SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

DESIGN PROBLEMS

334. A round steel rod made of structural steel, AISI C1020, as rolled, is to be used as a
column, centrally loaded with 10 kips; N  3 . Determine the diameter for (a)
L  25 in. , L  50 in. (c) The same as (a) and (b) except that the material is
(b)
AISI 8640, OQT 1000 F. Is there any advantage in using this material rather than
structural steel?

Solution:
For AISI C1020,as rolled
s y  48 ksi
F  10 kips
N 3

(a) L  L  25 in.
e

Consider first J.B. Johnson


 L 2 
sy  e  

F  NF  s k  
A1 
c y
 4 2E 
 
 
2
A 
4
D
k
4
E  30 103 ksi
  2 
   
  48 D
2  
 D2 
  4 
  
 310   48   1
 
 4 4 2 30 103 


 
 
 
 
30  12D2 1 4


  2 D2 
48
30  12D2 

D  1.096 in

say D  1 1
in  1.0625 in
16
Le 25
  94  120
k  1.0625
 o.k.
 
 4 
(b)
Page 1 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

Le  L  50 in.
Consider Euler’s Equation

Page 2 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

2
Fc  NF 
EA
2
Le 
k 
2 
 D 
2
3

30 10
310  4 


2

 50
 
D
 4 
30  0.1875 3D4
D  1.507 in

say D  1  1.5 in
12

Le 50
  133 
k  1.5 120 o.k.

 4 

(c) For AISI 8640, OQT 1000 F

sy  150 ksi
1
L  2  2E  2
e
 
k  s 
 y 
L  2 2
1

30
e 
 3
10   62.83
2


k  150 
For (a) Le  L  25 in.
Consider first J.B. Johnson
 L 2 
sy  e   
F  NF  s k  
A1 
c y
 4 2E 
 
 

2
   
   
 150 D
2  
 D2 
 
 4 
 
 310  150   1
 4 
 4 30 103
2


 
 
 


30  37.5D2 1

Page 3 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

12.5 
 2 2
  D 
468.75
30  37.5D2 

D  1.23 in
say D  1.25 in

Page 4 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

Le 25
k   80 
 1.25 use Euler’s equation
  62.83
 4 2
 EA
Fc  NF 
 Le 2
k  
2 
 D 
2
3

30 10
310  4 


2

 25
 
D
 4 
30  0.75 3D4
D  1.0657 in

say D  1 1
in  1.0625 in
16
Le 25  94  62.83
k   1.0625
 ok
 
 4 
For (b) Le  L  50 in.
Consider Euler’s Equation
 2 EA
Fc  NF 
 Le 2
k  
2 
 D 
2
3

30 10
310  4 


2

 50
 
D
 4 
30  0.1875 3D4
D  1.507 in

say D  1  1.5 in
12

Le 50
  133 
k  1.5 62.83 o.k.

 4 

Page 5 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

There is no advantage.

335. A hollow circular column, made of AISI C1020, structural steel, as rolled, is to
support a load of 10,000 lb. Let L  40 in Di  0.75Do , and N  3 .
,
D
Determine o by (a) using either Euler’s or the parabolic equation; (b) using the

Page 6 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

straight-line equation. (c) What factor of safety is given by the secant formula for
the dimensions found in (a)?

Solution:
For AISI C1020, as rolled
sy  48 ksi

Le  L  40 in
F  10,000 lb  10 kips
N 3
Di  0.75Do

I
kA
  D 4  D4  4
 4   4
 
I
 o
64 i Do 0.75Do 0.033556Do

 D 2  D2  
 D2  0.75D 
2

o

A o i
 o  0.343612D2
4 4 o

0.033556D4o
k  0.3125Do
0.343612D2o

(a) Consider parabolic equation


 L 2 
sy  e  
F  NF  s k  
A1 
c y
 4 2E 
 
 
  2
   
 
25
  48 0.3125D  
  
 4 o 
 
 310   48 0.343612 D2 1 

o
 4 2
30 10 
3 
 
 
 
30  16.493376D2 10.9519
o
Do  1.576 in

say D  1 9
o
in  1.5625 in
16
Le 40
k  0.31251.5625  82  120 o.k.

