Columns and Struts

Eulers equation for column with one end fixed and other end hinged:

X X

y
x

B M0

Consider a column AB of length l fixed at one end and hinged at the other end subjected to an
axial load P. Under the action of this axial load, the column is subjected to a resisting moment
M0 at the fixed end and a horizontal force H at the hinged joint. The elastic curve due to
buckling is also shown in the above figure.

Consider any section of the column at a distance x from the fixed end. Let y be the deflection
of the column at this section. The bending moment at section X-X will be

M = H (l - x) Py.

The deflection equation of the curve is given by;

d2 y
EI =H (lx )Py
dx 2
d 2 y P H (lx ) P H (lx )
2 + = = x
dx EI EI EI P

The general solution for the above differential equation is

 y= A cos x . ( EIP )+B sin ( x . EIP )+ H (lx
P
)
where A and B are constants of integration.
At B, y = 0 at x = 0. This gives, A =
Hl
P

Differentiating equation above w.r.t x we get

dy
dx
=A
P
EI ( ) ( )
sin x.
P
EI
+B
P
EI
cos x.
P H

EI P
dy
At the fixed end, dx =0 at x=0

0= B( PEI ) HP
B
P H
=
EI P
B=
EI H
P P
x

Again at the free end A, x = l, y = 0. Therefore

0=
Hl
P
cos l .
P
( ) EIP sin (l . EIP )
+
EI P
H

Hl

H
P ( )
EI
P
sin l.
P
EI
= P cos l.

P
EI ( )
tan ( ) P
EI
=l.
P
EI

The value of
l.
P
EI in radians has to be such that its tangent has to be itself. The only angle

whose tangent is equal to itself is about 4.49 radians. Therefore

l.
P
EI = 4.49 radians. Thus,
P 2
l =( 4.492 ) 2 2 (approx.)
EI

Therefore,
 2
2 EI
P= 2 .
l
 Eulers equation for Column with one end fixed and other free:

P
a
A1
A

X X
l

Consider a column of length l, fixed at B and free at the other end A. Due to the axial load at
A, the column buckles and takes the shape as shown in figure above. Let the new position of
A be A1. Let a be the deflection at the free end of the column. Consider any section X-X at a
distance x from the fixed end B. bending moment due to the critical load P acting on the
column will be

M=P(a y )
d2 y
EI 2 =P(a y )=PaPy
dx
2
d y Py Pa
2 + =
dx EI EI

The solution of the above differential equation is

( EIP )+B sin ( x . EIP )+a

y= A cos x .

Where A and B are constants of integration. At B, x =0, y = 0. This gives A = -a.

Differentiating the above equation w.r.t x we get,

 dy
dx
=A
P
EI
sin x .
( ) ( )
P
EI
+B
P
EI
cos x .
P
EI
dy
=0
At the fixed end B, x = 0, and dx

0=B
P
EI

As P
EI 0, therefore B = 0. Substituting A = -a and B = 0 in equation for y we get,

( )
y=a cos x .
P
EI
+a

( PEI ))
y =a 1cos ( x .

At the free end, x = l, y = a and substituting these values in the above equation we get

( ( )
a=a 1cos l.
P
EI

( )
cos l .
P
EI
=0

(l.
EI )=2 , 2 ,2 ...
P 3 5

Taking the least significant value,

l

P

2P
=
EI 2
2
l =
EI 4
2 EI
P= 2
4l

Equivalent length or effective length:

In case of a long column, the length actually involved in bending is called as the equivalent
length. If l is the actual length of the column, the equivalent or effective length L is obtained
by multiplying a factor C, which depends on the end fixity conditions of the column, i.e.
L = C x l. The crippling load P based on the effective length L of the column is given by

2
EI
P= 2
L .

Sr. No. End Condition Relation between effective length (L) and actual length (l)
1 Both ends hinged L=l
l
2 Both ends fixed L=
2
One end fixed and l
3 L=
other end hinged 2
One end fixed and
4 L=2 l
other end free

