Buckling Analysis

THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

Dr. Ray Su
Department of Civil Engineering
 Buckling of Truss
Maximum Load = 58N
(Buckling load)

Before buckling After buckling

A crane collapsed on a Hennessy Centre demolition site in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
in 2007. The accident killed two construction workers.
Buckling Instability
Buckling is an instability phenomenon where a
structural system or a structural member under
predominant compressive forces is unduly sensitive to
changes.
Buckling load is the maximum load that the structure
can be withstood before buckling.
The aim of this course is to use matrix method to
determine the buckling load and the buckling
displacements (buckling modes) of frame structures

Concept of Stability
A small disturbance will
A curved surface
lead to excessive
movement
Equilibrium position
at local min.
Stable Neutral Equilibrium Unstable
The Effect of Axial Load on the
Bending Stiffness
Bending Stiffness K=M/

M M

Under combined axial and bending loads

P P
M x M

The additional axial force increases the end rotations , lateral

deflection x and internal moment (Madd=Px) and reduces the
bending stiffness.
Force approach

Consider a simple structural system with two struts only

Roller

Hinge

Spring
L

Hinge

L = the length of each portion of the column

k = spring stiffness
Force approach

S Joint equilibrium

compression
L
N

F S
By the geometric argument
L
compression N/S = L/x
S = (x/L) N

N = axial load, compression taken to be positive

F = the applied lateral load
X = lateral deflection
Horizontal force equilibrium
S = (x/L) N

If F0 2S kx

F= kx (2N/L) x (1)

Spring Lateral force

force generated by N

Rearranging

(k-2N/L) x = F (2)

Additional stiffness
(geometric stiffness)
Notes:
The effect of the axial force N is equivalent to an
additional stiffness of value (-2N/L) acting
laterally at the pin location. We term it as
geometric stiffness.
When the axial force is tensile (-ve), the
geometric stiffness is positive. The effects on the
system tend to be beneficial, the lateral
deflection and the restraining force in the spring
are both reduced.
When the axial force is compressive (+ve), the
geometric stiffness is negative. The effects on the
system tend to be detrimental, the lateral
deflection and the restraining force in the spring
are both increased.
Critical load (Ncr)
When the compressive force is kept increasing, N > 0
and assuming that F=0 (no horizontal applied force)

k-2Ncr/L = 0

Ncr = kL/2 (3)

when N=Ncr, the negative geometric stiffness will cancel

out the spring stiffness, causing the lateral stiffness of
the system to become zero.

When buckling happen, the lateral (or bending)

stiffness of the member becomes ZERO
For an axially loaded beam, the lateral stiffness comes
from the bending stiffness. Buckling implies that the
bending stiffness is cancelled out by the geometric
stiffness
 Buckling equation
Substituting (3) into (2)
Stiffness K with
k(1-N/Ncr) x = F (4)
geometric effects

Effects of displacement amplification

N/Ncr cr Displacement k
Amplification =k/K =
k (1-N/Ncr)
0 1.00
N 0.1 10.00 1.11
0.2 5.00 1.25
0.3 3.33 1.50
If the analysis is to be
0.4 2.50 1.67
F accurate to within
0.5 2.00 2.00
10%, it may need to
0.6 1.67 2.50 allow for the effects of
0.7 1.43 3.33 buckling if N/Ncr >0.1.
0.8 1.25 5.00
0.9 1.11 10.0

Decreasing in the lateral stiffness

K= k (1-N/Ncr) increasing in lateral displacement
Energy approach
We will use the energy approach to derive the stiffness and geometric matrices.
 y =2= 2 [ L - d ]

Ignore the higher order

terms 2 =y

Energy gain +ve

(of the spring) x
kx

L d
Energy loss -ve L
 Concept of Stability
A curve surface

Equilibrium position x
at local min. i.e. =0
Stable

By the theory of
minimum potential
energy (see page B7)
(with geometric effect) U W
 U=0
=W
U=
F = 0 -F x =0
=W=0
=U+W

=W
=W =0 =W
a line
for all x
this implies U+W= =U
x=F/(k-2N/L) x can be any
N value. i.e. buckling! N=kL/2

0 No local minimum
0
=0
 Notes on Tomorrows Test
The test venue is at Knowles Building 419
The design part is on slab design.
The theory part is on sketch of BMD and assembly
of system matrix and vectors
Please bring along the HK code and a calculator.
Table for reinforcement areas will be provided.
Buckling Problems with Multiple Degrees of Freedom

Energy Approach
 (ai=Nodal displacements)

Have been
derived in
Matrix Method
for Static Load
Analysis
Assumed disp.
shape
 Consider a beam segment of length dx
dx=ds

dv

v
Longitudinal deformations du
1. Hookes law (axial shortening) du
dx dx
2. Geometric

u = du/dx
v = dv/dx

Hookes law Geometric Binomial expansion

ignored See page B5
(due to geometric deformation)
 Strain energy axial load nodal forces
=dv/dx=v
d/dx=v
d=vdx
Note: M=EI v
-P= dU=Md
4
Since v = aiNi
i=1

Not a function of x
a function of x

is a function of ai
Hence: (see page B6)

a1 a 2 a3 a 4 0
a1 a 2 a3 a 4
 =kij

=gij

Geometric stiffness affecting the

scalar total stiffness of the beam element
by the applied axial load P

P P
4x4
Stiffness matrix

Geometric These two

stiffness matrix matrices will be
given in the
examination.
The stiffness matrix and geometric stiffness matrix

12 6 L 12 6 L 36 3L 36 3L
6 L 4 L2 6 L 2 L2 3L 4 L2 3L L2
k Pg EI3 P
L 12 6 L 12 6 L 30 L 36 3L 36 3L
2
6L 2L
2
6 L 4 L2 3L L 3L 4 L
2

It will be provided in the Examination paper.