(b) Straight-line equation

F L
 16,000  70

Page 7 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

A k

Page 8 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

10,000
 16,000
  40 
0.343612D
2 70 

0.3125D
o  o 
10,000  5498D2  3078D
o o

Do  1.6574 in

say Do 1 in  1.625 in
 8
Le 40
  78.8  120 o.k.
k 0.31251.625

(c) Secant formula

NF   ec NF  
s  Le 
 
y 1 2 sec EA
A k

2k
  
Do  1.5625 in
k  0.3125Do  0.4883 in
A  0.343612D2  0.8389 in2
ec o
 0.25 , (i7.8)
k2

N 10 
48  40 
1 0.25sec 
0.8389 20.4883 10N
  30 103 0.8389 

48  11.92N 1 0.25sec 0.81645 N  
N  2.289

336. A column is to be built up of ½-in., AISI C1020, rolled-steel plates, into a square
box-section. It is 6 ft long and centrally loaded to 80,000 lb. (a) Determine the
size of section for N  2.74 . (b) Compute N from the secant formula for the
size found and compare with 2.74.

Solution:
For AISI C1020, rolled-steel plate
sy  48 ksi

I  b   b 1 b4   b 1
4 4 4

12 12  12
A  b2   b 1
2

I b4   b 14
kA 

12 b2   b 12 
Page 9 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

Le  L  6 ft  72 in
F  80,000 lb  80 kips

(a) N  2.74

Page 10 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

Consider J.B. Johnson

  L 2 
 sy  e  
NF   k  
s A1
y
 4 
2
E 
 
72 2 


 
48  k  
 2.7480 
  48 A1   
 4 2
30 10 3

 
 
10.085 A
219.2  48A 
k2

try b  3.23 in

k 3.234  3.23 14  1.1331 in

123.232  3.23 12 
A  b2   b 1  3.23  3.23 1  5.46 in2
2 2 2

10.0855.46
219.2  485.46   219.2 ok
1.1331

Therefore use b  3.23 in
Le 72
 63.54  120 o.k.
k  1.1331
b  3.23 1
or b  3 in
in 4

NF  ec
s   NF  
Le 

(b) y
1 2 sec EA 
A k 2k
  
ec
 0.25 , (i7.8)
2
k

N 80   72 
48  5.46
1 0.25sec 80N 
  21.1331 30 103 5.46

48  14.652N 1 0.25sec 0.70214 N  
N  2.2  2.74

337. A column is to be made of ½-in structural steel plates (AISI 1020, as rolled),
welded into an I-section as shown in Table AT 1 with G  H . The column, 15 ft
long, is to support a load of 125 kips. (a) Determine the cross-sectional

Page 11 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

dimensions from the straight-line equation. (Using either Johnson’s or Euler’s

equation, compute the equivalent stress and the factor of safety. (c) Compute N
from the secant formula.

Page 12 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

Solution:
For AISI C1020, as rolled
sy  48 ksi

Le  L  15 ft  180 in
F  125 kips

Table AT 1.

GH
A  GH  gh  H 2   H  0.5 H 1  H 2   H 2 1.5H  0.5  1.5H  0.5  0.53H 1
1  GH 3  gh3  1  H 4   H  0.5 H 13  H 4   H  0.5 H 13
k  12  GH  gh   12  
 0.53H 1  63H 1

