Practice Sheet (Column and struts)

ES1106
1) Compare the ratio of the strength of solid steel column to that of the hollow steel
column of the same cross-sectional area. The internal diameter of the hollow column
is 3/4th of the external diameter. The columns have the same length and are pinned
at both ends. Use Euler’s theory.
2) A solid round bar of 60 mm diameter and 2.5 m long is used as a strut. Find the safe
compressive load for the strut using Euler’s formula if (a) both ends are hinged (b)
both ends are fixed. Take E = 2 × 105 N/mm2 and factor of safety = 3.
3) What is the ratio of the strength of a solid steel column of 150 mm diameter to that
of a hollow circular steel column of the same cross-sectional area and a wall
thickness of 15 mm? The two columns have the same length and similar end
conditions.
4) Find the Euler’s crushing load for a hollow cylindrical cast iron column 120 mm
external diameter and 20 mm thick, if it is 4.2 m long and is hinged at both ends.
Take E = 80 kN/mm2 . Compare this load with the crushing load as given by Rankine’s
formula using constants f c = 550 N/mm2 and a = 1/1600. For what length of strut
does the Euler’s formula cease to apply?
5) A built up steel column, 8 m long and ends firmly fixed is having cross-section as
shown in Fig. 1. The properties of I-section are Area = 9300 mm2 , I xx = 3 × 106 min4
, I yy = 8.4 × 106 mm4 .
Determine:
(i) The safe axial load the column can carry with a factor of safety of 3.5 using
(a) Euler’s Formula, (b) Rankine’s Formula.
(ii) The length of the column for which both formulae give the same crippling
load.
(iii) The length of the column for which the Euler’s formula ceases to apply. Take
E = 2 × 105 N/mm2 , f c = 330 N/mm2 , a = 1/7500
6) A column having a T section with a flange 120 mm x 16 mm and web 150 mm x 16
mm is 3m long. Assuming the column to be hinged at both ends, find the crippling
load by using Euler's Formula E =2 x106 Kg/cm2.
7) A rolled steel joist ISMB 300 is to be used a column of 3 meters length with both ends
fixed. Find the safe axial load on the column. Take factor of safety 3, fc = 320 N/mm2
and a = 1/7500 . Properties of the column section. Area = 5626 mm2, I XX = 8.603 x
107 mm4 Iyy =4.539 x 107 mm4.
8) A column of circular section has 150 mm dia and 3m length. Both ends of the column
are fixed. The column carries a load of 100 KN at an eccentricity of 15 mm from the
geometrical axis of the column. Find the maximum compressive stress in the column
section. Find also the maximum permissible eccentricity to avoid tension in the
column section. E = 1 x 105 N/mm2.