LIGHT STRUCTURE LABORATORY

LABORATORY WORKSHEET

Course Code
BFC 21201

Department
Structure And Material Engineering

Title Buckling of Struts

 Faculty : Faculty of Civil and Environmental
Page 1
Engineering
Department : Structure And Material Engineering Edition
Checking No
Effective Date
Title : Buckling of Struts
Amendment Date

1.0 OBJECTIVE

1.1 To examine how buckling varies with an increasing point load.

1.2 To examine how Buckling with different and condition the cut position of the
beam for various loading condition..

2.0 LEARNING OUTCOME

2.1 To application the engineering knowledge in practical application.

2.2 To enhance technical competency in structural engineering though laboratory
application.
2.3 To communicate effectively in group.
2.4 To identify problem, solving and finding out appropriate solution through
laboratory application.

3.0 INTRODUCTION

3.1 A compressive member can fail in two ways. The first is via rupture due to the
direct stress and the second is by elastic mode of failure called buckling. Short
wide compressive member tends to fail by material crushing.
3.2 When buckling occurs the strut will no longer carry any more load and it will
simply continue to buckle i.e its stiffness the becomes zero and it is useless as a
structural member.
4.0 THEORY

4.1 To predict the buckling load Euler Buckling formula is used. The critical value in
Euler Formula is the slenderness ratio, which is the ratio of the length of the strut
to its radius of gyration(L/K)
4.2 The Euler formula become inaccurate for struts with L/K ratio of less than 1.125
and this should be taken into account in any design work.
4.3 Euler buckling formula for pin struts:
Pe = EI/L
Where :
Pe = Euler buckling load(N)
E = Youngs Modulus (Nm-2)
I = Second moment of area (m4 )
L = Length of strut (m)

Faculty : Faculty of Civil and Environmental

Page 2
Engineering
Department : Structure And Material Engineering Edition
Checking No
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Title : Buckling of Struts
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5.0 PROCEDURE

Part 1

1. Fit the bottom chuck to the machine and remove the top chuck(to give two
pinned ends). Select the shortest strut, number 1, and measured the cross section
using the vernier provide and calculated the second moment of area, I, for the
strut.(bd3/12)
2. Adjust the position of the sliding crosshead to accept the strut using the thumbnut
to lock off the slider. Ensure that there is the maximum amount of travel
available on the hand wheel threat to compress the strut. Finally tighten the
locking screw.
3. Carefully back-off the hand wheel so that the strut is resting in the notch but not
transmitting any load. Re zero the force meter using the front panel control.
4. Carefully start to load the strut. If the strut begin to buckle to the left, flick the
strut to right and vice versa (this reduces any error associated with the
straightness of strut). Turn the hand wheel until there is no further increase in
load( the load may peak and then drop as it settles in the notches).
5. Record the final load in table 1. Repeat with strut numbers 2,3,4 and 5 adjusting
the crosshead as required to fit the strut.

Part 2

1. To study the effect of end conditions, follow the same basic procedure as in
part1, but this time remove the bottom chuck and clamp the specimen using the
cap head screw and plate to make a pinned fixed end condition.
2. Record your result in table 2 calculate the values of1/L2 for the struts.
3. Fit the top chuck with the two cap head screws and clamp both end of the
specimen to make a pinned- pinned end condition. Calculate the new values of
1/L2.
4. Enter the result into Table 3.
Faculty : Faculty of Civil and Environmental
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Engineering
Department : Structure And Material Engineering Edition
Checking No
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Title : Buckling of Struts
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6.0 RESULT

Pinned- Pinned
No. Length (mm) Buckling Load (N) Buckling Load
(Experimental) Theory
1
2
3
4
5

TABLE 1

Pinned- Fixed
No. Length (mm) Buckling Load (N) 1/L2(M-2)

1
2
3
4
5

TABLE 2

Fixed- Fixed
No. Length (mm) Buckling Load (N) 1/L2(M-2)

1
2
3
4
5

TABLE 3
Faculty : Faculty of Civil and Environmental
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Department : Structure And Material Engineering Edition
Checking No
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Title : Buckling of Struts Amendment Date
7.0 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Part 1

1.0 Examine the Euler buckling equation and select an appropriate parameter to
establish a linear relationship between the buckling load and the strut. Write the
relationship below.
2.0 Calculated the value and enter them in Table 1 with an appropriate title.
3.0 Plot a graph to prove the relationship is linear. Compare your experimental value to
those calculated from Euler formula by entering a theoretical line onto the graph.
Comment on the result.
4.0 Explain that the Euler Formula can predict the buckling load or not.

Part 2

1.0 Plot separate graphs of buckling load versus 1/L2 and calculate the gradient of each
line.
2.0 Fill the table below showing the comparison between experimental and theoretical
ratio by end condition

Pinned- Pinned Pinned- Fixed Fixed- Fixed

Experimental
gradient
Experimental ratio

Theoretical ratio

Note :
1.0 Use the experimental gradient from Part 1.
2.0 Experimental ratio= Exp. Gradient /of pinned- pinned
3.0 Theoretical ratio can be obtained from Euler Formula for pinned Fixed and
Fixed-Fixed.

3.0 Comment on the experimental and theoretical ratio.

4.0 Conclusion can you made from the experiment.