31

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

Critical Buckling Load

Buckling Solution (contd):
sin pL = 0

pL = 0, , 2 , 3 ,L , n
or
n
L L L
L
2
Since p = P/EI, therefore,
p = 0,

P = 0,

2 3
,

2 EI (2)2 2 EI (3)2 2 EI
L2

L2

(6)

,L,

L2

,L,

n 2 2 EI
L2

(7)

16

Slide No. 32

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

Critical Buckling Load

Buckling Solution (contd):
Or

n
P = EI

(8)

for n = 0,1,2,3L

The lowest load that causes buckling is called

critical load (n = 1).

Pcr =

2 EI

(9)

L2

Slide No. 33

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Critical Buckling Load, Pcr

The critical buckling load (Euler Buckling)
for a long column is given by

Pcr =
where

2 EI
2

(9)

E = modulus of elasticity of the material

I = moment of inertia of the cross section
L = length of column

17

Slide No. 34

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

Critical Buckling Load

Equation 9 is usually called Euler's formula.
Although Leonard Euler did publish the governing
equation in 1744, J. L. Lagrange is considered the
first to show that a non-trivial solution exists only
when n is an integer. Thomas Young then
suggested the critical load (n = 1) and pointed out
the solution was valid when the column is slender
in his 1807 book. The "slender" column idea was
not quantitatively developed until A. Considre
performed a series of 32 tests in 1889.

Slide No. 35

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

Critical Buckling Load

Shape function:
Substituting the expression of P in Eq. 9, into
Eq. 4, and noting that B = 0, the shape function
for the buckled shape y(x) is mathematically
called an eigenfunction, and is given by,

nx
y ( x ) = A sin

(10)

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Slide No. 36

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Critical Buckling Stress

The critical buckling normal stress n is
found as follows:
When the moment of inertia I in Eq. 9 is
replaced by Ar2, the result is
Pcr
2E
(11)
=
= cr
2
A

(L / r )

where
A = cross-sectional area of column
r = radius of gyration =

I
A

Slide No. 37

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Critical Buckling Stress

The critical buckling normal stress is given
by
2E
(12)
cr =
(L / r )2
Where
I
r = radius of gyration =

(L/r) = slenderness ratio of column

19

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

Slide No. 38
ENES 220 Assakkaf

Critical Buckling Load and Stress

The Euler buckling load and stress as
given by Eq. 9 or Eq. 12 agrees well with
experiment if the slenderness ratio is large
(L/r > 140 for steel columns).
Short compression members (L/r < 140 for
steel columns) can be treated as
compression blocks where yielding occurs
before buckling.

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

Slide No. 39
ENES 220 Assakkaf

Critical Buckling Load and Stress

Many columns lie between these extremes
in which neither solution is applicable.
These intermediate-length columns are
analyzed by using empirical formulas to be
described later.
When calculating the critical buckling for
columns, I (or r) should be obtained about
the weak axis.

20

Slide No. 40

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Review of Parallel-Axis Theorem for

Radius of Gyration
In dealing with columns that consist of
several rolled standard sections, it is
sometimes necessary to compute the
radius of gyration for the entire section for
the purpose of analyzing the buckling load.
It was shown that the parallel-axis theorem
is a useful tool to calculate the second

Slide No. 41

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Review of Parallel-Axis Theorem for

Radius of Gyration
Moment of area (moment of inertia) about
other axes not passing through the
centroid of the overall section.
In a similar fashion, the parallel-axis
theorem can be used to find radii of
gyration of a section about different axis
not passing through the centroid.

21

Slide No. 42

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

Review of Parallel-Axis Theorem for

Radius of Gyration
Consider the two channels, which are
laced a distance of 2a back to back.
y
Lacing bars

I x = 2 I xC rx =

2d

Ix

Aoverall

2 I xC
2 Asec

) (

I xC

Asec

= rxC

(13)

I y = 2 I yC + Asec d 2 = 2 Asec ry2C + Asec d 2 = 2 Asec ry2C + d 2

xC

2a

ry =

Iy
Aoverall

2 Asec ry2C + d 2
2 Asec

)=

ry2C + d 2

(14)

Slide No. 43

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

Parallel-Axis Theorem for Radius of

Gyration
Eqs. 13 and 14 indicate that the radius of
gyration for the two channels is the same
as ythat for one channel, and
Lacing bars

xC

2a

ry = ry2C + (a + xC )

2d

(15)

where a + xC = d

22

Slide No. 44

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Example 1
A 3-m column with the cross section shown
in Fig. 8 is constructed from two pieces of
timber. The timbers are nailed together so
that they act as a unit. Determine (a) the
slenderness ratio, (b) the Euler buckling
load (E = 13 GPa for timber), and (c) the
axial stress in the column when Euler load
is applied.

