COMPRESSION MEMBERS

• Euler’s formula gives the buckling

load Pe for a pin‐ended,
homogeneous, initially straight, long
column of an elastic material which is
concentrically loaded.
Euler Buckling Load

 2 EI
Pe 
L2
COMPRESSION MEMBERS

Euler Critical Buckling Stress

1 2
Pe  2 EI  2 Er 2 r
Fe   2  
A LA L2 1 2
r
 2E
Fe 
 
L
r
2

• (L/r) is the slenderness ratio

• As the slenderness ratio increases, the load that can
cause buckling becomes smaller.
COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Effective Length
• Real columns are not all pin‐connected.
• The effective length, KL, approximates the length over which the
column actually buckles.
COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Effective Length
 COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Slenderness Ratio
K x Lx K y Ly
SRx  SRy 
rx ry
Critical Slenderness Ratio
• This ratio corresponds to the upper limit of elastic buckling
failure, which is defined by an average column stress equal to
o.5Fy.

 2E 2 2
E 2 2 E
Fe   0.5 Fy ; L  Cc 
 r
L
2 r Fy Fy
 COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Limiting Slenderness Ratio

• Compression Members:

KL  200
r

•Tension Members:

Preferably L  300
r
‐ does not apply to rods in tension
 COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Allowable Compressive Stress

• Intermediate Columns (Inelastic Buckling) KL  Cc

r

  
KL 
r
2

1  2C 2  Fy
  3 KL 
KL 
3

Fa   
c 5 r r
FS  
5 3

KL
r
KL
r
 
3
3 8 Cc 8Cc
3

3
3 8 Cc 8Cc
• Long Columns (Elastic Buckling) KL  Cc
r
12 2 E
Fa 
23 KL 
r
2

KLx KLy
Where
KL ry
• r is the larger value between rx and
Example 1
A wide flange section for a 5m long column (hinged at both ends) has the
following cross‐sectional properties:

Ag  8,000mm 2
rx  100mm
ry  50mm
E  200,000 MPa
Determine the Euler critical load of the column.
Example 1
Solution:
Euler critical stress,
KL r 
max
 1(5,000)   100
 50 
 2E
Fe 
 r
KL
2

 2 (200,000)
Fe   197.4 MPa
100 2

Euler critical load,

Pe  Fe Ag  197.4(8,000)
 1,579,200 N
 1,579.2kN
Example 2
The A36 steel W6 x 20 column shown is pin connected at its ends and is
subjected to an axial load P. The column has a lateral support about its weak
axis. Determine the maximum value of P.
Properties of W6 x 20:

Ag  3,790mm 2
I x  17,231,980mm 4 2.25m
rx  67.4mm
ry  38mm
2.25m
Example 2
2.25m
Solution:
KLx 1(4,500)
  66.77
rx 67.4 2.25m
KLy 1(2,250)
  59.21
ry 38
 KL 
   66.77
 r max

2 2 E 2 2 (200,000)
Cc    125.66
Fy 250
Example 2
Solution: KL  Cc
r

 r
 
KL 
2
   2

1  2C 2  Fy 1 
66 . 77
250
   2 
Fa     
c 2 (125 . 66 )
  116.25MPa
5 3 KL r KL r
 
 3
5 3 (66.77)
 
66.77  3

3
3 8 Cc 3 3 8 (125 .66 ) 8 ( 125 . 66 )
8Cc

Pa  Fa A  116.25(3,790)  440,587 N
 440.59 kN
Example 3
The section shown is used for a heavily loaded portion leg of a 140m high
tower supporting a transmission line crossing a river. The unsupported length
of the member is 6m. Find Pcap. y <150x150x13

Properties of <150x150x13:
A  3,730mm 2 I x  8,050,000mm 4
y  x  42.3mm 280MM
c.g .
Properties of <200x200x20:
x
A  7,600mm 2 I x  28,800,000mm 4 y
y  x  57.4mm
x
<200x200x20
280MM
Example 3
Solution:
1. Locate the centroid.
Ay  Ay
3,730(2)  7,600 y  3,730(280  42.3)  3,730(42.3  20)  7,600(57.4)
y  103.27 mm  x
2. Moment of Inertia at c.g.

I  I c. g .  Ad 2
I x  8.05 x106  3,730(280  42.3  103.27) 2
 8.05 x106  3,730(103.27  42.3  20) 2
 28.8 x106  7,600(103.27  57.4) 2
I x  1.34588 x108 mm 4  I y
Example 3
Solution:
3. Radius of gyration
I 1.34588 x108
r   94.524mm
A 15,060
4. Slenderness ratio
 KL 1(6,000) 
   63.48   C c  125.66 
 r 94.524 
5. Allowable stress 
  
KL 
r
2

1  2C 2  Fy
 
 
c
Fa   118.53MPa
 
5 3 KL r KL r
 
3

3
3 8 Cc 8Cc
6. Axial Capacity
Pcap  Fa A  (118.53)15,060  1,758kN
 COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Column Design Table
• The designer takes the KL
value (in feet), enters the
table in question from left‐
hand side, and moves
horizontally across the
table.
•Under each section is
listed the allowable design
strength P for that KL and
the steel yield stress.
Example 4
Using the ASD column tables, select the lightest W section available for a load
P = 260 kips and KL = 10 ft. Use A36 steel.

Solution:

KL
Example 4
Solution:

W14 x 53: P = 268 k

W12 x 53: P = 288 k

W10 x 49: P = 268 k

W8 x 58: P = 303 k
 COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Local Stability

• It is possible for the thin flanges or webs of a beam to buckle

locally in compression well before the calculated buckling strength
of the whole member is reached.
• The ability of plate sections to carry compressive loads without
buckling is determined by the width‐thickness ratio, b/t.
• For uniformly compressed elements, as in an axially loaded
compression member, the strength must be reduced if the shape
has any slender elements.
COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Local Stability
 COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Local Stability
 COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Local Stability