Numericals on Eulers theory

Example #1. A steel column is of length 8 metres and has 600 mm diameter with both ends
hinged. Determine the crippling load using Eulers formula. Take E = 2.1 x 10 5
N/mm2.
Soln #1. Data: Actual length = 8000 mm; diameter d = 600 mm;
4
I= d = 600 4 =6 . 36 10 9 mm 4
Least moment of inertia of the section, 64 64
Since the column is hinged at both the ends, Effective length L = Actual length l
= 8000 mm. The crippling load by Eulers theory is given by
2 EI 2 2 .1 105 6 . 36 109
Pcr = 2
= 2
=2. 06 108 N ( Ans )
L 8000
Example #2. A mild steel tube 4 m long, 3 cm internal diameter and 4 mm thick is used as a
strut with both ends hinged. Find the collapsing load. What will be the crippling
load if
i. Both ends are built in?
ii. One end is built in and other free?
Soln #2. Data: Actual length = 4000 mm; d o = 30 + 2(4) = 38 mm; d i = 30 mm; E = 2.1 x
105 N/mm2.
Least moment of inertia of the column section,

I= d d = ( 384 30 4 ) =62593 mm 4
64 ( o 4
i ) 64
4

(a) Both the ends hinged

For both ends hinged, L = l = 400 mm. Using Eulers formula we get,
 2 2 5
EI 2 .1 10 62593
Pcr = 2 = =8108. 2 N ( Ans )
L 40002
(b) Both the ends built in
Effective length L = l/2 = 2000 mm. Eulers formula gives,
2 2 5
EI 2 .1 10 62593
Pcr = 2 = =32432 N ( Ans)
L 20002
(c) One end built in and other free
Effective length L = 2l = 2000 mm. Eulers formula gives,
2 2 5
EI 2 .1 10 62593
Pcr = 2 = =2027 N ( Ans )
L 80002
Example #3. Compare the strengths of the solid circular column of diameter 200 mm and
hollow circular column of same cross sectional area and thickness 30 mm. The
other parameters are same for both the sections.
Soln #3. Diameter of solid section = 200 mm.

A= d 2 = 2002 =31416 mm 2 .
Area of the section 4 4
Area of the hollow section = Area of the solid section.

A= d 2 d 2 = d 2 d 2 =31416 mm2 .
(
4 o i ) 4( o i )
( d 2 d 2 ) =40000
o i

d 2 ( d o 2t )2 =d 2 ( d o2t )2 =d 2 ( d o 60 )2 =40000
o o o
( d o + d o 60 )( d o d o + 60)=40000
( 2 d o 60) 60=40000
d o =363. 33 mm
Least moment of inertia of solid column,

I s = d 4 = 200 4 =78. 54 x 106 mm4
64 64
Least moment of inertia of hollow section,

I hollow= d 4 d 4 = ( 363 .33 4 303 .33 4 )=440 10 6 mm 4
( )
64 o i 64

Assuming both the ends as hinged,

2
P
EI
cr ( 2 )s
strength of solid column s L Is 78 .54 x 106
= = 2 = =
strength of hollow column Pcr EI I hollow 440 x 10 6
( 2 )h
hollow

L
strength of hollow column
=5 . 602
strength of solid column

Problems for practice:

prob #1. A column having a t section with flange 120 mm x 16 mm and web 150 mm x
16 mm is 3 metres long. Assuming the column to be hinged at both the ends,
find the crippling load by using Eulers formula. Take E = 2 x 10 5 MPa. (Hint:
Find moment of inertia about both centroidal axes and consider Imin for
determining the crippling load. Ans: 516.5 kN)
prob #2. Determine the limiting length of a pin ended column of section 60 mm x 100
mmso that the critical stress is 250MPa. Assume E = 2 x 10 5 MPa. (Ans: 1.539
m)

