Stabilit

y
of
columnS
 Columns and sturts: Structural members subjected to
compression and which are relatively long compared to
their lateral dimensions are called columns or Struts.
Generally, the term column is used to denote vertical
members and the term strut denotes inclined members

Examples: strut in a truss, Piston rods, side links in

forging machines, connecting rods etc.
 Stable, Neutral and unstable Equilibrium

Stable equilibrium: A stable equilibrium is one in which a

body in static equilibrium on being displaced slightly,
returns to its original position and continues to remain in
equilibrium.
Neutral equilibrium: A neutral equilibrium is one in
which a body in equilibrium, on being displaced does
not returns to its original position, but its motion stops
and resumes its equilibrium state in its new position.
Unstable equilibrium: An unstable equilibrium is one in
which a body in equilibrium on being slightly disturbed,
moves away from its equilibrium position and loses its
state of equilibrium.
 Buckling Load: The maximum load which a column can support
before becoming unstable is known as buckling load or crippling
load or critical load

At this stage, the maximum stress in the column will be less than the
yield stress (crushing stress) of the material.

The buckling takes place about the axis having

minimum radius of gyration or least moment of
inertia.
Safe load: It is the load to which a column is subjected
to and is well below the buckling load. It is obtained by
dividing the buckling load by a suitable factor of safety.

safe load = buckling load / factor of safety

Stability factor: The ratio of critical load to the

allowable load on a column is called stability Factor
 MODES OF FAILURE OF THE COLUMNS

The mode of failure of columns depends upon their lengths and

depending on the mode of failure columns are classified as

a. Short columns b. Long columns

Short Columns: A short column buckles under compression as
shown in figure and fails by crushing. The load causing failure is
called crushing load. P
The load carrying capacity of a short column depends
only on its cross sectional area(A) and the crushing stress
of the material(σcu). The crushing load Pu for axially
loaded short column is given by Pcu =σcu × A .
P
The safe load on the column is obtained by dividing the crushing
load by suitable factor of safety. i.e., Psafe =Pcu/ FS
 Long columns: Long columns, which are also called
slender columns, when subjected to compression,
deflects or bends in a lateral direction as shown in the
figure. The lateral deflection of the long column is
called buckling.
The long column fails when there is excessive
buckling .ie when the load on the column exceeds critical
load.
Critical load denotes the maximum load carrying
capacity of the long column.
The load carrying capacity of long column depends upon several
factors like the length of the column, M.I of its cross–section,
Modulus of elasticity of the material, nature of its support, in
addition to area of cross section and the crushing strength of the
material.
 SC – 10

Short columns fails by crushing or yielding of the material under

the load P1
Long column fails by buckling at a substantially smaller load P2
(less than P1).

The buckling load is less than the crushing

load for a long column
The value of buckling load for long column is
low whereas for short column the value of P
buckling load is relatively high. 1

P
2
 Failure of long columns(contd) sc-11

Consider a long column of uniform cross sectional area A

throughout its length L subjected to an axial compressive
load P. The load at which the column just buckles is known
as buckling load or crippling load.
P
Stress due to axial load σc = P/A

Stress due to buckling

σb = ( M.ymax)/ I
L e
= {(P.e). ymax}/I
= ( P.e) / Z
Where e = maximum bending of the column
at the centre
 Failure of long columns(contd) Sc-12

Extreme stress at centre of column will be the sum of direct

compressive stress and buckling stress

σmax = σc + σb

In case of long columns, the direct compressive

stresses are negligible when compared to buckling
stress. So always long columns fail due to buckling.
 sc-13
Modes of failures (contd.)
Intermediate Columns: These are columns which have
moderate length, length lesser than that of long columns
and greater than that of short columns.
In these columns both bulging and buckling effects are
predominant. They show the behavior of both long
columns and short columns when loaded.
 Euler’s Theory (For long columns)

Assumptions:
1. The column is initially straight and of uniform
lateral dimension
2. The material of the column is homogeneous,
isotropic, obeys Hookes law
3. The stresses are within elastic limit
4. The compressive load is axial and passes
through the centroid of the section
5. The self weight of the column itself is neglected.
6. The column fails by buckling alone
 Euler’s Theory (For long columns)

Sign convention for Bending Moments

A Bending moment which bends the

column as to present convexity
towards the initial centre line of the
member will be regarded as positive

Bending moment which bends the

column as to present concavity
towards the initial centre line of the
member will be regarded as negative
 Euler’s Formula for Pin-Ended Beams
(both ends hinged)
Consider an axially loaded long column AB of length L. Its both
ends A and B are hinged. Due to axial compressive load P, let the
deflection at distance x from A be y.

