DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

EXPERIMENT NO.: 5
TEST OF SLENDER COLUMN
1. OBJECTIVES

-To determine Euler load /critical load /buckling load of slender columns through experiment.
-To determine Euler crippling load /critical load /buckling load of slender columns
theoretically from Euler formula for slender columns.
-To compare the experimental critical load and theoretical critical load.
-To draw column strength curves (both experimental plot & theoretical plot).

2. APPARATUS

Digital slide calipers, Column testing apparatus, Steel scale, electronic balance, support system
and computer.

3. SIGNIFICANCE

This experiment provides fundamental knowledge on slender column and its behaviour,
test procedure, testing machine, Euler’s critical load for pined and fixed ended columns etc.

4. SPECIMENS

Steel column.

5. THEORY

The term column is frequently used to describe a vertical member, whereas the word
strut is occasionally used in regard to inclined bars. The vertical members of a building frame
or any structural system which carry mainly compressive loads are called as columns. The
compression member of a truss is called strut. The common feature of the columns and struts
is such that they are subjected to compressive forces. A compression member is generally
considered to be column when its unsupported length is more than 10 times its least lateral
dimension.

The design of columns presents a problem; some of the reasons are:

1. There is no definite demarcation point between a column that is relatively short and a
compression block that is relatively tall.
2. Although a column is, for practical purpose, a straight, homogeneous compression member,
it is never made theoretically perfect. Any deviation in its alignment, lack of homogeneity,

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or presence of internal stresses will act as a source of bending and possible ultimate
collapse.
3. The inability to apply perfectly axial load causes slight eccentricities to be imposed upon
the column that may contribute markedly on its bending tendency and possible ultimate
collapse.
4. The character and magnitude of the end restraint of ordinary columns may vary greatly.

6. CLASSIFICATION OF COLUMNS

The classification of structural column may be classified in three categories, they are as
follows:

(a) Long column

(b) Intermediate column
(c) Short column

The distinction between these three is determined by their failure behavior. Long columns
fail by buckling or excessive lateral bending; intermediate columns, by a combination of
crushing and buckling; Short compression blocks, by crushing/plastic squashing.

Ideal Column & Real Column: Columns that are perfectly straight, loaded exactly through their
centroid, free of any residual stress, and manufactured from a perfectly isotropic material are
termed as ideal columns .Such columns do not exist. However, ideal column theory contributes
greatly to our knowledge of column behavior, as will see.

Because steel column is manufactured by man, it contains certain human flaws.

Residual stresses due cooling after rolling, straightening, welding &initial crookedness are
always present. Perfectly straight columns do not exist and initial imperfections are to be
expected. Further, axial loads are rarely axial. Accidental eccentricity is inevitable. Finally, no
construction material is perfectly isotropic. This type of column is termed as a real column.
They truly exist.

Type of Failure of a Column: Failure of a column occurs by buckling, i.e. by lateral deflection
of the bar. In compression it is to be noted that failure of a short compression member occurs
by yielding of the material. Buckling, and hence failure, of a column may occur even though
the maximum stress in the bar is less than the yield point of the material.

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Crushing failure/Compression Buckling failure of column

failure of column
(1) Occurs in short column (1) Occurs in long slender column
(slenderness ratio is small) (slenderness ratio is high)
(2) Failure occurs due to yielding of material (2) Failure occurs due to excessive lateral
displacement
(3) It crushes/ yields/squashes before buckling (3) It buckles before crushing / yielding
(i.e. crushing stress/ yield stress> buckling (i.e. buckling Stress> crushing stress/ yield
stress) stress)
(4) Formula for critical load (4) Formula for critical load
(direct compression):=f x A (Euler’s crippling load): =

(5) In crushing / yielding, normal compressive (5) In buckling, bending stress developed
stress developed

7. EULER’S THEORY FOR AXIALLY LOADED ELASTIC LONG COLUMN

The type of failure of columns due to excessive displacement is called buckling

failure. The buckling load depends upon the slenderness ratio of the column, length of the
column and also on the end conditions. Leonard Euler (1707-1783), a Swiss mathematician
was first to derive theoretical expression for buckling load.

The assumptions made in this theory are:

(a) The material of the column is homogeneous, isotropic and elastic; and thus obeys
Hooke’s law.
(b) The cross-section of the column is uniform throughout its length.
(c) The column is initially straight and is loaded axially.
(d) The column fails by buckling alone.
(e) The self weight of the column is negligible.
(f) The formula is applicable for only long slender column (the length of the column is very
large as compared its cross-sectional dimension) (i.e. it is not applicable for short and
intermediate column).
(g) The shortening of the column, due to direct compression (being very small), is
neglected.

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Figure 1: Effective length factor, K for different support condition

8. LIMITATIONS OF THE EULER FORMULA

Limitation (1)

Euler’s formula is applicable for concentrically (i.e. axially) loaded column, not
applicable for eccentrically loaded column.

Limitation (2)

Euler’s formula is applicable for long slender column only not for short column because
a longs column buckles before yielding (i.e. crushing) and short column crush / yields before
buckling.
Limitation (3)

Euler’s formula is related to stiffness (i.e. modulus of elasticity), not related to strength:
Euler’s formula shows that the critical load which causes buckling depends not upon the
strength of the material but only upon its dimensions and modulus of elasticity.
Limitation (4)

Euler’s formula is applicable upto elastic limit only, hence there is limiting value of
slenderness ratio, i.e. limiting value of critical stress, limiting value of buckling load.
Limitation (5)

Euler’s formula determines critical loads, not working loads. It is therefore necessary
to divide the right side of Euler’s formula by a suitable factor of safety – usually 2 to 3,
depending on the material – in order to obtain practical allowable value.

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9. PROCEDURE

i) At first, measure the geometric dimensions of the column.

ii) Then place the column in the testing apparatus between the end supports.
iii) Apply the compressive load axially.
iv) Record the critical buckling load from the display.
v) Perform the test for all support conditions (as seen in Fig.1)

10. SAMPLECALCULATIONS

Calculate slenderness ratio, critical loads, and critical stresses for different support
conditions.

11. GRAPH
1. Combined graphs of experimental Pcr vs. K and theoretical Pcr vs. K.
2. Combined graphs of experimental Pcr vs. KL and theoretical Pcr vs. KL.
3. Combined graphs of experimental critical stress σcr vs. slenderness ratio, KL/r and
theoretical critical stress σcr vs. slenderness ratio, KL/r.

12. RESULT

Support Effective Length, Radius Slenderness Analytical Experimental Critical Critical

Condition Length L of ratio, KL/r Critical Critical Load, Stress, Stress,
P σ σ
Factor, K gyration, Load, Pcr cr cr cr

(mm) r (mm) (N) (N) (Analyt.) (Exp.)

F-F 0.5
H-F 0.7
H-H 1.0
H-Free 2
F-Free 2

*H= Hinge, F= Fixed.

13. DISCUSSION

(Discuss on the results found, graphs, and failure patterns and also compare the results
found, graphs and failure patterns.)
Point out the discussion
1.
2.

14. ASSIGNMENT

1. Derive the equation of Euler critical load for pin ended column.
2. Derive the equation of Euler critical load for fixed ended column.
3. Define the Euler critical buckling load

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