Unless otherwise noted, the content of this course material is

licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

© 2009, Peter Von Buelow

You assume all responsibility for use and potential liability associated with any use of the material. Material contains copyrighted content, used in
accordance with U.S. law. Copyright holders of content included in this material should contact open.michigan@umich.edu with any questions,
corrections, or clarifications regarding the use of content. The Regents of the University of Michigan do not license the use of third party content
posted to this site unless such a license is specifically granted in connection with particular content. Users of content are responsible for their
compliance with applicable law. Mention of specific products in this material solely represents the opinion of the speaker and does not represent an
endorsement by the University of Michigan. For more information about how to cite these materials visit
https://open.umich.edu/education/about/terms-of-use.

Any medical information in this material is intended to inform and educate and is not a tool for self-diagnosis or a replacement for medical
evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. You should speak to your physician or make an appointment to be seen if
you have questions or concerns about this information or your medical condition. Viewer discretion is advised: Material may contain medical images
that may be disturbing to some viewers.
Architecture 324
Structures II

Column Analysis and Design

• Failure Modes
• End Conditions and Lateral Bracing
• Analysis of Wood Columns
• Design of Wood Columns
• Analysis of Steel Columns
• Design of Steel Columns

University of Michigan, TCAUP Structures II Slide 2/19

Leonhard Euler (1707 – 1783)
Euler Buckling (elastic buckling)

π 2 AE
Pcr = 2 I
 KL  r=
  A
 r 
– A = Cross sectional area (in2)
– E = Modulus of elasticity of the material (lb/in2)
– K = Stiffness (curvature mode) factor
– L = Column length between pinned ends (in.)
– r = radius of gyration (in.) Source: Emanuel Handmann (wikimedia commons)

π 2E
f cr = 2
≤ Fcr
 KL 
 
 r 
University of Michigan, TCAUP Structures II Slide 3/19
Failure Modes
• Short Columns – fail by crushing
(“compression blocks or piers” Engel)
P
fc = ≤ Fc
A
– fc = Actual compressive stress
– A = Cross-sectional area of column (in2)
– P = Load on the column
– Fc = Allowable compressive stress per codes

• Intermediate Columns – crush and buckle

(“columns” Engel)

• Long Columns – fail by buckling

(“long columns” Engel)
π 2E
f cr = 2
≤ Fcr
 KL 
 
 r 
– E = Modulus of elasticity of the column material
– K = Stiffness (curvature mode) factor
– L = Column length between pinned ends (in.)
– r = radius of gyration = (I/A)1/2
University of Michigan, TCAUP Structures II Slide 4/19
Slenderness Ratio

• Radius of Gyration: a geometric

property of a cross section

I
r= I = Ar 2
A
– r = Radius of Gyration
rx = 0.999
– I = Moment of Inertia
– A = Cross-sectional Area

• Slenderness Ratios:

Lx Ly
rx ry ry = 0.433

The larger ratio will govern.

Try to
University balance
of Michigan, for efficiency
TCAUP Structures II Slide 5/19
End Support Conditions
K is a constant based on the end conditions K= 1.0
l is the actual length Both ends pinned.
l e is the effective length
l e = Kl

K= 0.7
One end free, one end fixed.

K= 2.0

K= 0.5
Both ends fixed.

One end pinned, one end fixed.

University of Michigan, TCAUP Structures II Slide 6/19
Analysis of Wood Columns
Data:
• Column – size, length
• Support conditions
• Material properties – Fc , E
Required:
• Pcrit for buckling and crushing

• Calculate slenderness ratio; largest ratio

governs.
• Check slenderness against upper limit.
• Calculate Pcrit for buckling using Euler’s
equation:
• Calculate Pmax for crushing:
Pmax = Fc A
• Smaller of Pcrit or Pmax will fail first.

University of Michigan, TCAUP Structures II Slide 7/19

Example Problem :
Analysis

Data: section 3”x7” Full Dimension

Fc = 1000 psi
E = 1,400,000 psi

Find: Pcritical for buckling and crushing.

Determine the mode of failure
for the wood column.

University of Michigan, TCAUP Structures II Slide 8/19

Example Problem : Analysis (cont.)
1. Calculate slenderness ratios
for each axis.