The bending moment at the section is given B

by d2y P
=-Py
EI dx
2

-ve sign on right hand side, since as

x increases curvature decreases
L
d y Py
2
y
2+ =0 x
dx EI

A P
 This is the linear differential equation, whose solution is
Y = c1.cos [x√P/(EI)] + c2.sin[x √P/(EI)] …(1)

Where c1 and c2 are the constants of integration. They can be

found using the boundary conditions.
At x =0, y =0,we get c1=0 (from eq.1)
Also at x=L, y =0 we get
c2 .sin [L√P/(EI)] =0
If c2 = 0, then y at any section is zero, which means there is no
lateral deflection which is not true
Therefore sin [L√P/(EI)] =0
 sin [L√P/(EI)] =0

=> [L√P/(EI)] = 0, π, 2 π ,……n π

Taking least non zero value we get
[L√P/(EI)] = π
Squaring both sides and simplifying

π2E I
PE =
L2
This load is called critical or buckling
load or crippling load
case End condition Equivalent Euler’s Buckling load
length(Le)

1 Both ends hinged Le=L PE= (π 2E I) / Le2

2 One end fixed, other Le=2L PE= (π 2EI) / 4L2

end free

3 One end fixed, other Le=L / √2 PE= 2(π 2EI) / L2

end pin jointed

4 Both ends fixed Le=L/2 PE= 4(π 2 EI) / L2

Note: L is the actual length of respective column and Le is to be

considered in calculating Euler's buckling load
Extension of Euler’s formula
 The Effective length: of a column with given end conditions is the
length of an equivalent column with both ends hinged, made up of
same material having same cross section, subjected to same
crippling load (buckling load) as that of given column.
Slenderness ratio: It is the Ratio of the effective length of the
column to the least radius of gyration of the cross sectional ends of
the column.
Slenderness ratio, λ =Le /k
Least radius of gyration, k= √ Imin/A
Imin is the least of I xx and I yy
L =actual length of the column
Le=effective length of the column
 Based on slenderness ratio ,columns are classified as
short ,long and intermediate columns.
Generally the slenderness ratio of short column is less
than 32 ,and that of long column is greater than 120,
Intermediate columns have slenderness ratio greater than
32 and less than 120.
 Limitation of Euler's theory

The validity of Euler’s theory is subjected to condition that

failure is due to buckling. The Euler’s formula for crippling is
Pcr= (π 2 EI) / Le 2
But I =Ak2
∴ Pcr/A= π 2E/(Le/K)2
σcr = π2E/(Le/K)2
Where σcr is crippling stress or critical stress or stress at failure
The term Le/K is called slenderness ratio. As slenderness ratio
increases critical load/stress reduces. The variation of critical stress
with respect to slenderness ratio is shown in figure 1. As L e/K
approaches to zero the critical stress tends to infinity. But this
cannot happen. Before this stage the material will get crushed.
 Hence, the limiting value of crippling stress is the crushing
stress. The corresponding slenderness ratio may be found by the
relation

σcr = σc
∴ σc = π 2E/(Le/K)2

Le/K= √ (π2E / σc)

For steel σc = 320N/mm2

and E =2 x 105 N/mm2
Limiting value (Le/K) is given by

(Le/K)lim =√ (π2E / σc) = √ π2 × 2 × 105/320) = 78.54

Hence if Le /k < (Le /k)lim Euler's formula will not be valid.
 Empirical formula or Rankine - Gordon
formula
We know that, Euler’s formula for calculating crippling load is valid
only for long columns.

But the real problem arises for intermediate columns which fails
due to the combination of buckling and direct stress.
The Rankine suggested an empirical formula which is valid for all
types of columns. The Rankine’s formula is given by,

1 = 1 1
+
PR PC PE

PR = crippling load by Rankine’s formula

Pc = crushing load = σc .A
PE = buckling load= PE= (π 2 EI) / Le 2
 For short columns: The effective length will be small and hence the
value of PE =(π 2 EI) / Le2 will be very large.

