CHAPTER 9

Columns and Struts

Problem 1. Compare the ratio of the strength of solid steel column to that of the hollow steel column of the
same cross-sectional area. The internal diameter of the hollow column is 3/4th of the external diameter. The
columns have the same length and are pinned at both ends. Use Euler’s theory.
Solution: Let ‘d’ be the diameter of the solid strut and D be the outer diameter of the hollow strut.
As the cross-sectional areas are same,
π  2  3D  
2
π 2
d = D −   
4 4  4  
9 2 7 2
d2 = D 2 − D = D
16 16
Let Pcrh = buckling load of the hollow column
Pcrs = buckling load of solid column
Ih = least moment of inertia of hollow column
 4  3D  4  π 175 4
π
= D −   = × D

64  4   64 256
Is = Least moment of the solid column
π 4
= d
64
π2 EI h π2 EI s
Now Pcrh = and Pcrs =
L2 L2
π 175 D 4
×
Pcrh I
∴ = h = 64 256
Pcrs Is π
× d4
64
175 D 4 175 D 4 25
= = =
256 d 4  7 
2
7
256  D 2 
 16 
Pcrh
Thus = 3.571. Ans.
Pcrs
Problem 2. A solid round bar of 60 mm diameter and 2.5 m long is used as a strut. Find the safe
compressive load for the strut using Euler’s formula if (a) both ends are hinged (b) both ends are fixed.
Take E = 2 × 105 N/mm2 and factor of safety = 3.
Solution: l = 2.5 m = 2500 mm
d = 60 mm, E = 2 × 105 N/mm2
π π
I = × d4 = × 604 = 636172.51 mm4
64 64

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 Factor of safety = 3.
(a) Both ends are hinged:
π2 EI π2 × 2 × 105 × 636172.51
Pcr = = = 200920 N
l2 (2500)2
= 200.92 kN
Pcr 200.92
∴ Safe load = = = 66.97 kN.
Factor of safety 3
(b) Both ends are fixed:
4 π2 EI 4 × π2 × 2 × 105 × 636172.51
Pcr = 2
=
l (2500)2
= 803682 N = 803.682 kN
Pc r 803.682
∴ Safe load = = = 262.89 kN. Ans.
Factor of safety 3
Problem 3. What is the ratio of the strength of a solid steel column of 150 mm diameter to that of a hollow
circular steel column of the same cross-sectional area and a wall thickness of 15 mm? The two columns
have the same length and similar end conditions.
Solution: Diameter of circular column d = 150 mm
π
∴ C.S. Area = × 1502
4
Let the thickness of circular hollow column be t = 15 mm
Let external diameter of hollow circular column be D = mm
∴ Its internal diameter = D – 2t = D – 2 × 15 = (D – 30) mm
π
∴ C.S. area = {D2 – (D – 30)2}
4
This area is same as that of solid column
π 2 π
∴ {D − ( D − 30)2 } = × 1502
4 4
D2 – {D2 – 60D + 900} = 1502
60D = 22500 + 900 = 23400
∴ D = 390 mm
∴ Internal diameter of hollow column = 390 – 30 = 360 mm.
Least moment of inertia:
π
Is = × 1504 = 24850488.7 mm4
64
π
Ih = (3904 − 3604 ) = 311128119.5 mm4
64
π2 EI h
Pcrh =
le2

π2 EI s
Pcrs =
le2

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 Pcrh I 311128119.5
∴ = h = = 12.52. Ans.
Pcrs Is 24850488.7
Problem 4. Find the Euler’s crushing load for a hollow cylindrical cast iron column 120 mm external
diameter and 20 mm thick, if it is 4.2 m long and is hinged at both ends. Take E = 80 kN/mm2. Compare
this load with the crushing load as given by Rankine’s formula using constants fc = 550 N/mm2 and
a = 1/1600. For what length of strut does the Euler’s formula cease to apply?
Solution: External diameter = 120 mm
Thickness = 20 mm
Internal diameter = 120 – 2 × 20 = 80 mm
π
Least moment of inertia = (1204 − 804 )
64
= 8168140.89 mm4
Column is hinged at both ends.
∴ le = 4.2 m = 4200 mm
π2 EI π2 × 80 × 103 × 8168140.89
Euler’s buckling load = 2
=
l (4200)2
= 365606.89 N. Ans.
π
A = (1202 − 802 ) = 6283.18 mm2
4
I 8168140.89
K2 = = = 1300
A 6283.18
∴ K2 = 36.05 mm
fc A 550 × 6283.18
∴ Rankine’s critical load PR = 2
= 2
= 364415.16 N
 l  1  4200 
1+ a  1+  
K 1600  36.05 
PE 365606.89
∴ = = 1.003. Ans.
PR 364415.16
π2 EI
Now, PE =
l2
Equating it to crushing load, we get
π2 EI
= fc A
l2
π2 E
2
K 2 = fc
l
2 3
π × 80 × 10 × 1300
= 550
l2
π2 × 80 × 1000 × 1300
l2 =
550
l = 1366.108 mm. Ans.

