Columns and Struts

1
 INTRODUCTION

 Column or strut is defined as a

member of a structure, which is
subjected to axial compressive
load.

2
3
4
If the member of the
structure is vertical and both
of its ends are fixed rigidly
while subjected to axial
compressive load, the
member is known as column,
5
for example , a vertical
pillar between the roof and
floor. If the member of the
structure is not vertical and

6
one or both of its ends are
hinged or pin joined, the bar
is known as strut. Examples
of struts are : connecting
rods, piston rods etc.

7
FAILURE OF A COLUMN
The failure of a column takes
place due to the anyone of the
following stresses set up in the
columns :
(i) Direct compressive stresses,
(ii) Buckling stresses, and
(iii) Combined of direct
compressive and buckling
stresses.
8
Failure of a Short Column
A short column of
uniform cross-
sectional area A,
subjected to an axial
compressive load P,
is shown in Fig. The
compressive stress
induced is given by
P= P/A
9
If the compressive load on
the short column is
gradually increased, a stage
will reach when the column
will be on the point of failure
by crushing.

10
The stress induced in the
column corresponding to this
load is known as crushing
stress and the load is called
crushing load.

11
Let Pc = Crushing load,
c = Crushing stress, and
A = Area of cross-section.
Then

All short columns fail due to

crushing

12
 Failure of a Long Column
A long column of
uniform cross-
sectional area A and of
length l, subjected to
an axial compressive
load P, is shown in Fig.

13
A column is known as long
column if the length of the
column in comparison to its
lateral dimensions, is very
large, such columns do not
fail by crushing alone, but
also by bending (also known
buckling) as shown in fig.
14
The load at which the column
just buckles, is known as
buckling load or critical just
or crippling load. The buckling
load is less than the crushing
load for a long column.
15
Actually the value of buckling
load for long columns is low
whereas for short columns
the value of buckling load is
relatively high.
Refer to Fig.
16
Let
l = Length of a long column
P = Load (compressive) at
which the column has just
buckled
A = Cross-sectional area of
the column
e = Maximum bending of the
column at the centre
17
o = Stress due to direct load =
P/A
b = Stress due to bending at
the centre of the column = P x
e/Z
where Z = Section modulus
about the axis of bending. The
extreme stresses on the mid-
section are given by
18
Maximum stress = o + b

and Minimum stress = o - b

The column will fail when

maximum stress (he., o + b)
is more than the crushing
stress o .
19
But in case of long columns,
the direct compressive stresses
are negligible as compared to
buckling stresses. Hence very
long columns are subjected to
buckling stresses only.
20
ASSUMPTIONS MADE IN THE
EULER’S COLUMN THEORY

The following assumptions are

made in the Euler’s column
theory :
1. The column is initially
perfectly straight and the
load is applied axially. 21
2. The cross-section of the
column is uniform throughout
its length.
3. The column material is
perfectly elastic,
homogeneous and isotropic
and obeys Hooke’s law.
22
4. The length of the column is
very large as compared to its
lateral dimensions.

5. The direct stress is very

small as compared to the
bending stress.
23
6. The column will fail by
buckling alone.

7. The self-weight of column

is negligible.

24
END CONDITIONS FOR LONG
COLUMNS

In case of long columns, the

stress due to direct load is
very small in comparison with
the stress due to buckling.

25
Hence the failure of long
columns take place entirely
due to buckling (or bending).
The following four types of
end conditions of the
columns are important
26
1.Both the ends of the
column are hinged (or
pinned)

2. One end is fixed and

the other end is free.
27
3. Both the ends of the
column are fixed.

4. One end is fixed and the

other is pinned.

28
For a hinged end, the
deflection is zero. For a
fixed end the deflection and
slope are zero. For a free
end the deflection is not
zero.
29
Sign Conventions: -

The following sign conventions

for the bending of the columns will be
used :

30
1. A moment which will bend
the column with its convexity
towards its initial central line
as shown in Fig. (a) is taken
as positive.

31
In Fig. (a), AB represents the
initial centre line of a column.
Whether the column bends
taking the shape AB' or AB",
the moment producing this
type of curvature is positive.

32
2. A moment which will tend
to bend the column with its
concavity towards its initial
centre line as shown in Fig.
(b) is taken as negative.

33
 EXPRESSION FOR CRIPPLING LOAD WHEN BOTH THE
ENDS OF THE COLUMN ARE HINGED

The load at which the

column just buckles
(or bends) is called
crippling load.

