COLUMN & SUPPORT

COLUMN STABILITY
AND
SUPPORT
Ahmad Shufni Othman
July 2012

COLUMN & SUPPORT

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Explaining the following :
Column and support
Type of column failure
Type of column ends and support

Understanding the Euler Theorem and buckling load

(crippling load) formulae.
Determining the effective length and buckling load for a
slender column with different types of supports.

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COLUMNS (or struts)

Columns are vertical member of a structure, which is

subjected to axial compressive loads. Struts is a member of
a structure which is not vertical with one or both ends
hinged or pinned jointed.

The cross-sectional dimensions are relatively small

compared with their length in the direction of the
compressive force.

They are also referred to as pillars, posts, and stanchions.

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COLUMNS (or struts)
Columns fail in compression. In civil
engineering they are often made of brittle
material which is strong in compression such
as cast iron, stone and concrete. These
materials are weak in tension so it is important
to ensure that bending does not produce
tensile stresses in them. If the compressive
stress is too big, they fail by crumbling and
cracking.

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TYPE OF COLUMNS FAILURE
All short columns
fail due to crushing
whereas long
columns fail due to
buckling and
crushing.
(crushing)

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FORMATIONS OF SHORT COLUMNS

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Euler's buckling equation
What is buckling?

In engineering, buckling is a
failure mode characterized by a
sudden failure of a structural
member subjected to high
compressive stresses, where
the actual compressive stress at
the point of failure is less than
the ultimate compressive
stresses that the material is
capable of withstanding.

A column under a concentric

axial load exhibiting the
characteristic deformation of
buckling

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Buckling in columns

axial load

If the load on a column is applied through the

center of gravity of its cross section, it is called
an axial load. A load at any other point in the
cross section is known as an eccentric load.
A short column under the action of an axial
load will fail by direct compression before it
buckles, but a long column loaded in the same
manner will fail by buckling (bending), the
buckling effect being so large that the effect of
the direct load may be neglected.
The intermediate-length column will fail by a
combination of direct compressive stress and
bending.
The load at which the column just buckles is
known as buckling load or critical load or
crippling load.

eccentric load

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Euler's Buckling Equation
1757, mathematician Leonhard Euler (pronounced Oiler) derived
a formula that gives the maximum axial load that a long, slender,
ideal column can carry without buckling.
An ideal column is one that is perfectly straight, homogeneous,
and free from initial stress.
The maximum load, sometimes called the critical load, causes
the column to be in a state of unstable equilibrium; that is, any
increase in the load, or the introduction of the slightest lateral
force, will cause the column to fail by buckling.

The formula derived by Euler for columns with no consideration

for lateral forces is given below. However, if lateral forces are
taken into consideration the value of critical load remains
approximately same.

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Euler's Buckling Equation
The following assumptions are made in the Eulers column theory;

1. Initially the column is perfectly straight, and the load applied is

truly axial.
2. The cross-section of the column is uniform throughout its length.
3. The column material is perfectly elastic, homogeneous and
isotropic, and thus obeys Hookes law.
4. The length of column is very large as compare to its crosssectional dimensions.
5. The shortening of column, due to direct compression (being
very small) is neglected.
6. The failure of column occurs due to buckling alone.

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Euler's Buckling Equation
Types of end conditions of columns
In actual practice, there are number of and conditions, for
column. For the Eulers column theory, there are four types of
end condition.

Both end
Pinned
(Hinged)

Both end
Fixed

One end Fixed,

one end Pinned

One end Fixed,

one end Free

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Euler's Buckling Equation
Sign conventions
1. A moment, which tends to
bend the column with
convexity towards its initial
central line, as shown in figure
(a), is taken as positive.

2. A moment, which tends to

bend the column with its
concavity towards its initial
central line, as shown in figure
(b), is taken as negative.

Figure (a)

Figure (b)

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Eulers Buckling Load for Columns or Struts
Derivation of Eulers Equation
In 1757, Leonhard Euler developed a
relationship for the critical column
load which would produce buckling.
A very brief derivation of Euler's
equation goes as follows:
x
A loaded pinned-pinned column is
shown in the diagram. A top section of
the diagram is shown with the bending
moment indicated. In terms of the
load P, and the lateral deflection y, we
can write an expression for the
bending moment M:

M Py( x )

......( Eq.1)

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Eulers Buckling Load for Columns or Struts
We can also state that for beams and columns, the bending moment is
proportional to the curvature of the beam, which, for small deflection
can be expressed as:
M d2y

EI

dx

......( Eq.2)

Where E = Young's modulus and I = moment of Inertia. Substituting

Equation 1 into Equation 2, we obtain the following differential
equation:
d2y
P

y
dx
EI
d2y P

y 0
2
dx
EI
2

or

......( Eq.3)

