CE 332- Mechanic of Deformable Bodies Fall 2014

Buckling

Laboratory Report #4

Erika Villamarin

Fall 2014

December 22, 2014

Professor Pekoz

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Contents:

1. Abstract..2

2. Introduction3

3. Procedure4

4. Data.5

5. Observation11

5. Conclusion..13

1
Abstract

In the laboratory conducted we used the test machine to apply compressive load to

determine the behavior of materials under unstable conditions. The specimen used was made of

1018 carbon steel, ASTM A108 was applied load until buckling occurs. There were eight

specimens in different length between grips that was measured for each test. The data shows that

the deformations are found to be due to residual stresses left in the specimens from buckling,

consisting of the load-strain were recorded for each specimen. Based on the tension experiment,

we obtained the young modulus 28.9x10^6 psi and the yield stress in tension 115 ksi. After the

data was processed, the values for ultimate load for each compression specimen were

determined. It was found that where the specimen has a longer length, it will have a smaller

critical load. All the specimens were found to have failed in buckling, because their critical stress

is smaller than the yield stress for compression. Furthermore, it was found that the theoretical

critical stress is larger than that of the experimental critical stress.

2
Introduction

A straight slender member subjected to an axial compressive load is called a column.

When a member is short, it will remain straight when loaded and failure will occur by yielding of

the material in some cases. However if the member is relatively long the behavior is different.

When the compressive load reaches a critical load a long column will undergo a bending action

in which the lateral deflection will become very large with little increase in load. The behavior is

called buckling and can occur even though the maximum stress in the column is less than the

yielding stress of the material. The buckle load is affected by material properties, column length

and cross section, and end conditions.

In this experiment eight specimens made of 1018 carbon steel are used. Each specimen

used has a diameter of 0.25 inches. One test in tension is conducted and the remaining tests are

made in compression. The gauge length for the tension testing is 2.0 inches. The specimens

lengths of: 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, and 6 were measured for each test in compression.

The specimens are placed between the grips of the loading apparatus and gauge lengths are

recorded for each of these prior to testing. Once the testing was conducted, the loading, position,

and strain of the specimens are recorded on the computer for analytical purpose.

3
Procedure

During the experiment, the tension test data was conducted, the stress-strain curve was

plotted for a 1018 carbon steel sample to find the Youngs Modulus and the yield stress attained.

The yield stress of compression is assumed to be equivalent to that of tension for the material.

From the data collected in the lab, zero calibrations are made to obtain the actual loads,

deflections and strains of the material. A Load versus Displacement curve is plotted for each of

the eight test specimens as shown in figures bellow. From these curves, the critical load or

ultimate load for each specimen is attained.

After that, we found the critical stress (Pult/A) versus the slenderness ratio (L/r) for all

the compression specimens are then plotted for reference. The resulting maximum stresses from

the graphs are compared to the yield stress attained for compression and the source for the failure

of the specimens is thereby determined. Lastly, the theoretical results are calculated from the E

attained from the tension test data and compared to those of the graphical results obtained from

the compression test data. Results are further reviewed in a comparison with test results from

previous labs 1 and 3.

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Data

Stress vs. Strain

140

120

100

80

Stress (Ksi)
60

40

20

0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08

Strain (in./in.)

Figure1. Stress versus strain obtained from tensile testing

data set.

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 Stress vs. Strain
50
45 f(x) = 28826.79x - 0.08
40
35
30
25
Stress (Ksi)
20
15
10
5
0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Strain (in./in.)

Figure2. Linear stress versus strain obtained from tensile

testing data set.

Ultimate Load P(ult), Displacement x, Ultimate Stress (ult), and

Slenderness Ratio of Each Specimen

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Critical stresss vs Slenderness Ratio
5
4.5
f(x) = - 0.04x + 5.11
4
3.5
3

Critical stress, ult (ksi) 2.5

2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 50 100 150

Slenderness ratio,L/r (in./in.)