SLENDERNESS RATIO
The ratio of the effective length (L) of the column to the least radius of gyration (k) is known
2
EI
Pcr =
as the slenderness ratio. Eulers formula gives L2 . We also know that, the moment
2
of inertia I =Ak , where k is the radius of gyration. Therefore,
2
EA
Pcr = L 2
(k)
.
Pcr 2 E
cr= = L
A ( k )2
The crippling stress is therefore,
Limitations of Eulers formula
From the slenderness relation we see that for a column section, the crippling stress is
dependent on the slenderness ratio. When the slenderness ratio is small, the crippling stress is
high. The crippling stress in the column cannot be greater than the yield strength of the
column material.Eulers formula is therefore unsuitable when the slenderness ratio is less
than a certain value.
If c = crushing stress of the material of the column.
cr = crippling stress of the same material.
then, cr c
We know that the crushing stress of mild steel is 330 N/mm 2 and youngs modulus is 2 x 10 5
MPa.
2 E
L
330
( k )2
2 x 2. 1 x 105
L
330
( k )2
2 x 2. 1 x 105 L 2
( k )
330
L
( k )2 79. 25 say 80

Hence, for a column made of mild steel with both ends hinged, Eulers formula is applicable
when slenderness ratio is greater than or equal to 80.
Example #4. A steelbar of solid circular cross section is 50 mm in diameter. The bar is pinned
at both the endsand subjected to axial compression. If the limit of roportionality
of the material is 210 MPa and E = 200 GPa, determine the minimum length for
which Eulers formula is valid. Also determine the value of Eulers buckling
load if the column has this minimum length.

I= (50)4 =306796 mm 4
Soln #4. Least moment of inertia of the cross section, 64

A= 502 =1963 .5 mm 2
Area of cross section, 4

Now
k=

I
=
306796
A 1963. 5
= 12 .5 mm
P cr 2 x2 x105
cr = = L 2 =210
A ( )
12.5
Eulers buckling stress, Minimum effective length L=1. 211 m
The minimum required actual length l = L = 1.211 m.
2 5
2 x 10 x 1963 .5
Pcr = =412254 N
For this value of actual length, 12112

Rankines Formula:
In previous article, we have seen that Eulers formula gives correct results only for very long
columns, where the criterion for failure is manly on account of buckling. On the other hand
short columns fail mainly due to crushing. The medium columns which are neither too long
nor too short, fail by both buckling as well as crushing. Rankine devised an empirical formula
based on practical experiments for determining the crippling or buckling loads, which is
applicable to both short as well as long columns.
Let P be the Rankine crippling load
Pc be the crushing load
PE be the Eulers crippling load
The empirical formula given by Rankine is as follows:
1 1 1
= +
P Pc P E
The crushing load is equal to (c x A) which is constant. However, the Eulers crippling load
varies with the length of the column. For a short column, if the effective length is small, the
1
value of PE is very large and thus P E is quite small. In such cases, and therefore, P = P c.
1
when the column is very long, P is small and therefore, P E is a large value making
c

1 1
compared to P c . So Pc is ignored and P = P E. Thus for long column the Rankine
crippling load is nearly equal to the Euler crippling load.
Now the Rankine formula is:
1 1 1
= +
P Pc P E
1 P E +Pc
=
P P c xPE
P xP
P= E c
P c +PE
Pc
P=
Pc
PE +
PE
2 EI
P=
Substituting the value for Pc = c x A and L2 in the above equation we get,
c x A
P=
xA
1+ c2
EI
L2
c x A
=
c x A x L2
1+ 2
EAk 2
xA c
P= c (putting = )
c x L2 2 E
1+ 2 2
Ek
c x A crushingload
we get, P= 2
=
L L 2
1+ ()
k
1+
k ()
The value of Rankine constant is provided for different materials in the hand books.
Example #5. A rolled steel joist ISMB 300 is to be used as a column of 3 m length with both
ends fixed. Find the safe axial load on the column. Take factor of safety as 3,
c= 320 MPa and = 1/7500. Properties of the column section are:
Area = 5626 mm2, Ixx = 8.603 x 107 mm4, Iyy = 4.593 x 107 mm4.
Soln #5. The column is fixed at both the ends. Hence Effective length L = l = 3000/2 =
1500 mm. Since the value of Iyy is less than Ixx, the column will about the YY
axis. The least moment of inertia I = Iyy = 4.593 x 107 mm4.