This is a second order differential equation which has the general

solution of:
y A cos(cx ) B sin(cx )

P
P
y A sin
x B cos
x
EI
EI

......( Eq.4)

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Eulers Buckling Load for Columns or Struts
We next apply boundary conditions: at x = 0, y = 0 and at x = L, y = 0.
That is, the deflection of the column must be zero at each end since it
is pinned.
Applying the first boundary condition, it is noted that B must be zero
since cos (0) = 1. The second boundary condition implies that either A
must be zero (which leaves us with no equation at all) or that:

sin
Noting that sin (

P
L0
EI

......( Eq.5)

) = 0, we can solve for P:

P
L
EI

Pcr

2 EI
2

.....( Eq.6)

where Pcr stands for the critical load (or buckling load) at which the
column is predicted to buckle.

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Eulers Buckling Load for Columns or Struts
Therefore, Eulers Buckling Load is;

Pe
Where;

2 EI
Le 2

E = Modulus of Elasticity of Column Material.

I = Minimum Moment of Inertia of Column Section.
Le = Equivalent length of Column or Effective Length

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Eulers Buckling Load for Columns or Struts

Le = Equivalent length of Column or effective length

(is defined as the distance between successive inflection
points or points of zero moment)

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Eulers Buckling Load for Columns or Struts

axis

Moment of Inertia
OR
2nd. Moment Area

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Eulers Buckling Load for Columns or Struts
CASE 1 - Both end Hinged (pinned).
Let us consider a column with both end hinged.
It is subjected to axial compressive load P.
Let, d = diameter of the column
L = length of the column

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Eulers Buckling Load for Columns or Struts
CASE 1 - Both end Pinned (Hinged).
Let, d = diameter of the column
L = length of the column
Since Both Ends are Pinned, Le = L
Column material has Modulus of Elasticity = E
Moment of Inertia of Circular Section,

64

d4

Due to axial compressive load P, the column will buckle

Now, at a distance of x from Point B.
Let us take a section x-x
Let the lateral deflection at section x-x be y.
Now, Eulers Formula will be,

Pe

2 EI
L2

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Eulers Buckling Load for Columns or Struts
CASE 2 With both end Fixed.

L
Since Both Ends are Fixed, Le
2
Pe

2 EI
Le

4 2 EI
Pe
L2

2 EI
L

2

2 EI
L2
4

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Eulers Buckling Load for Columns or Struts
CASE 3 With one end Fixed & one end Hinged (pinned).

L
When one end Fixed and one end Hinged, Le
2
Pe

2 EI
Le

2 2 EI
Pe
L2

2 EI
L

2 EI
L2
2

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Eulers Buckling Load for Columns or Struts
CASE 4 With one end Fixed & one end Free.
When one end Fixed and one end Free,

Le 2 L

Pe

2 EI

Pe

A column with one fixed and one free

end (a), will behave as the upper-half of
a pin-connected (hinged) column (b).

Le

2 EI
4L2

2 EI

2 L

2 EI
4 L2

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Eulers Buckling Load for Columns or Struts
Summary

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Eulers Buckling Load for Columns or Struts
Buckling Stress (Crippling Stress)
The Buckling Stress, cr, is the Euler Buckling Load divided by
the columns cross-sectional area:

Pe 2 EI
cr

A ALe 2
Radius of Gyration
If all of the cross-sectional area of a column were massed a distance r away
from the neutral axis, the lumped-area cross-section would have the same
Moment of Inertia as the real cross-section. r is termed the RADIUS OF
GYRATION and is given by:

I
A

The Moment of Inertia I, can be expressed in terms of Radius of Gyration, r

as:
2

I Ar

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Eulers Buckling Load for Columns or Struts
Buckling or Crippling Stress in terms of Effective Length and Radius of
Gyration.

Pe 2 EI
cr

A ALe 2
2 E ( Ar 2 )

AL2
2 Er 2

L2
2E

2
L
r

where

L
s ( slendernes s ratio )
r

I Ar 2

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Eulers Buckling Load for Columns or Struts
Slenderness Ratio
SLENDERNESS RATIO is a measure of how long the column is
compared to its cross-section's effective width (resistance to bending
or buckling). The Slenderness Ratio, s, is simply the column's Length
divided by the Radius of Gyration.

L
r

Applying the Slenderness Ratio and the

Radius of Gyration reduces the Euler Buckling
Formula to:

Pe

2 EI
Le 2

2E
2 r
E
2
s
Le
2

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EXAMPLE 1
A steel rod 5 m long and 4 cm diameter is used as a column, with one end
fixed and the other free. Determine the crippling load by Eulers formula.
Take E as 2.0 x 106 kg/cm2
Solution
Given.

