Name – Pranjal

Admission No.- 20JE0705

Experiment 1
Title: Influence of Boundary Conditions on the Buckling of Columns

Objective:

To study the influence of the end conditions on buckling of columns

Theory:
Columns are vertical load bearing members used to transfer axial compressive loads. Columns
are broadly classified as short column and long column based on their slenderness ratio.
Slenderness ratio is the ratio of the effective length of column to its least lateral dimension.
Generally, when both long and short columns are subjected to increasing compressive load (P),
the short columns fail in crushing while the long column fails in buckling. Where the crushing
load is higher than buckling load (Pcrushing > Pbuckling). When the axially applied load on a long
column is gradually increased such that, it reaches a critical load value, then there is a sudden
change in configuration (large lateral deflection) in the column. This process is called buckling
of column. Buckling happens since the column is no longer subjected to only compressive load
but also a bending moment due to which the column bends. The value of the compressive load
(P) for which the column ceases to be stable and buckles is called critical bucking load (P cr).
When P<Pcr then column is stable and when P>= Pcr the column is unstable and it will buckle. P cr
is calculated using Euler’s formula which is derived from the case where column is pin-ended.
2
π EI
Pcr= 2
l
Where,
‘Pcr’is the critical buckling load,
‘E’ is the Young’s Modulus of the material
‘I’ is the minimum area moment of inertia of the cross section of the column
‘leff’ is the effective length of the column
The effective length (leff) is the length between the points of zero bending moment in the buckled
shape. It is the length which actually resists the buckling.
The effective length (leff) is for different end conditions are as follows:
1. Both ends are pinned leff = l
2. One end fixed and other free leff =2l
3. Both ends fixed leff = 0.5l
4. One end pinned and other fixed leff = 0.7l

Apparatus:

The Buckling Test Apparatus consists of four identical steel bars each representing the above end
conditions (both fixed, both pinned, fix-free, pin-fixed), weights and a dial gauge to measure the
lateral deflection.

Figure 1: Buckling Test Apparatus

Procedure:
1. Set the buckling test set-up for both end pinned boundary condition.
2. Measure the dimensions of the steel column before fixing it to the set-up.
 3. Make sure that the set-up with the steel column is in zero displacement condition
initially.
4. Note down the loading shown in load cell at initial stage.
5. Gradually increase the load and observe the readings of the dial gauge for recording the
displacement at centre of the steel column.
6. Keep on taking the readings until the load stops increasing its magnitude even at
increased values of displacements. This is denoting the critical load.
7. Note down the critical load at which the column buckles.
8. Then repeated the same procedure for pin-fixed and fixed-fixed boundary conditions.

Observation and Results:

L of specimen: 650 mm
B of specimen: 20 mm
D of specimen: 4 mm
I of specimen: 106.67 mm4
E of specimen: 190 GPa

Sl.No. End Theoretical Theoretical Experimental Experimental Error Error

condition Pcr leff Pcr Leff in Pcr in Leff

1 Pin-Pin 473.44 N 0.65 m 400 N 0.707 m 15.51% 8.06%

2 Pin-fixed 966.213 N 0.455 m 770 N 0.51 m 20.31% 12.09%

3 Fixed- 1893.78 N 0.325 m 1300 N 0.3922 m 31.35% 20.68%

fixed

Precautions:
1 Specimen should be fixed carefully.
2 Reading should be noted carefully.
3 Load should be applied gradually.
Remarks:
PCR and leff was found for Pin-Pin, Pin-Fixed, Fixed-Fixed end condition and the error
corresponding to it was also noted.

Questions:
Q1. Draw the deflected shape of the four columns with different end conditions
Ans :

Q2. What is the effective length of the column and what is its significance?
Ans : The effective column length can be defined as the length of an equivalent pin-ended
column having the same load-carrying capacity as the member under consideration. The
smaller the effective length of a particular column, the smaller its danger of lateral buckling and
the greater its load carrying capacity.

Q3. How were the different end conditions ensured in the experiment?
Ans : Different end conditions was ensured in the experiment using identical steel bars each
representing the different end conditions.
Q4. Comment on the load carrying capacity of the different columns under different end
conditions.
Ans : Load carrying capacity of column in fixed-fixed end condition is maximum followed by
fixed- pinned end condition and the minimum load carrying capacity is of pinned- pinned end
condition.
Q5. Based on your understanding of the experiment, what practical suggestions will you give to
practicing civil engineers?
Ans- My practical suggestion will be to use the column in fixed – fixed end condition where
there is a chance of buckling under heavy load and there is more chance of buckling in pinned-
pinned end condition.