Least radius of the column section,

I
k= =
A 5626
Crippling load based on Rankines formula,

4 . 593 x 107
=89. 82 mm

c x A 3 20 x 5626
P= 2
= =1735774 N
1 1500 2
1+ ( Lk ) 1+ (
7500 89 . 82 )
Considering a factor of safety of 3, Safe Load = 1735774/3 = 578591.4 N.

Johnsons Formula for Column

Prof. Johnson derived two empirical formulae for determining the crippling load for the
column;
Straight line formula
Parabolic formula

i. Straight line formula

[ ( )]
P= A c n
L
k
Where n = a constant depending on the material of the column.
ii. Parabolic formula

[ ( )]
2
L
P= A c r
k

c2
2
Where r = column material constant = 4 E .
Long columns under Eccentric Loading Rankines Formula
c xA
P=

[ e . yc
][ ( )]
2
L
1+ 1+
k2 k
Columns under eccentric loading: Eulers Formula

P
e

X X

y
x

B M0

Consider a column AB of length l hinged at both the ends. It carries an eccentric load
P at an eccentricity e from the column axis. Under the action of this load, the column
buckles as shown in figure above.
Consider a section X-X at a distance x from the end B. let the deflection at X-X be y.
Bending moment at XX = - P(e+y)

From differential equation of the elastic curve o the loaded column,

 d2 y
EI =PePy
dx 2

d2 y P Pe
+ =
dx EI
2 EI

solving ,

y= A cos x
P
EI
+B sin x
P
EI
e

At B, x =0, y =0. This gives A = e.

dy
dx
=A
P
EI
sin x
P
EI
+B
P
EI
cos x
P
EI
At the mid point, x = l/2, y = 0

0=A
P
EI
sin

l P
2 EI
+B
P
EI
cos
l P

2 EI

Putting A = e
 0=e
P
EI
sin
l P
2 EI
+B
P
EI
cos
l P
2 EI
B=e tan

l P
2 EI
y=e cos x

P
EI
+e tan
l P
2 EI
sin x
P
EI
e

y+e=e cos x
P
EI
at x = l/2, y = y max ,
+e tan
l P
2 EI
sin x
P
EI

y max +e=ecos
l P
2 EI
+e tan
l P

sin
l P
2 EI 2 EI

y max +e=e cos [ l P

2 EI
+tan
]
l P
sin
l P
2 EI 2 EI

[
]
l P
sin
y max +e=e cos
l P
2 EI
+
2 EI
sin
l P
2 EI

cos
l P
2 EI

y max +e=e
[ cos
2 l P
2 EI
+sin
]
2l P
2 EI

e
cos
l P
2 EI
y max +e=
l P
cos
2 EI
y max =e sec
l P
2 EI
e

Maximum Bending moment, M=P ( y max+e )
l P
M=P x e sec
2 EI
Maximum stress in the column = Direct stress + Bending stress

P
= +
A Z
P x e sec
l P
2 EI
Therefore the maximum stress in the column is given by

P Pe
max = + sec
A Z
l P
2 EI ( )
The above formula is known as the secant formula.

prob #6. A column of circular section has 150 mm diameter and 3 m length. Both the ends of the
column are fixed. The column carries a load of kN at an eccentricity of mm from the
geometrical axis of the column. Find the maximum stress in the column section.
Find also the maximum permissible eccentricity to avoid tension in he column
section. Take E = 1 x 105 N/mm2.
Soln #6. Diameter of the column d = 150 mm; Actual length of the column = 3000 mm; Load P =
100 x 103 N; Eccentricity e = 15 mm.

Area of the section, A= 1502 =17671. 5 mm2
4

Minimum Moment of inertia, I= 150 4 =24 . 85 x 106 mm4
64

section modulus, Z= 1503 =331339 .9mm 3
32
3000
Effective length of the column L= =1500mm
2
Angle

2 EI 2
=

L P 1500 100000
5
10 x24 .85x10 6
=0 .1504 rad=8. 61

100000 100x10 3 x15

Maximum compressive stress= max = + sec8. 61
17671 .5 Z
=10 .22 MPa
To avoid tension,
100000 100x103 e
0= + sec8. 61
17671. 5 Z
e=18. 5 mm .