Hence 1/ PE is very small and can be neglected.

therefore 1/ PR= 1/ Pc or PR =Pc

For long column: we neglect the effect direct compression or
crushing and hence the term 1/ Pc can be neglected.

therefore 1/ PR= 1/ PE or PR =PE

Hence Rankines formula,

1/ PR= 1/ Pc + 1/ PE is satisfactory for all types of

columns
1 1 1
= +
PR PC PE
1 PC + PE
=
PR PC × PE
PC × PE PC
PR = =
PC + PE P
1+ C
PE
π 2 EI
substituting PC = σ c A and PE =
Le 2 (I=AK2)
σc A σc A σc A σc A
PR = = = =
σc A σc A σ Le 2
σ ( Le / K ) 2
1+ 2 1+ 2 1+ 2 c
1+ c

π EI π E ( AK )
2
π EK 2
π2E
Le 2 Le 2
σc A
PR =
1 + a ( Le / K ) 2
σ
where a = 2 c
π E
 PR = σcA / (1+a.λ2 )
where a = Rankine’s constant =σc / π 2EI
and λ = slenderness ratio = Le/ k
 ILLUSTRATIVE NUMERICAL EXAMPLES
1. A solid round bar 60mm in diameter and 2.5m long is
used as a strut. One end of the strut is fixed, while its other
end is hinged. Find the safe compressive load, for this strut,
using Euler’s formula. Assume E=200GN/m2 and factor of
safety =3.
Solution: end condition: one end hinged, other end fixed
effective length Le = L /(√ 2)= 2.5/ (√ 2)= 1.768m
Euler’s crippling load =PE= (π2EI) / Le 2
= [π 2 × 200 × 109 × π × (0.06)4 /64] / (1.7682)
= 401.4 ×103 N =401.4 kN
Safe compressive load = PE /3 =133.9kN
 2.A slender pin ended aluminium column 1.8m long and of
circular cross-section is to have an outside diameter of
50mm. Calculate the necessary internal diameter to prevent
failure by buckling if the actual load applied is 13.6kN and
the critical load applied is twice the actual load. Take
Ea = 70GN/m2.
Solution: outside diameter of the column =D =50mm
=0.05m; E=70 × 10 9N/m2
Inside diameter = ?
 End condition: pin-ended ( hinged)

Le =L =1.8m
Euler’s crippling load =PE= π 2 (EI) / Le 2

Critical load =PE = 2 × safe load (given condition)

= 2 × 13.6=27.2kN

I= π (D4-d4) /64 = π (0.054-d4) /64

π ( 0. 05 4
− d 4
)
π × 70 ×10 ×
2 9

27.2 × 10 =
3 64
1.82
d = 0.0437m =
3. A built up beam shown in the figure is simply supported at its
ends. Compute its length, given that when it subjected to a load of
40kN per metre length. It deflects by 1cm. Find the safe load, if this
beam is used as a column with both ends fixed. Assume a factor of
safety of 4. use Euler’s formula. Take E = 210GN/m2.
300
mm
50 mm

20 mm 1000 mm
 Load =40kN/m , length of the beam =?

Moment of inertia of section about X-X axis,

 300 × 503  20 ×1000 3
I xx = 2 + (300 × 50) 525 2  +
 12  12
= 994166 × 104 mm4.= 99.41×10-4m

5 wL4
Using the relation, δ =
384EI

5 × 40 × 10 3 × L 4
0.01 =
( 384 × 210 × 109 × 99.41 × 10-4

L = 14.15m
 Safe load, the beam can carry as
column:
End condition: Both ends fixed
Le = L/2 = 14.15/2 = 7.07m
Iyy = 2[ (50 × 300 3) /12] + (1000 × 20 3 ) /12
= 22567 × 10 4 mm4 = 2.25 × 10 -4 m4
PE = π 2 (EIyy) / Le 2
= (π 2 × 210 × 109 × 2.25 × 10 -4) / (7.07)2
= 9.33 × 10 6 N = 9.33 × 10 3 kN
Safe load = Pe /F.S = 9.33 × 10 3 / 4 = 2.333 × 10 3 kN
4.From the test on steel struts with ends fixed in position and fixed
in direction the following results are obtained.