(a) Straight-line equation

 L
F  16,000 A 1 0.0044 
 k
 180 
125,000  16,000 A 1 0.0044
 k 

 0.792
7.8125  A 1


 k 
use H  7.37 in
k
7.374  7.37  0.57.37 13
637.37 1  3.04527 in

A  0.53 7.37 1  10.555 in

7.8125  0.792   7.81

10.555 1
 3.04527 
Therefore use H  7.37 in
3
Or H   7.375 in
78

(b) Consider J.B. Johnson, L k 180

e

Page 13 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

3.04527
 59

120

Page 14 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

sy
s 
e
N
F 125
se  2    2   13.8 ksi


 L 
sy  e   48 180  

k   10.5551  3.04527  
A1 
4 2E 

   4 2 30 103   
   
 
sy 48
N   3.48
se 13.8

(c) From secant formula

NF  ec
 NF  
s  Le 

y 1 2 sec EA 
A k

2k
  
ec
 0.25 , (i7.8)
k2

N 125 1 0.25sec 180 125N
48  10.555  23.04527

30 103 10.555 
   
48  11.843N 1  N 

0.25sec 0.5872
N  2.8

338. The link shown is to be designed for N  2.5 to support an axial compressive
load that varies from 0 to 15 kips; L  20 in ; Material AISI 1030, as rolled. (a)
Determine the diameter considering buckling only. (b) Determine the diameter
considering varying stresses and using the Soderberg line (perhaps too
conservative). Estimate an appropriate strength-reduction factor (see Fig. AF 6).
(c) Keeping in mind that the stress is always compressive, do you think that the
answer from (a) will do? Discuss.

Problem 338.
Solution:
For AISI C1030, as rolled
sy  51 ksi

Page 15 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

su  80 ksi

1 1
L
     
 2 2 E  2  2 2 30103  2

e 108
 s   51 
k  
 y 
L  20 in

Page 16 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

N  2.5
(a) F  15 kips
Consider J.B. Johnson
  L 2 
 sy  e  
NF   k  
s A1
y
 4 2E 
 
 
D
k
4
2
A 
4
Le  L  20 in
 2

20  


51
D2 D  

 2.515  51 1   4 
 4  4
2
30 10  3

 
 

 

37.5  12.75 D2 1 2.72 
  2 D2 
34.68
37.5  12.75 D2 

D  1.101 in

say D  1 3
in  1.1875 in
16
Le 20
 68 
k  1.1875 o.k.
108
4

(b) Variable stresses

sn  0.5su  0.580  40 ksi
Size factor = 0.85
sn  0.85 40  34 ksi
Kf  (Figure AF 6)
2.8
1 sm K f sa
N  sy  sn
F = 0 to 15 kips
Fm  Fa  7.5 kips
sem  sea

1 sem  2.8sem
2.5  51  34

Page 17 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

sem  3.923 ksi

Page 18 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS


 L 2 
sem  e  

F s  k  
A1
m em
 4 2E 
 
 

 2

 51 20  

D2 D  
7.5   3.923 1   4 
 4  4
2
30 10  
3

 
 




7.5  0.98 D2 2.72 

   2 D2 
1

2.67
7.5  0.98 D2 

D  1.65 in

say D  5  1.625 in
18

Le 20
 49 
k  1.625 o.k.
108
4

(c) The answer in (a) will not do because it is lower than (b)

339. The connecting link for a machine (see figure) is subjected to a load that varies
fro + 450 (tension) to –250 lb. The cross section is to have the proportions
G  0.4H t  0.1H , fillet radius r  0.05H L  10 in ; material, AISI
, ;
C1020, as rolled. (a) Considering buckling only, determine the dimensions for a
design factor of 2.5. (b) For the dimension found compute the factor of safety
from the Soderberg criterion.

Problems 339, 340

Solution:
For AISI C1030, as rolled
sy  48 ksi
su  65 ksi
Table AT
Page 19 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

Page 20 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

G  0.4H
t  0.1H
r  0.05H

A  GH  gh
g  G  t  0.4H  0.1H  0.3H
h  H  20.1H   0.8H
A   0.4H  H    0.3H  0.8H   0.16H 2
1  GH 3  gh3  1   0.4H  H 3  0.3H 0.8H 3 
k  12  GH  gh   12    0.35824H
 0.16H 2   
(a) Consider J.B. Johnson
  L 2 
sy  e  