34
Consider a column
AB of length l and
uniform cross-
sectional area,
hinged at both of
its ends A and B.

35
Let P be the crippling
load at which the
column has just
buckled. Due to the
crippling load, the
column will deflect
into a curved form
ACB as shown in Fig. 36
Consider any section at a distance x
from the end A.
Let
y - Deflection (lateral displacement)
at the section.
The moment due to the crippling
load at the section = -P . Y
(- ve sign is taken due to sign
convention)

But moment
37
Equating the two moments,
we have

Or

38
The solution* of the above
differential equation is

…..(1)

where C1 and C2 are the

constants of integration. The
values of C1 and C2 are
obtained as given below :
39
40
41
42
43
EFFECTIVE LENGTH (OR EQUIVALENT
LENGTH) OF A COLUMN

The effective length of a given

column with given end conditions
is the length of an equivalent
column of the same material and
cross-section with hinged ends,
44
and having the value of the
crippling load equal to that
of the given column.
Effective length is also
called equivalent length.

45
Let
Le = Effective length of a
column,
l = Actual length of the
column, and
P = Crippling load for the
column.
Then the crippling load for
any type of end condition is
given by 46
The crippling toad (P) in terms
of actual length and effective
length and also the relation
between effective length and
actual length are given in Table
47
48
There are two values of
moment of inertia i.e., Ixx and
Iyy

The value of I (moment of

inertia) in the above
expressions should be taken
as the least value of the two
49
moments of inertia as the
column will tend to bend in
the direction of least moment
of inertia.

50
Crippling Stress in Terms of Effective
Length and Radius of Gyration.

The moment of inertia (I ) can be

expressed in terms of radius of
gyration (k) as
I = Ak2
where A = Area of cross-section.
51
As I is the least value of
moment of inertia, then
k - Least radius of gyration
of the column section.

Now crippling load P in terms

of effective length is given by

52
53
 Slenderness Ratio

The ratio of the actual length

of a column to the least radius
of gyration of the column, is
known as slenderness ratio.

54
Mathematically, slenderness
ratio is given by
Slenderness ratio

55
 RANKINE’S FORMULA
 In Art. 19.10, we have learnt that
Euler’s formula gives correct
results only for very long columns.
 But what happens when the
column is a short or the column is
not a very long.
56
On the basis of results of
experiments performed by
Rankine, he established an
empirical formula which is
applicable to all columns
whether they are short or long.
57
The empirical formula given
by Rankine is known as
Rankine’s formula, which is
given as

58
where
P = Crippling load by Rankine’s
formula
Pc = Crushing load = c x A

c = Ultimate crushing stress

A = Area of cross-section
PE =Crippling load by Euler’s formula

59
For a given column material
the crushing stress c is a
constant. Hence the crushing
load Pc (which is equal to c x
A) will also be constant for a
given cross-sectional area of
the column. 60
In equation (i), Pc is constant and
hence value of P depends upon
the value of PE.
But for a given column material
and given cross-sectional area,
the value of PE depends upon the
effective length of the column.
61
i ) If the column is a short ,
which means the value of Le is

small, then the value of PE will

be large. Hence the value of
1/PE will be small enough and
is negligible as compared to
the value of 1/P . 62
Neglecting the value of 1/PE in
equation (i), we get

Hence the crippling load by

Rankine’s formula for a short
column is approximately equal
to crushing load. 63
In Art. 19.2.1 also we have
seen that short columns fail
due to crushing.

(ii) If the column is long, which

means the value of Le is large.

64
Then the value of PE will be

small and the value of 1/PE

will be large enough
compared with 1/PC . Hence
the value of 1/Pc may be
neglected in equation (i).
65
Hence the crippling load by
Rankine’s formula for long
columns is approximately
equal to crippling load
given by Euler’s formula.

66
 Hence the Rankine’s
formula
gives satisfactory results
for all lengths of columns,
ranging from short to long
columns.

