Stress Analysis

Third Laboratory Report Buckling of PinEnded Columns

Objectives
-

To determine the buckling loads for several slender pin-ended bars and
the relationship between load and center deflection for each of the
bars.
To compare the theoretical and experimental critical loads for all bars
tested.

Equipment
-

A loading system (ram, pump, and pressure gauge)

Structural support frame
Datascan analog measurement processor
Dalite Datascan Configurator
Aluminum bars of various lengths
Electrical potentiometers and holder

Specimens
All specimens are aluminum bars with a cross-section of 12.89 (mm)

19.2 (mm), and lengths of 508 (mm), 737 (mm), 902 (mm), and 997 (mm).
Youngs modulus for aluminum is E=70 Gpa

Procedure
-

The bars were inserted between the supports in a way that the ball
bearing at the ends seat firmly, the larger dimension of the crosssection was parallel with the floor, and the displacement transducer
was positioned to measure the vertical deflection of the bar.
The minimum moment of inertia was calculated, and the critical load
for the bar was predicted.
The Dalite Datascan Configurator at DB2Bc.OVL file was opened. The
initial reading for the electrical potentiometer was checked to be zero.
The load increments were applied slowly. The central deflection was
recorded at each increment.

1 | Page

Stress Analysis

Third Laboratory Report Buckling of PinEnded Columns

Figure 1 Buckling of Pin-Ended Columns

Results
Sample Calculations
Equations of the Straight LinesThat Fit Pressure vs . Load Points :
For the specimen with a length of 508 ( mm ) :
Load=( Pressure 0.0004 ) +0.276
For the specimen with a length of 737 ( mm ) :
Load=( Pressure 0.4847 103 ) + ( 0.6667 103 )
For the specimen with a length of 902 ( mm ) :
Load=( Pressure 0.4757 103 ) + ( 0.5333 103 )
For the specimen with a length of 997 ( mm ) :
Load=( Pressure 0.4811 103 )

Minimum Moment of Inertia=

0.0192 ( m ) ( 0.01289 ( m ) )
=3.42672 109 ( m 4 )
12

Area=0.0192 ( m ) 0.01289 ( m )=0.247488 103 ( m2 )

2 | Page

Stress Analysis

Third Laboratory Report Buckling of PinEnded Columns

E=70 109 ( Pa)

3.42672 109 ( m4 )
I
Radius of Gyration=r =
=
=3.7210 103 ( m )
3
2
A
0.247488 10 ( m )

For the specimen witha length of 508 ( mm ) :

Pcr =

2
2 70 109 ( Pa) 3.42672 109 ( m4 )
EI

P
=
=9.1738 ( kN )
cr
2
2
L
( 0.508 ( m ) )

cr =

Pcr
9.1738 ( kN )
cr=
=37.0676 ( MPa )
A
0.247488 103 ( m2 )

0.508 ( m)
L
Slenderness Ration= =
=136.5216
r 3.7210 103 ( m )

3 | Page

Stress Analysis

4 | Page

Third Laboratory Report Buckling of PinEnded Columns

Stress Analysis

5 | Page

Third Laboratory Report Buckling of PinEnded Columns

Stress Analysis

6 | Page

Third Laboratory Report Buckling of PinEnded Columns

Stress Analysis

7 | Page

Third Laboratory Report Buckling of PinEnded Columns

Stress Analysis

8 | Page

Third Laboratory Report Buckling of PinEnded Columns

Stress Analysis

9 | Page

Third Laboratory Report Buckling of PinEnded Columns

Stress Analysis

10 | P a g e

Third Laboratory Report Buckling of PinEnded Columns

Stress Analysis

11 | P a g e

Third Laboratory Report Buckling of PinEnded Columns

Stress Analysis

12 | P a g e

Third Laboratory Report Buckling of PinEnded Columns

Stress Analysis

Third Laboratory Report Buckling of PinEnded Columns

Table 1 Summary of the Pertinent Results

13 | P a g e

Stress Analysis

L
r

L ,(m )

Third Laboratory Report Buckling of PinEnded Columns

Pexp
cr , ( kN )

Ptheoretical
, ( kN )
cr

exp
cr , ( MPa )

theoretical
, ( MPa )
cr

error
12

0.508

136.52

8.03

9.17

32.45

37.07

0.737

198.06

3.69

4.36

14.91

17.61

15

0.902

242.41

2.56

2.91

10.34

11.76

12

0.997

267.94

2.07

2.38

8.36

9.62

13

Discussion
Slenderness ratio

( Lr )

indicates that how prone the column is to the

buckling failure, and the slenderness ratio value can be considered as an

indicator of buckling possibility. By looking at Table 1, we can see that the
slenderness ration value increases as length of the specimen increases;
therefore, we can conclude that long columns fail due to buckling rather than
strength, and short columns fail due to strength rather that buckling.
In this experiment, not enough pressure was applied to the specimens so
Pcr
P
that
approaches
and the specimens fail; so, the critical
experimental pressure and force could not be found; instead, the maximum
applied pressures and forces were considered to be the critical pressure and
force. Due to the lack of required data, obtained percent errors are also not
reliable.
Using Figure 11 in page 12, it was possible to find the maximum critical
y
stress if the yield strength value
had been provided. Obviously, the
cr

values that are larger than the yield strength value

are of no

interest to us, because the column will yield in compression before it has a
chance to buckle.

Conclusion

14 | P a g e

Stress Analysis

Third Laboratory Report Buckling of PinEnded Columns

By conducting this experiment we were able to determine the buckling

loads for several slender pin-ended bars and the relationship between load
and center deflection for each of the bars. The obtained results from this
experiment determine the design specifications of the steel columns.
Slenderness ratio, critical force, and critical stress were principle and
essential results of this experiment.

References

87-352 Stress Analysis Lab No. 3 Manual, Dr. Sreekanta Das, P.Eng.,
Fall 2013
Ferdinand P. Beer, Mechanics of Materials, McGraw-Hill, 2012

15 | P a g e