Length, L = 5 m = 500 cm

Since the column is fixed at one end and free at the other, therefore
equivalent length of the column, Le = 2L = 2 x 500 = 1000 cm
Dia. Of column,

d = 4 cm

Moment of Inertia, I

64

d4

64

44 4 cm 4

Crippling load (critical load or buckling load),

Pe

2 EI
Le

2 2.0 106 4
1000

248.1 kg

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EXAMPLE 2
A hollow alloy tube 5 m long with diameters 4 cm and 2.5 cm respectively
was found to extend 6.4 mm under a tensile load of 60 kN. Find the
buckling load for the tube, when used as a strut with both ends pinned.
Also find the safe load on the tube, taking factor of safety as 4.
Solution
Given.

Length, L = 5 m

Outer diameter,

D = 4 cm = 0.04 m

Inner diameter,

d = 2.5 cm = 0.025 m

Therefore the Area, A

Moment of Inertia, I

64

( D2 d 2 )

(D d )
4

64

(0.042 0.0252 ) 7.66 10 4 m 2

(0.044 0.0254 ) 1.06 10 7 m 4

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EXAMPLE 2 : Solution (cont.)
Deflection,
Tensile load,

l = 6.4 mm = 6.4 X 10-3 m

P = 60 kN

And Youngs Modulus,

P A PL
60 5
7
2
E

6
.
12

10
kN
/
m
l L Al (7.66 10 4 ) (6.4 10 3 )
Since the column is pinned at its both end, therefore equivalent length of
the column, Le = L = 5 m
Buckling Load (Crippling Load or Critical Load),

Pe

2 EI
Le

2 (6.12 107 ) (1.06 107 )

5

2.56 kN

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EXAMPLE 2 : Solution (cont.)

Safe Load
We know that the safe load on the tube,

BucklingLoad
2.56
Safe Load

0.64 kN
Factor of Safety
4

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EXAMPLE 3
An I section joist 40 cm x 20 cm x 2 cm and 6 m long is used as a strut
with both ends fixed. What is Eulers crippling load for the column?. Take
Youngs modulus for the joist as 2.0 x 106 N/cm2
y

Solution
Given;

20 cm

Length, L = 6 m

Outer width, b = 20 cm

2 cm

Outer depth, d = 40 cm
Inner width, b1 = 20 2 = 18 cm
Inner depth, d1 = 40 2x2 = 36 cm

x 40 cm

2 cm
2 cm

Therefore, Moment of Inertia about X-X;

I XX

1
1
3
(bd 3 b1d1 ) ( 20 403 18 363 ) 36682.67 cm 4
12
12

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EXAMPLE 3 : Solution (cont.)
And ;

IYY

1
1
3
2 ( 2 20 ) ( 36 23 ) 2666.67 24 2690.67 cm 4
12
12

Since IYY is less than IXX , therefore the joist will tend to buckle along Y-Y
axis. Thus we shall take the value of I as IYY = 2690.67 cm4

Since the column is fixed at its both ends, therefore equivalent length of
the column,
L 600

Le

300 cm

Crippling Load,

Pe

2 EI
Le

2 ( 2 106 ) ( 2690.67)
300

590129.9 N 590 kN

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EXAMPLE 4

A T-section 150 mm x 120 mm x 20 mm is used as a strut of 4 m long with

hinged at its both ends. Calculate the crippling load, if Youngs modulus
for the material be 2.0 x 106 N/cm2
y
Solution
Given;

150 mm

Length, L = 4 m

E 2 10 N / cm
6

20 mm
2

y
x

x
120 mm

First, determine the c.g. of the section;

20 mm

Flange; a1 = 150 X 20 = 3000 mm2

y1 = 20 / 2 = 10 mm
Web;

a2 = 100 X 20 = 2000 mm2

y2 = 20 + 100 / 2 = 70 mm

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EXAMPLE 4 : Solution (cont.)

a1 y1 a2 y2 3000(10) 2000(70)
y

34mm
a1 a2
3000 2000
We know that the moment of inertia the section about X-X axis,

I XX

3
bd 3

bd
2
2

ay

ay
12
section1 12
section2

I XX

3
150 203

20

100
2
2

3000 24
2000 36 609 104 mm 4
12
12

And,

IYY

20 1503 100 203

569 104 mm 4

12
12

Since IYY is less than IXX, therefore the column will buckle along Y-Y axis,
Thus we shall take the value of I as IYY

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EXAMPLE 4 : Solution (cont.)
The column is pinned at its both ends, therefore the equivalent length of
the column, Le = L = 4 m = 4000 mm
Youngs Modulus,
6
20

