INTRODUCTION

In structural engineering, buckling is the sudden change in shape (deformation) of a structural

component under load, such as the bowing of a column under compression or the wrinkling
of a plate under shear.

The buckling occurs due to imperfections in the straightness of the strut, the applied
load is not along the axis of the strut, and one part of the material may yield in compression
more readily than others owing to some lack of uniformity in the material properties
throughout the strut.

The traditional methods of conducting laboratory activities (assigned as level 0) will

not be able to provide the avenue for students to enhance independent learning activities and
inculcate creativity and innovation. The traditional method is fully prescriptive where the
three elements namely problem, ways and means and answers are guided or fully given the to
students. However, it is necessary to be implemented as part of the whole laboratory course
especially to first- and second-year students. In this laboratory activity students will be
exposed to the apparatus and the procedures to carry out experiment on buckling of struts.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this experiment is to determine the buckling load for struts.

APPARATUS

1. Buckling test apparatus

2. Struts specimen
3. Ruler
4. Vernier caliper
PROCEDURES
1) The digital indicator was switched on and warm it up for at least 10 minutes.

2) The specimen was choose and the length, width and thickness was measured.

3) The theoretical buckling load was calculated for a strut with the end conditions. It was
ensured that the load applied to the strut does not exceed the buckling load.

4) The grooved support was placed into the slot of the attachment for the end condition
and tightened the side screws. The help of technician was requested for proper
installation.

5) The top platen was moved upwards or downwards to bring the distance between the
two supports closer to the length of the strut.

6) The tare button was pressed on the digital indicator to set the reading to zero.

7) The specimen was placed in the groove of the top support.

8) While the specimen was held, the lack was adjusted so that the lower end of the
specimen just in the groove of the bottom support. If the distance between the two
supports is slightly less than the length of the strut, the screw jack handle was turned
counter clockwise. If the distance between the two supports is greater than the length
of the strut, the screw jack handle was turned clockwise.

9) The reading was noted on the digital indicator. If the load is greater than 10N, the jack
handle was turned counter clockwise to bring it to less than 10N.

10) The position of the dial gauge was checked to ensure that it is at the mid-length of the
specimen. The dial gauge reading was set to zero.

11) The tare button was pressed to set the load indicator to zero.

12) The specimen was loaded in small increments by turning the screw jack handle slowly
in the clockwise direction.

13) The load was recorded for each load increment and the corresponding mid-span
deflection.
(Important: please ensure that the applied load is always less than 80% of the buckling
load)

14) Unload the specimen was unloaded by turning the jack handle in the counter
clockwise direction.
RESULTS

Length of member : 54.5 mm

Width of member : 25.15 mm
Thickness of member : 3.48 mm
Moment of inertia of member : 88.33 mm4

Table 1

Load, P Mid-span deflection,d d/p

(N) (mm) (mm/N)

16.1 369 22.92

21.2 473 22.31

21.9 528 24.12

22.4 565 25.22

23.7 642 27.1

25.7 765 29.77

26.4 811 30.72

27.2 860 31.62

Pcr = 4π²EI
L²

Pcr = (4 π ² (166000) (88.33) ) ÷ 54.5²

= 194.89X10-3 N

Ixx = bh³ ÷ 12
= 25.15(3.48)³ ÷ 12
=88.33 mm⁴
 Iyy = hb³ ÷ 12

= 3.48(25.15)³ ÷ 12

=4613.30 mm⁴

Graph

PCR= Gradient

Gradient = y²-y¹

x²-x¹

= 811-528

30.72-24.12

pcr = 42.88
Discussion

The result from the table shows that when the steel was applied to the load, the bending rate
will increase corresponding to the added pressure. We can prove from the calculation
4 π ² EI
PCR = equation. This show, the mid-span deflection will increase if the load is
L²
increasing. When the load was applied to the steel, the bending direction should be in one
direction either the steel bending to the left or right. But for some other reason, the steel will
not consistently bend in one direction because of an error that we make. The precautionary
step that we should take first is to check the strut specimen was finely attached to the
buckling test apparatus.

Also, we should take the precautionary very seriously because without any precautions the
experiment will have inaccurate results. The other precaution can we take is to check the
balance using a spirit level to the buckling test apparatus before we applied the load to the
specimen. This is to make sure the balance of the load is applied to the specimen for the
constant result.

The theoretical and experimental values are not the same. It is because the struct does not
undergo enough load to buckle. The relation between the buckling and deflection of the struct
is directly proportional which is what we can determine from the graph.

Conclusion

As for the conclusion , we have achieved the objectives of this experiment which is to
determine the buckling load for trust.For this experiment, we have obtained the buckling load
from the calculation that we did from the buckling load equation, fixity conditions are both
end pinned . For the real result , we used the buckling test apparatus and also we used the
aluminium type struts . Lastly , for possible errors in the experiment human errors .Human
error is due to carelessness or to the limitations of human ability. Two types of human error
are transcriptional error and estimation error. Transcriptional error occurs when data is
recorded or written down incorrectly.Next is parallax error , Parallax error is caused by a
student not reading the measurement at eye level. It can lead to the reading being too high or
too low.