SEGi University

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING & BUILT ENVIRONMENT

SUBJECT: EME2211 MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PRACTICES

Experiment : Buckling Test

1.0 TITLE

Buckling Test

2.0 OBJECTIVE

1. To determine the critical buckling loads for columns with supports.

2. To examine the Euler theory of buckling and plot a graph of force against
deflection.
3. To investigate the influence of different material parameters.
3.0 THEORY

If a bar is subjected to longitudinal forces, as implied in the sketch, it can fail

in two ways. On the one hand, it can be plasticized and flattened if its
admissible compressive strain is exceeded as shown in Figure A. It is
possible that it will suddenly shift to one side and buckle before attaining the
admissible compressive strain. This effect is called buckling. The shape of
the bar is the factor which determines which of the two cases of failure will
occur. A slender, thin bar is more likely to buckle than a thick, tout rod.

Figure A: Stout and slender rod under compressive force.

Euler formula:

Buckling occurs suddenly and without warning when a certain limit load is
attained. It is therefore an extremely dangerous type of failure, which must be
avoided by all means. As soon as a rod begins to buckle, it will become
deformed to the point of total destruction. This is typical unstable behavior.
Buckling is a stability problem. The critical limit load, F krit, above which
buckling can occur, is dependent on both the slenderness of the rod, i.e.
influence of length and diameter, and the material used. In order to define
slenderness, the slenderness ratio, λ will be introduced here:
l
 k (equation 1)
i
where, l k = characteristic length of bar that takes both the actual length
of the bar and the mounting conditions into consideration.

Figure B: Euler cases of buckling

For example, clamping the ends of the odds causes rigidly. The buckling
length decisive for slenderness is shorter than the actual length of the bar.
Altogether a differentiation is made between four types of mountings, each
having a different buckling length.

The influence of diameter in the slenderness ratio is expressed by the inertial

radius, i. it is calculated using the minimum geometrical moment of inertial,
I y and the cross-sectional area, A.

i Iy / A (equation 2)

The influence of material is taken into consideration by the longitudinal

rigidity of the rod EA. Here, E is the modulus of elasticity of the respective
material and A is cross-sectional area. The influence of various factors on the
critical load are summarized in so-called “Euler Formula”:

EA
Fcrit   2 (equation 3)
2
 Or expressed in a different form:
EI y
Fcrit   2 (equation 4)
l2

In order to determine whether a rod has failed due to exceeding the

admissible compressive strain or by buckling, the normal compressive strain
in the rod, which is part of the critical load must be calculated.
Fk E
6k  2 2 (equation 5)
A 
In this normal compressive strain is lower than the admissible compressive
strain, the rod will fail due to buckling. If the admission compressive strain is
used as the normal compressive strain, the critical slenderness ratio, λcrit at
which buckling occurs can be calculated:
E
crit   2 (equation 6)
p

The buckling force can be determined according to the Euler formula:

EI y
Fcrit   2 (equation 7)
l2

And moment inertia, I y is calculated as the following for a square cross

section:
bh 3
Iy  (equation 8)
12
X
4.0 APPARATUS

i. WP120 Buckling Test device.

The unit essentially consists of:
a. Load spindle
b. Load nut
c. Load cross bar
d. Clamping screws
e. Guide columns Y
f. Force gauge
g. Attachment socket
h. Basic frame
i. Force measuring device
Figure A: Buckling test
ii. A specimen made of flat steel bar device
iii. Measurement apparatus (ruler, caliper, divider, etc)
 Figure B: Top specimen holder Figure C: Bottom specimen holder
(From detail view X) (From detail view Y)

5.0 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

1.Euler Case 1 will be chosen to run the test on buckling of the

specimen and the maximum force is 20,000 N.
2. Insert thrust piece with V notch into attachment socket and fasten
with clamping screw as shown in Figure C.
3. Insert long thrust piece with V notch into the guide bush of the load
cross-bar and hold it firmly as shown in Figure B.
4. Insert the specimen with edges in the V notch.
5. The load cross-bar must be clamped on the guide column in such a
manner that there is still approx. 5mm for the top thrust piece to
move.
6. Align the specimen in such a manner that its buckling direction
points in the direction of the lateral guide columns. Here, the edges
must be perpendicular to the load cross-bar.
7. Pre-tighten the specimen with low, non-measurable force.
8. Align the measuring gauge to the middle of the rod specimen using
the support clamps. The measuring gauge must be set at a right
angle to the direction of buckling.
9. Pre-tighten the measuring gauge to 10 mm deflection with the
adjustable support.
10. Slowly subject the specimen load using the load nut.
11. Read the deflection from the measuring gauge. Read and record the
deflection every 0.25 mm up to 1 mm.
12. Above 1 mm deflection, it suffices to record the deflection and force
every 0.5 mm.
13. The test can be concluded when the force does not change, despite
an increasing load (in case of specimen this as at approx. 4 mm).
14. Slowly remove the tension from the specimen.
15. Tabulate the result and repeat the experiment with two other
specimens.
6.0 RESULTS & ANALYSIS
Modulus of Elasticity, E (N/mm) :
Moment of Inertia, Iy (mm4) :
 Buckling Deflection,
Force, F (N) δ (mm)

Table A: Buckling force versus deflection

i. Prepare a graph of force versus deflection and determine the slope of

graph.
ii. Compare the experimental values with the theoretical values.

7.0 DISCUSSION

Elaborate, analyze and interpret experiment data and obtained results.

8.0 CONCLUSION

Conclude the experiment process and results.

9.0 REFERENCES

i． Berham, P. P., Crawford, R. J., Armstrong, C. G. 1996,

Mechanism of Engineering Materials, 2nd Edition, Pearson Education
Limited, China.
ii． Hibbeler, R. C. 2005, Mechanics of Materials, 6th Edition,
Prentice Hall, Singapore.