Third Edition

CHAPTER

10

MECHANICS OF
MATERIALS
Ferdinand P. Beer
E. Russell Johnston, Jr.
John T. DeWolf

Columns

Lecture Notes:
J. Walt Oler
Texas Tech University

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Columns
Stability of Structures
Eulers Formula for Pin-Ended Beams
Extension of Eulers Formula
Sample Problem 10.1
Eccentric Loading; The Secant Formula
Sample Problem 10.2
Design of Columns Under Centric Load
Sample Problem 10.4
Design of Columns Under an Eccentric Load

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Beer Johnston DeWolf

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Beer Johnston DeWolf

Stability of Structures
In the design of columns, cross-sectional area is
selected such that
- allowable stress is not exceeded

P
all
A

- deformation falls within specifications

PL
spec
AE

After these design calculations, may discover

that the column is unstable under loading and
that it suddenly becomes sharply curved or
buckles.

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Stability of Structures
Consider model with two rods and torsional
spring. After a small perturbation,
K 2 restoring moment
L
L
P sin P destabilizing moment
2
2

Column is stable (tends to return to

aligned orientation) if
L
P K 2
2
P Pcr

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4K
L

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Stability of Structures
Assume that a load P is applied. After a
perturbation, the system settles to a new
equilibrium configuration at a finite
deflection angle.
L
P sin K 2
2
PL
P

4 K Pcr sin

Noting that sin < , the assumed

configuration is only possible if P > Pcr.

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

Beer Johnston DeWolf

Eulers Formula for Pin-Ended Beams

Consider an axially loaded beam.
After a small perturbation, the system
reaches an equilibrium configuration
such that
d2y

M
P

y
2
EI
EI
dx

d2y

y0
2
EI
dx

Solution with assumed configuration

can only be obtained if
P Pcr

2 EI
L2

P
2 E Ar 2
2E
cr

2
A
L A
L r2
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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

Beer Johnston DeWolf

Eulers Formula for Pin-Ended Beams

The value of stress corresponding to
the critical load,
2 EI

P Pcr

cr

L2

P
P
cr cr
A
A

2 E Ar 2
L2 A

2E

L r

critical stress

L
slenderness ratio
r

Preceding analysis is limited to

centric loadings.
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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

Beer Johnston DeWolf

Extension of Eulers Formula

A column with one fixed and one free
end, will behave as the upper-half of a
pin-connected column.
The critical loading is calculated from
Eulers formula,
Pcr

cr

2 EI
L2e

2E

Le r 2

Le 2 L equivalent length

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Third

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Extension of Eulers Formula

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Beer Johnston DeWolf

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Sample Problem 10.1

An aluminum column of length L and
rectangular cross-section has a fixed end at B
and supports a centric load at A. Two smooth
and rounded fixed plates restrain end A from
moving in one of the vertical planes of
symmetry but allow it to move in the other
plane.
a) Determine the ratio a/b of the two sides of
the cross-section corresponding to the most
efficient design against buckling.
L = 20 in.
E = 10.1 x 106 psi

b) Design the most efficient cross-section for

the column.

P = 5 kips
FS = 2.5
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Sample Problem 10.1

SOLUTION:
The most efficient design occurs when the
resistance to buckling is equal in both planes of
symmetry. This occurs when the slenderness
ratios are equal.
Buckling in xy Plane:
1 ba 3
2
I
a
2
z
rz
12

A
ab
12

Le, z
rz

rz

a
12

0.7 L
a 12

Most efficient design:

Le, z
rz

Buckling in xz Plane:
ry2

Le, y
ry

Iy
A

1 ab3
12

ab

b2

12

ry

b
12

Le, y
ry

0.7 L
2L

a 12 b / 12

2L
b / 12

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a 0.7

b
2

a
0.35
b

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Sample Problem 10.1

Design:
Le
2L
2 20 in 138.6

ry b 12 b 12
b
Pcr FS P 2.5 5 kips 12.5 kips
P
12500 lbs
cr cr
0.35b b
A

cr

2E

2
Le r

2 10.1 106 psi

138.6 b 2

E = 10.1 x 106 psi

12500 lbs 2 10.1 106 psi

0.35b b
138.6 b 2

P = 5 kips

b 1.620 in.

L = 20 in.

