BFC 20903 (Mechanics of Materials) Chapter 5: Compression Member
BFC 20903 (Mechanics of Materials) Chapter 5: Compression Member
• (L/r) - slenderness ratio, buckling will occur about the axis when the ratio gives
the greatest value. Measurement of the column’s flexibility.
• The graph below is used to identify the (L/r) for the column made of a structural
steel.
For a steel column if (L/r)s ≥ 89 , Euler’s formula
can be used to determine the buckling load since
the stress in the column remains elastic. But if
the (L/r)s < 89, the column’s stress will exceed the
yield point and the Euler formula is not valid in
this case.
Example
Example
Exercise
• Due to this condition of bracing, the column will buckle
with different axis namely are x and y axis.
Secant Formula
• The Euler formula was derived with the assumption;
i) The load,P is always applied through the centroid of the column’s cross
sectional area and;
ii) The column is perfectly straight.
• This is actually quite unrealistic since manufactured columns are never perfectly
straight. In actual condition, column never suddenly buckle, instead they begin to
bend slightly upon the application of the load.
• The actual criterion for load application will be limited either to a specified
deflection of the column or by not allowing the maximum stress exceed the
allowable stress in the column.