 (Buckling Analysis)
P
When buckling Only considering the
just occurred, =0
deformation due to geometric
u2=0 change
u2

Consider the last two eqns.

v2
d 2
2

There is no end
shear force and
moment.
 Detailed solution of the eigenvalues
EI 12 6l P 36 3l
det 3 6l 2
2
0 (12 36 )(4 4 ) (6 3 ) 2 0
l l l l
4 30l 3 4
12 156 1352 0
EI 12 6 P 36 3 ax 2 bx c 0
Set =l det 3 0 By formula
l 6l 4l 30l 3l 4l x
b b 2 4ac
2a
v 2 v 2 12 6 Pl 2 36 3 =0.0829 or 1.0727

2 l 2
det 0
6 4 30 EI 3 4 30EI EI EI
2 P 2 .4860 or 32. 1807
Pl l2 l2 l2

30 EI
12 6 36 3
det 3 4 0
6 4
12 36 6 3
det
6 3 4 4 0

by the first equation
9.01685/l1- 5.75142=0 or 2=9.01685/5.7514l=1.5677/l
or by the second equation
-5.75141 + 3.66854l2=0 or 2=5.7514/3.66854l=1.5677/l
Knowing the nodal displacements, the column deformation can be calculated by interpolation.
a3 a4

2DOF only

Subdivided into

more line segments
/elements
 Sketch the mode shapes

Mode 1, v2=1 and 2=1.5677/l Mode 2, v2=1 and 2=-9.567/l

2 x/l 2 x/l
v2 v2
1 1

1 =0 1 =0
v v
 =0

P X
When buckling Y
just occurred,
u2=0
u2

=0 Axial force=0

=0
Stiffness matrix of a beam
element

AL2 AL2
v1 0
I I u1=0 u2=0
12 6L 12 6 L u1 0 v1=0 v2=0

removed EI 6L 4L 2 2
6 L 2 L 1
2
L3 AL AL2 v2 0
I I u2 0

12 6 L 12 6 L

2

6L 2 L2 6 L 4 L2

EI
41 2 2 M 1 Stiffness equations
L
EI for element 1
2 2 41 M 2
L
For Element 1

1 2

NO AXIAL FORCE (P=0)

Node 1 is fixed and

vertical displacement at
node 2 =0

0
For Element 2
v2
2
2

Node 1 is fixed
For element 2
X
Y
The coordinate system is the same as
that of element 1 in example 1.

Rotate the element and

the local coordinate axes
by 90o clockwise

Element from example 1

The stiffness matrix of element 2 is (the same as that in Example 1)

 C

Eqn(3)
System

Stiffness from element 1

Involving one DOF only.

To get accurate
results, we
have to use
more elements
Sliding only,
no rotation 0

System
By static condensation =0
reduced 3DOFs to 2DOFs

System &
By static condensation =0
reduced 3DOFs to 2DOFs

EI 4 2 1 M 1
L 2 4 M
2 2
EI
41 2 2 M 1
L
EI
21 4 2 M 2 Matrix condensation 2DOF 1DOF
L

System & The effects of

pinned joint i.e.
M1=0 has been
considered.
 With stiffness matrix only

Ignore the axial deformations

v1=v2=0, u1=u2
Stiffness
+ geometric
matrices
Y
X

1 No transform
1 u1

Fixed end
 2
u1

System

Take away l in the matrices of the above equation

With only numerical values in the matrices

(details see next slide)

Expansion of Determinant
For a 22 determinant

a b
a c b2
b c
For a 33 determinant

a b d
c e b e b c
b c e a b d It will be provided in
e f d f d e the Examination
d e f paper.
= acf + 2bde - ae2 - b2f cd 2
 >

Considering the symmetric buckling mode of the 1st mode, the

problem can be simplified as a cantilever with a length L/2 subjected
to a point load
Past examination question, year 2000
End
(Shear Building)
The flexural stiffness of the horizontal beam elements is infinitely high and
the beams would not be bent and rotated. This type of buildings is called
shear building. Each story has one horizontal DOF only.

2DOF
=0

Undeformed shape Deformed shape

Illustration of Energy Method Skipped

+
 Skipped
k Deq dD (internal W.D.)
+ -P dD (external W.D.)
0
0
Formulation for the stiffness
matrix of element 1

AL2 AL2
v1
I I u1=0 u2=0
12 6L 12 6 L u1 0

2
EI 6L 4 L2 6 L 2 L 1
removed
L3 AL
2
AL2
v

2
I I u2 0

12 6 L 12 6 L

2

6L 2 L2 6 L 4 L2
v1 v1
AL2 AL2
v1 F1
I I v1= -v1 v2= -v1
EI 4L 2
2 L2 1 M 1

L3 AL v2 v1 F2
2 2
AL

I 2
I
2
2 M 2
2L 4L

EA EA EI
v1 v1 0 F1 41 2 2 M 1 Stiffness for
No use L L L
EA EA EI element 1
v1 v1 0 F2 2 2 41 M 2
L L L