FS = 2.5

a 0.35b 0.567 in.

a/b = 0.35
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Eccentric Loading; The Secant Formula

Eccentric loading is equivalent to a centric
load and a couple.
Bending occurs for any nonzero eccentricity.
Question of buckling becomes whether the
resulting deflection is excessive.
The deflection become infinite when P = Pcr
d2y

2
dx

Py Pe
EI

ymax e sec
1
2
P
cr

Pcr

Maximum stress
max

ymax e c
P
1

r2
P
ec 1 P Le

1

sec

2
A
2
EA
r
r

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2 EI
L2e

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Eccentric Loading; The Secant Formula

max Y

P
ec 1 P Le

1

sec

2
A
r
2 EA r

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Sample Problem 10.2

The uniform column consists of an 8-ft section
of structural tubing having the cross-section
shown.
a) Using Eulers formula and a factor of safety
of two, determine the allowable centric load
for the column and the corresponding
normal stress.

E 29 106 psi.

b) Assuming that the allowable load, found in

part a, is applied at a point 0.75 in. from the
geometric axis of the column, determine the
horizontal deflection of the top of the
column and the maximum normal stress in
the column.

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Sample Problem 10.2

SOLUTION:
Maximum allowable centric load:
- Effective length,
Le 2 8 ft 16 ft 192 in.

- Critical load,
Pcr

2 EI

2
Le

2 29 106 psi 8.0 in 4

192 in 2

62.1 kips

- Allowable load,
P
62.1 kips
Pall cr
FS
2

Pall 31.1 kips

P
31.1 kips
all
A
3.54 in 2

8.79 ksi

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Sample Problem 10.2

Eccentric load:
- End deflection,

ym e sec
1
2
P
cr

0.075 in sec
1
2 2

ym 0.939 in.

- Maximum normal stress,

m

P
ec
1

sec

2
A
r
2

P
Pcr

0.75 in 2 in sec

1
2
2
2

1.50 in

31.1 kips
3.54 in

m 22.0 ksi
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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

Beer Johnston DeWolf

Design of Columns Under Centric Load

Previous analyses assumed
stresses below the proportional
limit and initially straight,
homogeneous columns
Experimental data demonstrate
- for large Le/r, cr follows
Eulers formula and depends
upon E but not Y.
- for small Le/r, cr is
determined by the yield
strength Y and not E.
- for intermediate Le/r, cr
depends on both Y and E.
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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

Beer Johnston DeWolf

Design of Columns Under Centric Load

Structural Steel
American Inst. of Steel Construction

For Le/r > Cc

cr

2E

all cr
FS

Le / r 2

FS 1.92

For Le/r > Cc

Le / r 2
cr Y 1
2

all cr
FS

5 3 L / r 1 L / r
FS e e
3 8 Cc
8 Cc

2Cc

At Le/r = Cc
cr
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1
2 Y

Cc2

2 2 E

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Design of Columns Under Centric Load

Aluminum
Aluminum Association, Inc.

Alloy 6061-T6
Le/r < 66:

all 20.2 0.126 Le / r ksi

139 0.868 Le / r MPa

Le/r > 66:

all

51000 ksi

Le / r

351 103 MPa

Le / r 2

Alloy 2014-T6
Le/r < 55:

all 30.7 0.23 Le / r ksi

212 1.585 Le / r MPa

Le/r > 66:

all

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54000 ksi

Le / r

372 103 MPa

Le / r 2

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Sample Problem 10.4

SOLUTION:
With the diameter unknown, the
slenderness ration can not be evaluated.
Must make an assumption on which
slenderness ratio regime to utilize.
Calculate required diameter for
assumed slenderness ratio regime.
Evaluate slenderness ratio and verify
initial assumption. Repeat if necessary.

Using the aluminum alloy2014-T6,

determine the smallest diameter rod
which can be used to support the centric
load P = 60 kN if a) L = 750 mm,
b) L = 300 mm

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Sample Problem 10.4

For L = 750 mm, assume L/r > 55
Determine cylinder radius:
P 372 103 MPa
all
A
L r 2
60 103 N

c cylinder radius
r radius of gyration

I
c 4 4 c

2
A
2
c

372 103 MPa

0.750 m

c/2

c 18.44 mm

Check slenderness ratio assumption:

L
L
750mm

81.3 55
r c / 2 18.44 mm

assumption was correct

d 2c 36.9 mm

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Sample Problem 10.4

For L = 300 mm, assume L/r < 55
Determine cylinder radius:
all

P
L
212 1.585 MPa
A
r

60 103 N

c 2

0.3 m
212 1.585

c
/
2

6
10 Pa

c 12.00 mm

Check slenderness ratio assumption:

L
L
300 mm

50 55
r c / 2 12.00 mm

assumption was correct

d 2c 24.0 mm
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Beer Johnston DeWolf

Design of Columns Under an Eccentric Load

An eccentric load P can be replaced by a
centric load P and a couple M = Pe.
Normal stresses can be found from
superposing the stresses due to the
centric load and couple,
centric bending
max

P Mc

A I

Allowable stress method:

P Mc

all
A I

Interaction method:
P A

Mc I

all centric all bending

2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.