67
Now the Rankine’s formula is

Taking reciprocal to both sides,

we have

(Dividing the numerator and

denominator by PE) 68
69
But I = Ak2 , where k = least
radius of gyration
.'. The above equation becomes
as

70
The equation gives crippling
load by Rankine’s formula.
71
As the Rankine formula is
empirical formula, the value
of ‘a' is taken from the results
of the experiments and is not
calculated from the values of

c and E.
72
The values of c and a for
different columns material
are given below in Table

73
Table

74
Problem No. 1
A 2m long column of hollow
circular section has outer
diameter 180 mm is subjected
to a load of 212.5 kN, and
designed for the yield stress of
340 N/mm2 .
75
The column is fixed at one end
and free at the other end.
Determine the inner diameter.
Take E as 210 GPa and factor of
safty as

76
77
78
79
Problem No. 2
Using Euler’s formula calculate
the critical stress for a series of
struts having slenderness ratio
of 30, 50, 100 and 150 for the
conditions
80
(i) Both ends hinged; and
(ii) Both ends fixed.
Take E = 200 GPa

81
82
83
84
Problem No. 3
A column is fabricated using two
identical I-Jois and cross section
is shown in fig. Its bottom end is
fixed in position and direction
where as its top end is fixed in
position but not in direction.
85
The actual length of the column
is 6 m. What maximum axial
compressive load can allowed
on the column if the load factor
is 3.5 as per Euler’s equation.

86
The second moment of area
of each of the I – sections
used are given in fig. Assume
E = 2 X 105 N/mm2 .

87
88
89
90
Problem No. 4
A 28 mm diameter column fixed
at its ends is acted upon by on
axial load. Determine the length
of the column. Take compressive
stress as 320 Mpa and E for the
material of the column as 200
91
92
93
94
Problem No. 5
Calculate the critical load of a
strut which is made of a bar
circular in section and 5
metres long and which is pin –
jointed at both ends.
95
The same bar when simply
supported gives a mid-span
deflection of 10 mm with a
load of 81 N at the center.

96
97
98
99
Problem No. 6
Calculate the Euler’s buckling
for a strut of T-section, made
of flange 100mm X 10mm and
web 10mm X 90mm. The strut
is 3m long & hinged at both
ends. Take E = 200 GPa.
100
10
1
10
2
10
3
10
4
Problem No. 7
A steel rod of diameter
20mm and length 3000 mm is
subjected to gradually
increasing axial compressive
load. Using Euler’s formula
find the buckling load.
105
Find also the maximum lateral
deflection corresponding to
the buckling condition. Both
ends of the rod may be taken
as hinged. E = 210 kN/mm2
and the yield stress of steel =
240 Mpa.
10
6
10
7
10
8
10
9
11
0
Problem No. 8
Find the Euler’s crippling load
for a hollow cylindrical steel
column 40mm external diameter
and 4mm thick. Consider the
length of column 2.3m and
hinged at its both ends.
111
Also determine the Crippling
load by Rankine’s formula
using constant as 335 N/mm2
and 1/7500. Take E = 205
KN/mm2 .

11
2
11
3
11
4
11
5
11
6
Problem No. 9
A hollow cylindrical column
is fixed at both ends. The
length of column is 4.2m and
carries an axial load of 230
KN. Design the column by
Rankine’s formula.
117
Adopt a F.O.S. of 5. The
internal diameter may be
taken as 0.82 times the
external diameter. Take fc =
550 N/mm2 & α = (1/1600).

11
8
11
9
12
0
12
1
Problem No. 10
Given ɭ = 2000mm P = 120kN,
Ratio of D/d = 0.8 factor of
safety = 10. Built – in @ both
ends ɭeff = 1000m σc = 320,
constant a = (1/7500).
122
12
3
12
4
12
5
Problem No. 11
Find the Euler’s crippling load for
a hollow cylindrical steel column
of 38mm external diameter and
2.5mm wall thickness. Length of
the column is 2.3m and is hinged
at both the ends.
126
Also estimate the Rankine’s
load for this column.
Rankine’s parameters are
335 N/mm2 and 1/7500. Take
E = 210 KN/mm2 .

12
7
12
8
12
9
13
0
Problem No. 12
Determine the ratio of the
buckling strength of two
columns of circular cross
section one hollow and the
other solid, when both are
made of the same material,
131
have the same length, cross
sectional area and end
conditions. The internal
diameter of a hollow column
is half of its external
diameter.
13
2
13
3
13
4
13
5
Problem No. 13
A cast iron column 130 mm
external diameter and 80 mm
internal diameter is 3m long
calculate the safe load the
column can carry is
136
(i) Both ends are hinged,
(ii) One end is fixed and the
other end is free.
Use Rankine’s formula.
Take a = 1/160 σc = 600 Mpa
and factor of safety is 3.
13
7
13
8
13
9
14
0