Experiment # 5

Compression Test of Steel

Columns
 Objectives :

1) To study some of the important parameters which affect column

buckling, such as slenderness ratio (L/r) and least radius of
gyration (r).

2) To determine the relationship between critical stress versus

slenderness ratio of steel columns.

3) To confirm the validity of Euler’s analysis of Pcr ,the critical buckling

load and the relationship of Pcr to column slenderness.
 Compression Members :

 Columns: structural members which undergo compressive stress.

1) Column Strength : Its ability to support

loads without experiencing excessive stress.
 Column Design :

2) Column Stability : Its ability to support loads

without experiencing sudden change in its
configuration.

1) Material Failure

 Column Failure :

P
2) Buckling 
A
 Material Failure:

■ The failure of a short column resulting from the compression axial force
looks like:

P P

P P

   ultimate Safe
P

A    ultimate Failure
 Buckling :

■ However, when a compression member becomes longer, the role of the

geometry and stiffness (Young’s Modulus) becomes more and more
important.

■ For a long (slender) column, buckling occurs way before the normal stress
reaches the strength of the column material.

P Pcr

Pcr
 cr 
A    cr : Safe
Load Increase

σcr : Buckling Stress

   cr : Buckling
Pcr : Buckling Load
 Buckling Stress:

■ What does buckling stress (σcr) depend on ?

- Modulus of Elasticity (E) Pcr

- Length of the column (L)

- Dimensions of the cross section (r for a rod)

■ The expression for critical stress is called Euler’s (1707-1783)

formula. For a both end pinned column we have:

 2E
 cr 
( Le / rg ) 2
 Euler’s Formula:

■ An important parameter in Euler’s formula is:

 2E
Le  cr 
 ( Le / rg ) 2
rg
Pcr
is called slenderness ratio.
Column length
Le : effective length
Support condition

rg : radius of gyration

I
rg 
A
 An Example:

■ For example for a rod with both ends pinned we have :

Pcr
- Both ends pinned :

Le = L

- Radius of gyration :

I d 4 / 64 d
rg   
A d 2 / 4 4
- And the slenderness ratio is :

4L

d
 Effective Length:

■ How to figure out Le based on the supports conditions ?

 2E
 cr 
( Le / rg ) 2
 Buckling Curve:

■ If the critical stress (σcr ) vs. slenderness ratio is plotted :

stress

Slenderness ratio
 Buckling Curve:

■ If the critical stress (σcr ) vs. slenderness ratio is plotted :

stress

Slenderness ratio
 Experiment Procedure:

■ For this experiment several steel columns with different lengths and cross
section diameters are put under compression and the buckling loads are
measured. Then the corresponding critical stresses are compared with those
calculated from Euler’s formula.
 Experiment Procedure:

■ Finally, experimental and theoretical critical stresses are plotted vs.

slenderness ratio :
σcr (psi)

Euler’s Formula

σy

Experimental
Stresses

KL/rg
Short Intermediate Long
Thank you !
Questions?