NF  k  
s A1 
y
 4 2E 
 
 
F  350 lb  0.35 kip
Le  10 in

 48 10 2 

 0.35824H  2 

 2.5 0.35   480.16H 2 1  
  4
2
30 10 
3

 


0.875  7.68H 2  0.2425
H  0.3815 in
Le 10
 73  120 ok
k 0.358240.3815

say H  15 in  0.46875 in
32
3
G  0.4H  0.1875 in  in
16
t  0.1H  0.046875 in 3 in
 64
(b) with H  0.46875 in
A  0.16 0.46875  0.0352 in2
2

k  0.35824 0.46875  0.1679 in

Page 21 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

Fmin
 350
smin se  A  0.0352  11,600 psi  11.6 ksi
  2
 10
  2
L  

 sy  e    48  
1  k   1  0.1679  
 4 2 E 
4 2 30 103  
 
  

 


smax  450

Fmax  0.0352  12,800 psi  12.8 psi
A
1
s  12.8 11.6  0.6 ksi
m 2
1
s  12.8 11.6  12.1 ksi
a 2
su  0.5sn  0.565  32.5 ksi
Size factor = 0.85
su  0.8532.5 ksi  27.62 ksi
Figure AF 9, r  0.05H  0.05 0.46875  0.023
h  1.5H  15. 0.46875  0.7031 in
d  H  0.4688 in
r 0.05H
d  H  0.05
h 1.5H  1.5

d H
Kt  2.65
1
q 1  0.70
0.01  0.01
1 r 1 0.023
K f  0.70 2.65 1 1  2.2
1 sm K f sq
N  sy  sn
1 0.6  2.212.1
N  48  27.62
N  1.024

CHECK PROBLEMS

341. The link shown is subjected to an axial compressive load of 15 kips. Made of
AISI C1030, as rolled, it has sectional length of 20 in. Assume a loose fit with
the pins. What is (a) the critical load for this column, (b) the design factor, (c) the
equivalent stress under a load of 15 kips? What material does the secant formula
indicate as satisfactory for the foregoing load, when (e) ec k 2  0.25 , (f)

Page 22 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS
Le
e .
400

Page 23 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

Problem 341, 342

Solution:
For AISI C1030, as rolled
s y  51 ksi

b  0.75
in h 
1.75 in
A  bh   0.751.75  1.3125 in2
For loose fit
bh
3

I
12
bh3 h 1.75
kI     0.5052 in
A 12bh

Le 12 12
k  20
 39.6  for AISI C1030, as rolled
0.5052 108
use J.B. Johnson equation
 L   20
2 2
 sy  e   51  

(a) F
 s A1 
 k  
 511.3125 1
 0.5052  
 62.42 kips
c y


4 2
E  4 2
 30,000 
  
   

(b) Fc  NF
62.42
N   4.16
Fc 15
F
(c) s  sy  51  12.26 ksi
e 4.16
N
(d) Actual s  F  15  11.43 ksi
A 1.3125

Secant Formula
NF  ec  NF  
s  Le 

Page 24 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

y 1 sec EA 
A k
2 

2k
  
ec
(e)  0.25
2
k

Page 25 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

62.42

s y  1 0.25sec 20 
1.3125 20.5052 62.42   64.4 ksi
  30 103 1.3125
use AISI C1020, cold sy  66 ksi
drawn,

(f) e 20
Le  0.05 in
 
400 400
h 1.75
c 
 0.875 in
2
2
ec 0.050.875
  0.1714
k2 0.50522
62.42  20 

s y  1 0.1714 sec 62.42
1.3125 20.5052 30 103 1.3125  59.12 ksi
  
use AISI C1045, cold sy  59 ksi
drawn,

343. A schedule-40, 4-in. pipe is used as a column. Some of its properties are:
Do  4.5 in Di  4.026 in I  3.174 L  15 ft ; material equivalent
, , sq.in. ,
to AISI C1015, as rolled. The total load to be carried is 200 kips. (a) What
minimum number of these columns should be used if a design factor of 2.5 is
desired and the load evenly distributed among them? For the approximately fixed
ends, use Le  0.65L as recommended by AISC. (b) What is the equivalent
stress in the column?