Assuming the values in agreement with Rankine’s formula ,find the

two constants
Rankine’s critical load = PR = σcA / (1+a.λ2 )

Rankine’s critical stress = PR / A

200= σc / [1+a.(70 2 ) ] …. (1)

69= σc / [1+a.(170 2 ) ] …(2)
(1) / (2) gives
200 1 + a (170) 2
=
69 1 + a (70) 2

[ ]
2.8986 1 + a (70) = 1 + a (170)
2 2

constant a = 1.29 × 10 -4
substituting ‘a ‘ in (1) or (2)
5.Find the Euler’s crushing load for a hollow cylindrical cast iron
column, 15cm external diameter and 2cm thick, if it is 6m long and
hinged at both ends. E = 80GPa. Compare this load with the
crushing load as given by the Rankine’s formula, using
σc= 550MPa and a =1/600. For what length of the strut of this
cross-section does the Euler’s formula ceases to apply ?
Solution: Internal diameter = 15 – 2 × 2 = 11 cm
A = π/4[ 0.152- 0.112 ] = 81.7 × 10-4 m2.
I = π [ 0.154 - 0.114 ] /64
=17.66 × 10-6 m4 .

I min
K= = 0.0465 m
A
 Euler’s critical load is given by

PE = π 2 (EI) / Le 2

= (π 2 × 80 × 10 9 × 17.66 × 10 -6 ) / 62
= 387327.14 N (higher)
Rankine’s critical load, PR = (σc A) / [1+ a (Le / K)2]
= (550 × 10 6 × 81.7 × 10 -4)/ [1+1/600 (6/0.0465)2]
= 156301.78

To calculate limiting length : σc = 550 MPa =550N/mm2 = PE / A

550 = π 2 (EI) / A Le 2
therefore Le = 1.761m
6. The built up column shown in the figure consisting of
150mm × 100mm RSJ with 120mm wide plate riveted to each
flange. Calculate the safe load, the column can carry , if it is
4m long having one end fixed and other end hinged with a factor
of safety 3.5. Take the properties of the joist as
A = 21.67 × 102 mm2 ; Ixx = 839.1 × 104 mm4 ; Iyy = 94.8 × 104 mm4.
Assume Rankine’s constant as 315N/mm2 and a =1/7500
 120mm

12m

150mm

100mm
 Solution:
Ixx = 839.1 × 104 + 2[ (120 × 123)/12 + 120 × 12 ×( 75 +6)2]
= 2732.1 × 104 mm4
= 2732.1 × 10-8 m4
Similarly, Iyy = 94.8 × 10 4 + 2[ (12 × 1203 )/12 ] mm4
= 440.4 × 104 mm4
= 440.4 × 10-8 m4

(Iyy is the lower value, column will tend to buckle in

YY direction, Iyy has to be considered)
A = 21.67×102 + 2 (120×12) = 5047 mm2=50.47×10-4 m2
 Exercise problems

1. Calculate the safe compressive load on a hollow cast iron

column one end fixed and other end hinged of 150mm external
diameter,100mm internal diameter and 10m length. Use Euler's
formula with a factor of safety of 5 and E=95GN/m2
Ans: 74.8kN
2. Bar of length 4m when used as a simply supported beam and
subjected to a u.d.l of 30kN/m over the whole span., deflects
15mm at the centre. Determine the crippling loads when it is
used as a column with the following end conditions:
(i) Both ends pin jointed (ii) one end fixed and other end
hinged (iii) Both ends fixed
Ans: (i) 4108 kN (ii) 8207kN (iii) 16432 kN
 sc - 42
Exercise problems (contd)

3.Determine the ratio of the buckling strengths of two

columns of circular cross-section one hollow and other solid
when both are made of the same material, have the same
length, cross sectional area and end conditions. The internal
diameter of the hollow column is half of its external diameter
Ans: 1.66
4. Calculate the critical load of a strut 5m long which is
made of a bar circular in section and pin jointed at both ends.
The same bar when freely supported gives mid span
deflection of 10mm with a load of 80N at the centre.
Ans: 8.22kN
 sc - 43
Exercise problems (contd)

5. A hollow C.I column whose outside diameter is 200mm

has a thickness of 20mm. It is 4.5m long and is fixed at both
ends. Calculate the safe load by Rankine’s formula using a
factor of safety of 4. Take σc =550MN/m2 , a=1/1600
Ans: 0.877 MN
6. A hollow cylindrical cast iron column is 4m long with both
ends fixed. Determine the minimum diameter of the column,
if it has to carry a safe load of 250kN with a factor of safety
of 5. Take the internal diameter as 0.8 times the external
diameter.
σC =550MN /m 2 a= 1/1600
Ans: D= 136mm d= 108.8mm