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Problem 5. An ISLB 300 section is provided with a flange plate 200 mm × 12 mm for each flange. The
composite member is used as a column with one end fixed and the other end hinged. Calculate the length of
the column for which, crippling loads given by Rankine’s formula and Euler’s formula will be the same.
Take E = 210 kN/mm2, fc = 330 N/mm2, a = 1/7500
Properties of ISLB 300 section are:
Overall width = 150 mm,
Overall depth = 300 mm,
Thickness of flange = 9.4 mm,
Thickness of web = 6.7 mm
Ixx = 73.329 × 106 mm4
Iyy = 3.762 × 106 mm4
A = 4808 mm2.
1
Solution: fc = 330 N/mm2, a = , E = 210 × 103 N/mm2
7500
Area A = 4808 mm2
Ixx = 73.329 × 106 mm4, Iyy = 3.762 × 106 mm4
Sectional area of ISLB 300 column.
A = 4808 + 2 × (200 × 12) = 9608 mm2
Moment of inertia about x – x axis.
 200 × 123 
Ixx = 73.329 × 106 + 2  + (200 × 12) 1562 
 12 
= 190199406 mm4
Moment of inertia about y-y axis.
 12 × 2003 
Iyy = 3.762 × 106 + 2   = 19762000 mm4
 12
 
Since Iyy < Ixx, the column buckles about y-y axis.
∴ I = Imin = 19762000 mm4
I 19762000
Least radius of gyration = K = =
A 9608
= 45.35 mm.
Let L = effective length
π2 EI fc A
2
=
L L2
1+ a
K2
π2 × 210 × 103 × 19762000 330 × 9608
=
L2 1 L2
1+
7500 2056.82
L2
12918229.65 =
1 + L2 × 6.4825 × 10−8
12918229.65 + 0.8374 L2 = L2
∴ L = 8914 mm

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 Therefore, required actual length for one end hinged and other end fixed column for which critical load
by Rankine’s formula and Euler’s formula will be equal is
l = 2 L = 2 × 8914 = 12606 mm
= 12.606 m. Ans.
Problem 6. A built up steel column, 8 m long and ends firmly fixed is having cross-section as shown in
Fig. 1. The properties of I-section are Area = 9300 mm2, Ixx = 3 × 106 min4, Iyy = 8.4 × 106 mm4. Determine:
(i) The safe axial load the column can carry with a factor of safety of 3.5 using
(a) Euler’s Formula, (b) Rankine’s Formula.
(ii) The length of the column for which both formulae give the same crippling load.
(iii) The length of the column for which the Euler’s formula ceases to apply.
Take E = 2 × 105 N/mm2, fc = 330 N/mm2, a = 1/7500

Fig. 1
Solution: (i) Length of the column = 8 m = 8000 mm
Factor of safety = 3.5, fc = 330 N/mm2,
1
a = , E = 2 × 105 N/mm2
7500
A = 2 (9300 + 350 × 25) = 36100 mm2
Moment of inertia of column section about x-x axis:
 350 × 253 
Ixx = 2 × 3 × 106 + 2  + 350 × 25 × 237.52 
 12 
= 994020833.5 mm4
Moment of inertia of the column section about y-y axis:
 25 × 3503 
Iyy = 2 × 8.4 × 106 + 2  + 9300 × 1002 
 12 
= 381445833.3 mm4
Iyy < Ixx
∴ I = Imin = 381445833.3 mm4
I 381445833.3
K = =
A 36100
= 102.793

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 Since column is fixed at both ends,
4 π2 EI 4 × π2 × 2 × 105 × 381445833.3
PE = =
l2 (8000)2
= 47058993.44 N
P 47058993.44
∴ Safe Load P = E = = 13445.40 × 103 N
3.5 3.5
= 13445.4 kN. Ans.
fc A l 8000
(b) PR = 2
where L = = = 4000 mm
L 2 2
1+ a 
K
330 × 36100
= 2
1  4000 
1+  
7500  102.793 
= 9911.806 × 103 N
= 9911.806 kN.
9911.806
∴ Safe load P = = 2831.95 kN. Ans.
3.5
(ii) Let L1 be the effective length
π2 EI fc A
=
L12 L12
1+ a
K2
π2 × 2 × 105 × 381445833.3 330 × 36100
=
L12 1 L12
1+
7500 (102.793)2
or 0.797 L12 + 63203550.35 = L12
or L1 = 17670 mm
= 17.67 m. Ans.
(iii) Let ‘l’ be the length of column for which Euler’s formula ceases to apply. Then
4 π2 EI
PE =
l2
4 π2 EI
fc A =
l2
4 π2 EK 2 4 π2 × 2 × 105 × (102.793)2
330 = =
l2 l2
∴ l 2 = 252815021.4
l = 15900 mm
= 15.9 m. Ans.
Problem 7. Find the safe load carrying capacity of column given in Problem 6 by Indian Standard code
procedure.
Given fc = 250 N/mm2.

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Solution: I = 381445833.3 mm4
A = 36100 mm2
I
K = = 102.793 mm
4
l 4000
Slenderness ratio λ = = = 38.914
k 102.793
From I.S. table, λ = 30 and fc = 250 N/mm2
σac = 145 N/mm2
and for λ = 40, fc = 250 N/mm2
σac = 139 N/mm2
Linearly interpolating between these two values of λ,
8.914
σac = 145 − (145 − 139)
10
= 139.65 N/mm2
Therefore, safe load carrying capacity of the column is,
P = σac × A = 139.65 × 36100
= 5041444 N
P = 5041.444 kN. Ans.

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