Solution:
For AISI C1015, as rolled
s y  45.5 ksi

1 1
L

 2 2 E  2  2 2 30103  2
   


e
 114
 s   45.5
k  
 y 
L  15 ft  180 in
Le  0.65L  0.65180  117 in
Le 117
  77.5  114
k 1.509
Use J.B. Johnson equation
 L 2
s A
 sy  e      2 

(a) F  y 1  k  
45.5 3.174 1 45.5 77.5   44.4 kips

N  4 E
2
  
 

Page 26 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

2.5  4
2
30,000 
No. of columns
200
  4.5 say 5 columns
44.4

Page 27 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

F
se   A
 L 2 
(b)  sy  e  
1  k  
 4 2 E 
 
 
200
F  40 kips
5
40
se  3.174  16.4 ksi
  77.5 2 
 45.5  
1  k  
4 30,000 
2

 
 

344. A generally loaded column is a 10-in. x 49 lb., wide-flange I-beam whose

properties are (see figure); kx  4.35 in k y  2.54 in , area A  14.4 sq.in. ,
,
y
I  272.9 in4 I  93.0 in4 ; length L  30 ft , material AISI 1022, as rolled.
, x

Let the ends be a “little” fixed with Le  and determine the critical load (a)
0.8L
according to the Johndon or the Euler equation; (b) according to the secant
formula if ec k 2 is assumed to be 0.25.

Solution:
For AISI C1022, as rolled
s y  52 ksi

 
1
L  2 2 E  2  2 2 30 103  2
    
e
 s    107
k  y  52 

(a) k  2.54 in
I  93.0 in4
Le  0.83012  288 in
Le 288
 113.4  107
k  2.54

Page 28 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

Use Euler’s Equation

Page 29 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

2
EA  2 30,00014.4
Fc  L 2  113.42  332 kips
 e
 
 k 

(b) Secant formula

NF  ec  NF  
s  Le 

y  1 sec EA
A k
2 

2k
 
 Fc  
 
113.4
1 0.25sec Fc 
14.4 
 
2 30 103 14.4

52 Fc

Fc
14.4

1 0.25sec 0.0863 
Fc  273 kips

348. A 4 x 3 x ½-in. angle is used as a flat-ended column, 5 ft. long, with the resultant
load passing through the centroid G (see figure); kx  1.25 in k y  0.86 in ,
,
ku  1.37 in , kv  0.64 in A  3.25 sq.in. Find the safe load N  2.8 and
, if
the material is (a) structural steel, (b) magnesium alloy AZ 91C (i7.12.\, Text),
(c) magnesium alloy AZ 80A, (d) magnesium alloy AZ 80A as before, but use
the Johnson formula and compare.

Solution:
L 512
L    30 in
e
2 2
k  kmin  0.64 in
30
Le  46.875
k  0.64
(a) Structural steel, sy  48 ksi
Le
 46.875  120
k
Page 30 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

use J.B. Johnson

 L 2
s A
 sy  e      2
  k 
F  y 1   48 3.25 48   50.75 kips
 46.875
1
4 E
2
N  2.8 4
2
 30,000
  
 
 
(b) magnesium alloy AZ 91C

Page 31 of
 SECTION 5 – COLUMNS

NF C
A 
 L 2
C e 
k
1   6
64.4 10
C  57,000
 2.8 F  57,000 psi


57,00046.875
2
3.25
1
64.4 106
F  22,467 lb  22.467 kips
(c) magnesium alloy AZ 80A
C  82,900
2.8 F  82,900
 psi
82,900 46.875
2
3.25
1
64.4106
F  25,134 lb  25.134 kips

(d) By J.B. Johnson

For magnesium alloy AZ 80A, sy  36 ksi

 
L 2

s A
 sy  e     2
  k 
F  y 1   3.25
36 36
46.875   39 kips  25.134 kips
1 
4 E
2
N  2.8 4
2
30,000
  
 
 
- end -

Page 32 of