Figure3. Critical stress versus slenderness ratio for all the

specimens

Load vs Displacement(6in)
5
4.5
4
3.5
3

Load(kip) 2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06

Displacement(in)

Figure4. Load vs displacement of 6 in. specimen in

compression

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Load vs Displacement(8in)
4.5

3.5

2.5
Load(kip)
2

1.5

0.5

0
0 0.010.010.020.020.03 0.030.040.04

Displacement(in)

Figure5. Load vs displacement of 8 in. specimen in

compression

Load vs Displacement(10in)
4

3.5

2.5

Load(kip) 2

1.5

0.5

0
0 0.010.010.020.020.03 0.030.040.04

displacement(in)

Figure6. Load vs displacement of 8 in. specimen in

compression

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Load vs Displacement(12in)
3

2.5

Load(kip) 1.5

0.5

0
0 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.04

Displacement(in)

Figure7. Load vs displacement of 12 in. specimen in

compression

Load vs Displacement(14in)
2.5

1.5

Load(kip)
1

0.5

0
0 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.04

Displacement(in)

Figure8. Load vs displacement of 14 in. specimen in

compression

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Losd vs Displacement(16in)
1.4

1.2

0.8
Load(kip)
0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06

Displacement(in)

Figure9. Load vs displacement of 16 in. specimen in

compression

Load vs Displacement(18in)
1.2

0.8

Load(kip) 0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05

Displacement(in)

Figure10. Load vs displacement of 18 in. specimen in

compression

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Load vs Displacement(20in)

Load(kip)
0 0.05 0.1
Displacement(in)

Results

First we plotted the stress versus strain diagram using the stress and strain formulas as we

did in previous lab reports; we determined youngs modulus in tension from the linear stress-

strain diagram which was 28827 ksi and the yielding stress in tension equals 115 ksi as shown in
Figure11. Load vs displacement of 20 in. specimen in
compression
figure 1 and 2.

Moreover, for the second part of the experiment, we plotted load versus strain in order to

find the ultimate load in compression for each different specimens. A different length and

compression test data was given for each of the eight experiments. Therefore, we have eight

different load-deflection graphs as shown from figure 4 to figure11. Using each respective data

we obtained the ultimate load for each compression specimen by finding the maximum load in

each data series recorded in the laboratory.

Once we obtained the ultimate load and the length of the specimen, we calculated the

ultimate stress, (ult), and slenderness ratio, L/r. Ultimate stress equals ultimate load divided by

the area of the carbon steel bar, and the slenderness ratio equals the original length of the

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specimen divided by the radius of the bar. The values calculated were used to plot the graph of

ultimate stress (ult) versus slenderness ratio, L/r as shown in diagram 3.

Using the data collected from the load-displacement graphs we could determine if failure

for each specimen is due to buckling. The load at which a compression member buckles is the

critical load. As we see in figure 3, it is clear that as the element slenderness ratio becomes more

slender (larger), the buckles or ultimate stress becomes smaller. For very small elements buckle

does not occur but crushes under the load. To find if buckles occur we were comparing each

ultimate stress with the yield stress in tension we found earlier. The maximum ultimate stress in

all specimens 95 ksi, does not exceed the yield stress 115 ksi in tension. Thus, all stress values

are less than the compression yield stress and failure for these specimens are therefore cause by

buckling, not compression, and the deformations in the specimens are caused by residual stresses

from buckling.

Previously in other labs, we obtained the modulus of elasticity of carbon steel E: Lab 1

(28.328x106 psi) and Lab 3 (26.6 x106 psi), the E obtained from this buckling lab is 28827 ksi.

We know that specimens of the same material have the same youngs Modulus, and though the

results of each youngs modulus that we obtained in the different experiment are not exactly

same, they are similar However; theoretical modulus of elasticity of carbon steel is 29 x 106 psi.

When we compared our results with the published value, we found out that youngs modulus

values in the first, third, and last lab have relatively small percent errors of 1.7% (lab1) and 7%

(lab2) respectively.

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 Lastly, we used youngs modulus value of 115 ksi from the buckling experiment to

compute the theoretical critical loads with formula, (1) putting Le = 0.5 L for

fixed-fixed configurations into, the moment of inertial is a constant value which is 1.92 x10-4

in4. Therefore, use them to calculate theoretical critical loads of each specimen. Using the

theoretical values and the measured values, we could compare the relationship between critical

stresses and the slenderness ratios. Based on results, the relationship between the theoretical and

measured values, we concluded that theoretical stresses are larger than the experimentally

obtained stresses.

Conclusion

As we learned in class and in the laboratory experiment, buckling is a leading cause for

failure and deflection, and it is a constant threat for columns. The buckling experiment shows

that the length of a specimen, or column, effects the amount of force that the specimen can

withstand. This is verified in the compression testing in the lab; where all of the results are

different for each specimen, so each specimen has its instability under the axial load. According

to the results, we know all the specimens failed in buckling because the ultimate stresses are

smaller than the yield stress in compression. It is clear that for longer columns or specimen, there

will be a lower ultimate load or buckling load.

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Figures above. Three different specimens in compression causing buckling

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