Chapter-VI Buckling of Compression Members 2017
Chapter 6
Buckling of Compression Members
5.1. Introduction
The selection of structural and machine elements is based on the three characteristics: Strength,
stiffness, and stability. The procedures of stress and deformation analyses in the state of equilibrium
were discussed in some detail in the preceding chapters. But not all structural systems are necessarily
stable. For example, consider a square-ended metal rod of say 10 mm in diameter. If such a rod were
made 20 mm long act as an axially compressed member, no question of instability would enter, and a
considerable force could be applied. On the other hand, if another rod of the same material were made
1000mm long act in compression, then, at a much smaller load than the short piece could carry, the
long rod would buckle laterally and could collapse. A slender measuring stick, if subjected to an axial
compression, could fail in the same manner. The consideration of material strength alone is not
sufficient to predict the behavior of such members. Stability considerations are primarily in some
structural systems.
The phenomenon of structural instability occurs in numerous situations where compressive stresses
are present. Thin sheets, although fully capable of sustaining tensile loading, are very poor in
transmitting compression. Narrow beams, unbraced laterally, can turn sidewise and collapse under an
applied load. Vacuum tanks, as well as submarine hulls, unless properly designed, can severely distort
under external pressure and can assume shapes that differ drastically from their original geometry. A
thin-walled tube can wrinkle like tissue paper when subjected either to axial compression or torque.
During some stages of firing, the thin casings of rockets are critically loaded in compression. These are
crucially important problems for engineering design. Moreover, often the buckling or wrinkling
phenomena observed in loaded members occur rather suddenly. For this reason, many structural
instability failures are spectacular and very dangerous.
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Chapter-VI Buckling of Compression Members 2017
[Link] and Stability
Buckling:
Buckling is a sudden loss of stability that occurs to a member subjected to a compressive load. The
system failure is caused by infinitesimal small deflections due to small imperfections being inherent in
each structure. It relates to the geometry of the system (dimensions, boundary conditions, type of cross
section) and the material applied (elastic modulus).
Stability of Equilibrium
A vertical rigid bar (no bending) having a torsional spring of stiffness k at its support is subjected to a
vertical load P. The system is displaced by a small (infinitesimal) amount.
PLsinθ ≈ PLθ moment caused by vertical force (small displacement)
kθ restoring moment by torsional spring
kθ = PLθ neutral stability - equilibrium condition
kθ > PLθ stable
kθ < PLθ unstable
Pcr = k/L critical buckling load
Fig. 6.1 buckling behavior of a rigid bar.
Euler load for columns with pinned ends
At the critical load, a column that is circular or tabular in its cross-sectional area may buckle sideways
in any direction. In the more general case, a compression member does not possess equal flexural
rigidity in all directions. The moment of inertia is a maximum around one centroid axis and of the cross-
sectional area a minimum around the other. The significant flexural rigidity EI of column depends on the
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Chapter-VI Buckling of Compression Members 2017
buckling occurs in plane of minimum I, and at the critical load a column buckles either to one side major
axis or the other in the plane of the major axis.
A column with a flexural rigidity of EI with pinned supports, being free to rotate around both ends is
subjected to a vertical load P. An imperfection of the system causes bending of the column (M) and
horizontal deflection at its center (v).
M = -PV bending moment due to deflection
𝑀𝑀 𝑝𝑝𝑣𝑣
𝑉𝑉 ′′ = − = Differential equation for the elastic curve
𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸 𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸
𝑝𝑝
𝜆𝜆2 = Applying λ, transforming the equation:
𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸
V''+λ²V = 0 being equal to an equation for simple
harmonic motion having the solution:
V = Asin λx + Bcos λx
V(0) = v(L) = 0 A and B are determined from the boundary condition
v(0) = 0 = A sin 0 + B cos 0 hence B = 0 and
v(L) = 0 = A sin λL excluding the solution A = 0, the equation is satisfied by
λL = nπ hence P /(EI) ⋅L = n2π2 and
𝝅𝝅𝟐𝟐 𝑬𝑬𝑬𝑬
𝑷𝑷cr = Euler Formula, critical load for the pin-ended column.
𝑳𝑳𝟐𝟐
The Euler Formula for the pin-ended column is the fundamental case for the buckling analysis. Buckling
will take place in direction of the least moment of inertia of the respective cross section.
[Link] loads for columns with various boundary conditions
The same procedure as that discussed before can be used to determine the critical axial loads for
columns with different boundary conditions. The solutions of these problems are very sensitive to the
end restraints.
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Chapter-VI Buckling of Compression Members 2017
Due to the boundary conditions set for a member subjected to a compressive load, the differential
equation v'' = -M/(EI) has different solutions. The solutions can be generalized and transformed to
resemble the fundamental case of the Euler Formula for pin-ended columns by introducing Le as the
effective length. In the analysis the effective length Le is used instead of the actual column length L.
𝝅𝝅𝟐𝟐 𝑬𝑬𝑬𝑬
Le = KL K = effective length factor 𝑷𝑷cr =
𝑳𝑳𝒆𝒆𝟐𝟐
Fig. 6.2 Euler buckling load formula for different boundary conditions.
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