Lab Manual

on
Slender Column Test for Pin End Condition

Course No: CE- 2108

Course Title: Mechanics of Solids Sessional

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING

DHAKA UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY,
GAZIPUR
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OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this experiment is

 To provides fundamental knowledge on slender column and its behavior.

 To determine the Critical load of slender columns made with different materials.
 To compare the practical and experimental critical loads.
 To compare the experimental critical load and theoretical critical load.
 To verify the Euler buckling equation for columns of various lengths subjected
to pin end conditions.
 To draw column strength curves (both experimental plot & theoretical plot).

Theory

The term column is frequently used to describe a vertical member, whereas the word
strut is occasionally used in regard to inclined bars. The vertical members of a building
frame or any structural system which carry mainly compressive loads are called as
columns. The compression member of a truss is called strut. The common feature of
the columns and struts is such that they are subjected to compressive forces. A
compression member is generally considered to be column when its unsupported length
is more than 10 times its least lateral dimension.
The classification of structural column may be classified in three categories; they are
as follows:
Long column, Intermediate column and Short column
The distinction between these three is determined by their failure behavior. Long
columns fail by buckling or excessive lateral bending; intermediate columns, by a
combination of crushing and buckling; Short compression blocks, by crushing/plastic
squashing.
A column will buckle when it is subjected to a load greater than the critical load
denoted by Pcr. That is, instead of remaining straight, it will suddenly become sharply
curved as illustrated in figure 1.

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where E is the elastic modulus, I is the moment of inertia, and Le is the effective length.
The expression in Equation is known as Euler's formula. The effective length depends
upon the constraints imposed on the ends of the column. Figure 2 shows how the
effective length is related to the actual length of the column for various end conditions.
In Above Equations, the quantity (Le / r) is called the slenderness ratio of the column.
For long columns, with a large slenderness ratio, Euler's formula is adequate for design
purposes

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 Figure 2
Materials and Equipment
a. Columns of various lengths made from different materials (Steel, Brass and
Aluminum)
b. Column buckling machine
c. Load equipment
d. Dial indicators
e. Steel Scale

Procedure

 At first, measure the geometric dimensions of the column.

 Then place the column in the testing apparatus between the end supports and
ensure that the columns are loaded in a perfectly horizontal and secured position.
Any angular rotation will result in erroneous results.
 Apply the compressive load axially and stop the loading when the column start
to change mode of bucking.
 Record the critical buckling load from the display.

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 Data Table
Slenderness Critical Critical Stress
Specimen Size of Ratio Load Load Rigidity Area
No. Specimen Experimental Theoretical ( )
=
(mm) ( ) ( )
(N) (N) (MPa)
L B H

Graphs:
Stress (Theoretical) Vs Slenderness Ratio Graph
Stress (Experimental) Vs Slenderness Ratio Graph
Stress(Theoretical) Vs Rigidity Graph
Stress(Experimental) Vs Rigidity Graph
Slenderness Ratio Vs Practical and Experimental Critical Loads

ASSIGNMENT
1. Why Euler chosen theses assumption” The cross-section of the column is uniform
throughout its length and the column is initially straight and is loaded axially”?
2. Define the Euler critical buckling load.
3. How stiffness of slender column depends on support conditions?
4. Which one supporting system you should choose for seismic zone and why?
5. Write the possible reasons of variation in results between experimental Pcr and
theoretical Pcr from your own judgment if occurred.
6. Why are the failed specimens shaped as they are?

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Note: x = Last three digits of student ID