Mechanics of Materials IV:

Deflections, Buckling, Combined Loading, & Failure Theories

Dr. Wayne Whiteman
Senior Academic Professional and Director of the Office of Student Services
Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
Module 17 Learning Outcome
• Solve a column buckling problem
Critical Buckling Loads (Euler Buckling Loads)
pinned-pinned fixed-pinned fixed-fixed fixed-free
. .
0.7 L 0.5 L
L

. 2L

 EI  EI
2 2
 EI  EI
2 2

PCR  PCR  PCR  PCR 

0 . 7 L  0 . 5 L  2 L 
2 2 2 2
L

 EI
2

PCR 
 L EFFECTIVE 
2

where L EFFECTIVE is the distance between two successive

inflection points or points of zero moment
(must be modified for actual end conditions)
Worksheet: The truss below is composed of ½ inch
diameter structural steel bars. The normal yield stress
for the steel is 36 ksi. The modulus of elasticity is
29,000 ksi. The design requires a factor of safety of 3
with respect to yielding due to the axial loading.
a) Find the allowable load, F, due to axial loading
b) Find the allowable load, F, due to buckling
c) Which case governs?

F
 Start by finding the axial loads in the truss member
FBD entire structure

Ax =0
F
Ay By

+  M A
 0
+  Fy  0

  6  F  12  B y  0 Ay 
F
2
F
By 
2
 Start by finding the axial loads in the truss member

Ax =0
F
Ay By

FBD Joint A
FAD
4
3
4 FAE

Ay = F/2
 Start by finding the axial loads in the truss member
FBD Joint A
FAD
4
4 F
3 AE F

Ay = F/2 +  Fx  0
5 
 F
+  Fy  0 8 
3
  F AD  F AE  0
F 4 5
   F AD  0
2 5  15 
F AE   F
5  40 
F AD     F
8 F AE  0 . 375 F ( T )  F BE by symmetry

F AD  0 . 625 F ( C )  F BC by symmetry
 Start by finding the axial loads in the truss member
FBD section cut
FCD

FDE
FAE
Ax =0
Ay = F/2
F
By

+  M E
 0 +  Fy  0

F F 4
 ( 6 )  F CD ( 4 )  0  F DE  0
2 2 5
3 5
F CD   F F DE  F
4 8
F DE  0 . 625 F ( T )  F CE by symmetry
F CD  0 . 75 F ( C )
Worksheet: The truss below is composed of ½ inch diameter
structural steel bars. The normal yield stress for the steel is 36 ksi.
The modulus of elasticity is 29,000 ksi. The design requires a factor
of safety of 3 with respect to yielding due to the axial loading.
a) Find the allowable load, F, due to axial loading
b) Find the allowable load, F, due to buckling
c) Which case governs?

Maximum Shear Stress Theory

Failure occurs when:
  FAILURE

This theory is good for ductile

materials (e.g. steel, aluminum,
plastic, etc)
Worksheet: The truss below is composed of ½ inch diameter
structural steel bars. The normal yield stress for the steel is 36 ksi.
The modulus of elasticity is 29,000 ksi. The design requires a factor
of safety of 3 with respect to yielding due to the axial loading.
a) Find the allowable load, F, due to axial loading
b) Find the allowable load, F, due to buckling
c) Which case governs?
For STT-Mohr’s Circle - Stress
 0 ,  FAILURE 
.
F
. .  ,0 
0 ,0 
. FAILURE

For axial load yield:

 FAILURE
( YIELD ) 36 ksi
 FAILURE
   18 ksi
2 2
For axial load yield:
 FAILURE
( YIELD ) 36 ksi
 FAILURE
   18 ksi
2 2

Failure Stress 18 ksi

FoS  3  
Actual Stress  ACTUAL
( ALLOWED )

 ACTUAL
 6 ksi
( ALLOW ED )
 For STT-Mohr’s Circle - Stress
 
 0 ,  ACTUAL 

 ACTUAL
 6 ksi
 . ( ALLOWED ) 

( ALLOWED )
. .
0 ,0   

 ACTUAL
.  

ACTUAL
( ALLOWED )
, 0 
 F
( ALLOW ED )
 ACTUAL
 6 ksi
2 ( ALLOW ED ) F AD  0 . 625 F ( C )  F BC by symmetry

P ACTUAL F AE  0 . 375 F ( T )  F BE by symmetry

( ALLOW ED )

A   6 ksi
ACTUAL F CD  0 . 75 F ( C )
2 ( ALLOW ED )

F DE  0 . 625 F ( T )  F CE by symmetry
 1  
2

P ACTUAL  0 . 75 F ACTUAL  6 ksi  2     inches  

   
( ALLOW ED ) ( ALLOW ED ) 4

F ACTUAL  3 . 142 kips  3142 lb to avoid yielding

( ALLOWED )
Worksheet: The truss below is composed of ½ inch diameter
structural steel bars. The normal yield stress for the steel is 36 ksi.
The modulus of elasticity is 29,000 ksi. The design requires a factor
of safety of 3 with respect to yielding due to the axial loading.
a) Find the allowable load, F, due to axial loading
b) Find the allowable load, F, due to buckling
c) Which case governs? F
Check Buckling Loads Member CD
F AD  0 . 625 F ( C )  F BC by symmetry
pinned-pinned   1 
4


2
 29000 ksi    inches   F AE  0 . 375 F ( T )  F BE by symmetry
.  4  4  
PCR  2
  12 inches  F CD  0 . 75 F ( C )
 6 ft   
L   ft  F DE  0 . 625 F ( T )  F CE by symmetry

. PCR  0 . 1694 kips

F ACTUAL  3 . 142 kips  3142 lb to avoid yielding
PCR  0 . 75 F CR
( ALLOWED )
 EI
2

PCR  2
( MEMBER CD )
L
F CR  0 . 2258 kips  226 lb
( MEMBER CD )

ANS