The larger (more slender) controls.

2. Upper limits are usually given by codes.

University of Michigan, TCAUP Structures II Slide 9/19

Example Problem : Analysis (cont.)
3. Calculate critical Euler buckling load.

4. Calculate crushing load.

5. Smaller of the two will fail first and control.

University of Michigan, TCAUP Structures II Slide 10/19

Analysis of Steel Columns
by Engel
Data:
• Column – size, length
• Support conditions
• Material properties – Fy
• Applied load - Pactual

Required:
• Pactual < Pallowable

• Calculate slenderness ratios.

The largest ratio governs.
• Check slenderness ratio against upper limit of 200
• Use the controlling slenderness ratio to find the
critical Euler buckling stress, fcr.
• Apply some Factor of Safety (like 3) to fcr.
π 2E
• Determine yield stress limit, Fy. f cr = 2
• Fallowable is the lesser stress: (fcr / F.S.) or Fy  KL 
 
• Compute allowable capacity: Pallowable = Fallow A.  r 
• Check column adequacy:
Pactual < Pallowable
University of Michigan, TCAUP Structures II Slide 11/19
Design of Steel Columns
by Engel
Data:
• Column – length
• Support conditions
• Material properties – Fy
• Applied load - Pactual

Required:
• Column – section

• Use the Euler equation to solve for Ar2 which is

equal to I for both x and y axis.
• Enter the section tables and find the least weight
section that satisfies BOTH Ix and Iy.
P( K xl x ) 2
• Check the slenderness ratios are both < 200. Ix = × F .S .
• Calculate the actual Euler stress fcr for the final π E
2

section.
P( K y l y ) 2
• Fallowable is the lesser stress: fcr / F.S. or Fy Iy = × F .S .
• Compute allowable capacity: Pallowable = Fallow A. π E2

University of Michigan, TCAUP Structures II Slide 12/19

Example Problem : Design
Select a steel section that can carry the given load.

University of Michigan, TCAUP Structures II Slide 13/19

Example Problem : Design (cont.)

University of Michigan, TCAUP Structures II Slide 14/19

Example Problem : Design (cont.)
• Determine the controlling
slenderness (larger controls)

• Find the actual buckling stress,

fcr

• Compare to allowable stress,

Fallowable is lesser of :
fcr/F.S. or Fy

• Determine safe allowable load,

Pallowable = Fallowable A

University of Michigan, TCAUP Structures II Slide 15/19

Determining K factors
by AISC
Sidesway Inhibited:
Braced frame
1.0 > K > 0.5

Sidesway Uninhibited:
Un-braced frame
unstable > K > 1.0

If Ic/Lc is large
and Ig/Lg is small
The connection is more pinned

If Ic/Lc is small
and Ig/Lg is large
The connection is more fixed

Source: American Institute of Steel Construction, Manual of Steel Construction, AISC 1980

University of Michigan, TCAUP Structures II Slide 16/19

Steel Frame Construction

University of Michigan, TCAUP Structures II Slide 17/19

Analysis of Steel Columns
by AISC-ASD
Data:
• Column – size, length
• Support conditions
• Material properties – Fy
• Applied load - Pactual

Required:
• Pactual < Pallowable

• Calculate slenderness ratios.

largest ratio governs.
• In AISC Table look up Fa for given
slenderness ratio.
• Compute: Pallowable = Fa A.
• Check column adequacy:
Pactual < Pallowable

Source: American Institute of Steel Construction, Manual of

Steel Construction, AISC 1980

University of Michigan, TCAUP Structures II Slide 18/19

Design of Steel Columns
with AISC-ASD Tables

Data:
• Column – length
• Support conditions
• Material properties – Fy
• Applied load - Pactual

Required:
• Column Size

1. Enter table with height.

2. Read allowable load for each section to
find the smallest adequate size.
3. Tables assume weak axis buckling. If
the strong axis controls the length must
be divide by the ratio rx/ry
4. Values stop in table (black line) at
slenderness limit, KL/r = 200

Source: American Institute of Steel Construction, Manual of Steel

Construction, AISC 1980
University of Michigan, TCAUP Structures II Slide 19/19