Slide No. 45

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

Example 1 (contd)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

50 mm

150 mm

Figure 8
50 mm

50 mm
50 mm

150 mm

23

Slide No. 46

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Example 1 (contd)
Properties of the cross section:

50 mm

150 mm

N.A.

75 mm

50 mm

50 mm
50 mm

150 mm

A = 2(150 )(50) = 15,000 mm 2

25(50 150 ) + (50 + 75)(50 150 )
yC =
= 75.0 mm from bottom
15,000
1
1
1
3
3
3
I x = (50)(125) + (150 )(75) (100 )(25) = 53.13 106 mm 4
3
3
3
1
1
3
3
I x = (150 )(50 ) + (50)(150 ) = 15.625 106 mm 4
12
12
Iy
15.625 106
I
r = min =
=
= 32.3
15,000
A
A

Slide No. 47

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Example 1 (contd)
(a) Slenderness Ratio:
Slenderness ratio =

(b) Euler Buckling Load:

Pcr =

2 EI y
L2

L 3000
=
= 93
r 32.27

2 (13 109 )(15.625 10 6 )

(3)2

= 222.75 kN

(c) Axial Stress:

=

Pcr
222.75
=
= 14.85 MPa (C)
A 15 10 3

24

Slide No. 48

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Example 2
A WT6 36 structural steel section is used for
an 18-ft column. Determine
(a) The slenderness ratio.
(b) The Euler buckling load. Use E =
29103 ksi.
(c) The axial stress in the column when
Euler load is applied.

Slide No. 49

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Example 2 (contd)
For a WT6 36 section (see Fig 9, or Appendix
B of Textbook:
A = 10.6 in 2

rmin = 1.48 in

L 18 12
=
= 145.9 146 (slender)
r
1.48
2 EA 2 (29,000 )(10.6)
(b) Pcr =
=
= 142.4 kips
145.9
(L / r )2

(a)

(c) =

Pcr 142.4
=
= 13.43 ksi (C)
A
10.6

25

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

Slide No. 50
ENES 220 Assakkaf

Figure 9

Example 2 (contd)

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

Slide No. 51
ENES 220 Assakkaf

Example 3
Two C229 30 structural steel channels
are used for a column that is 12 m long.
Determine the total compressive load
required to buckle the two members if
(a) They act independently of each other.
Use E = 200 GPa.
(b) They are laced 150 mm back to back
as shown in Fig. 10.

26

Slide No. 52

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

Example 3 (contd)
y

Figure 10

Lacing bars
150 mm
x

Slide No. 53

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

Example 3 (contd)
(a) Two channels act independently:
If the two channels are not connected and each
acts independently, the slenderness ratio is
determined by using the minimum radius of
gyration rmin of the individual section
For a C229 30 section (see Fig 11, or
Appendix B of Textbook):

rmin = ry = 16.3 mm

A = 3795 mm 2

27

Slide No. 54

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling ofFigure
Long
11 Straight
Columns

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Example 3 (contd)

Slide No. 55

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Example 3 (contd)

L 12 103
=
= 736.2 (slender)
16.3
r
2 EA 2 200 109 (2 ) 3795 10 6
=
= 27.64 103 N = 27.6 kN
Pcr =
(L / r )2
(736.2)2

)[ (

)]

Lacing bars
150 mm
x

(b) For a C229 30 section (see Fig 11, or

Appendix B of Textbook):
x
rmin = 81.8 mm

I x = 25.3 106 mm 4

xC = 14.8 mm

I y = 1.01 106 mm

xC = 14.8 mm

28

Slide No. 56

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

ENES 220 Assakkaf

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

Ix

Example 3 (contd)
= 2 I = 2(25.3 10 ) = 50.6 10 mm
6

rx =

xC

) [

Ix
50.6 106
=
= 81.7
2(3795)
A

I y = 2 I yC + Ad 2 = 2 1.01 106 + 3795(75 + 14.8) = 63.23 106 mm 2

Lacing bars
150 mm
x

ry =

Iy
A

63.23 106
= 91.3 mm
2(3795)

rx = rmin = 81.7, therefore,

Pcr =

2 EA

(L / rmin )2

L
rmin

12 103
= 146.9
81.7

2 (200 109 )[2(3795 10 6 )]

(146.9)2

= 694.3 kN

xC = 14.8 mm

LECTURE 26. Columns: Buckling (pinned ends) (10.1 10.3)

Buckling of Long Straight

Columns

Slide No. 57
ENES 220 Assakkaf

Example 3 (contd)
An alternate solution for finding rx and ry:
Using Eqs. 13 and 15,
rx = rxC = 81.8 mm
ry = ry2C + (a + xC ) =
2

(16.3)2 + (75 + 14.8)2

= 91.3 mm

Therefore,

rmin = rx = 81.8 mm

The slight difference in the result is due to round-off errors.

29