10
N
4
2
E 2 106 N / cm 2

10
N
/
mm
10 10 mm 2

Crippling Load (or Buckling Load),

Pe

2 EI
Le

2 ( 2 104 ) 569 104

4000

70197.6 N 70.2 kN

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EXAMPLE 5
If an allowable strain for a column are 0.00035 and the minimum radius of
gyration are 50 mm before the column begin to buckle. Determine the
maximum length for that column, that are fixed at one end and free on the
other.
Solution
Since the column is fixed at one end and free at the other, therefore
equivalent length of the column, Le = 2L

Buckling Load (or Crippling Load), Pe

2 EI
Le

2 EI
( 2 L)

2 EI
4 L2

We know that,

Pe 2 EI
cr

A A.4 L2
2 E ( Ar 2 ) 2 Er 2

2
A.4 L
4 L2

I
A
I Ar 2

where, r

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EXAMPLE 5 : Solution (cont.)
And we know that, Youngs Modulus,

cr
E
cr
cr
cr
E

2 Er 2

E .4 L2
2r 2

4 L2
2 50 2
0.00035
4 L2
2
2

50
L2
4 0.00035
L 4196mm

previously,

cr

2 Er 2
4 L2

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EXAMPLE 6
A square steel section, 38 mm X 50 mm, fixed at both end and loaded
axially. If the buckling strength = 23.9 N/mm2 and E = 21.7 kN/mm2 .
Determine the minimum length for that section.
Solution

bd 3 50 383

2.29 105 mm 4
Second moment area, I
12
12
Column is fixed at both ends, therefore, Le

L
2

And, the Buckling Load,

Pe

2 EI
Le

2 EI

L 22

4 2 EI

L2

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EXAMPLE 6 : Solution (cont.)

Pe 4 2 EI

Buckling Strength, cr
A
AL2
4 2 (21.7 103 )(2.29 105 )
23.9
(50 38) L2
2
3
5
4

(
21
.
7

10
)(
2
.
29

10
)
L2
(50 38) 23.9
L 2077mm

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CLASS ASSIGNMENT
QUESTION 1
A solid round bar 3 m long and 5 cm in diameter is used as a strut. If the
Youngs modulus for the strut, 2.0 x 105 N/mm2 , determine the crippling
(or buckling) load, when the given strut is used with the following
conditions ;
i. Both of the ends hinged.
ii. One end of the strut is fixed and the other end is free.
iii. Both the ends of strut are fixed.
iv. One end is fixed and the other end is hinged.
QUESTION 2
A column of timber section, 15 cm X 20 cm is 6 m long with both ends
being fixed. If the Youngs modulus for timber = 17.5 kN/mm2, determine;
i. Buckling load.
ii. Safe load for the column if factor of safety = 3.

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CLASS ASSIGNMENT (cont.)
QUESTION 3

a) A hollow cylindrical cast iron column with both ends fixed has to
carry a safe load of 250 kN with a factor of safety of 5. Determine the
minimum diameter of the column. Take the internal diameter as 0.8
times the external diameter and the maximum crushing stress as 550
N/mm2 .
b) If an allowable strain are 0.00055. Determine the maximum length for
the column.
QUESTION 4
A simply supported beam of length 4 m is subjected to a uniformly
distributed load of 30 kN/m over the whole span and deflects 15 mm at the
centre. Determine the buckling loads when this beam is used as a column
with the following conditions;
i. One end is fixed and the other end is hinged.
ii. Both the ends pin jointed.

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CLASS ASSIGNMENT (cont.)
QUESTION 5
Determine the ratio of buckling strengths of two columns, one hollow and
the other solid. Both are made of the same material and have the same
length, cross-sectional area and end conditions. The internal diameter of
hollow column is half of its external diameter.

QUESTION 6
A solid round bar 4 m long and 5 cm in diameter was found to extend
4.6 mm under a tensile load of 50 kN. This bar is used as a strut with
both ends pinned. Determine the buckling load for the bar and also the
safe load taking a factor of safety of 4.

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CLASS ASSIGNMENT (cont.)
QUESTION 7
Determine Eulers crippling load for an Isection joist 40 cm X 20 cm X 1 cm and 5
m long which is used as a strut with both
ends fixed. Take Youngs modulus for the
joist as 2.1 X 105 N/mm2.

20 cm
1 cm
40 cm

1 cm
1 cm

QUESTION 8
Calculate the Eulers critical load for a
strut of T-section, the flange width
being 10 cm , overall depth 8 cm and
both flange and stem 1 cm thick. The
strut is 3 m long and is built-in at both
ends. Take Youngs modulus for the
strut as 2 x 105 N/mm2 .

10 cm

1 cm
8 cm
1 cm

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It is the result of,

preparation,

and
learning from failure.