CE134P-2 Column Theory and

Concept of Buckling
 CE134P-2
Principles of Steel & Timber Design

A compression member is a structural element that supports loads applied along its longitudinal axis.

Axially loaded members are compression

members that are nominally free from applied
bending moments.
Column Theory

The column in a building frame supports the

gravity loads applied to the frame. Failure of a
column may cause complete collapse of the
structure above the failed column.

A brace in a braced frame provides the lateral

restraint to resist the horizontal forces caused
by wind or earthquake.
A strut in a roof truss is a web member that
provides the required compression force.
The top chord provides the compression
members in a truss.
Pure compression on steel
members is, in general,
associated with instability
phenomena due to the
inherent slenderness. As a
consequence, strength design
must often be accompanied
by stability design.
 CE134P-2
Principles of Steel & Timber Design
Cross - Sectional Shapes
 CE134P-2
Principles of Steel & Timber Design

Compression members carry axial forces, so the primary cross-sectional property of interest is the area.
Thus, the simple relationship between force and stress,
Compression Member Strength

In 1759, a Swiss mathematician Leonard Euler first
presented an analysis that addressed the impact of
Stability Conditions for Elastic Columns
length on compression member behavior.
The figure is a free body diagram of the lower portion
of the column in its displaced position.
CE134P-2
Principles of Steel & Timber Design
The perfect column with an applied load will not cause any
lateral displacement or yielding.
At a particular load defined as a critical load or buckling load,
Pcr, the column displaced laterally. The dashed line represents
the original position of the member and the solid line
represents the displaced position. Note the axis system, z is
along the member length, y is transverse to the member length,
and x is perpendicular to the plane of the figure. The x and y
axes correspond to the centroidal axes of the cross section.
 CE134P-2
Principles of Steel & Timber Design

DE of relating moment to curvature of the deflected member

Stability Design
 CE134P-2
Principles of Steel & Timber Design
Column Buckled Shapes
 CE134P-2
Principles of Steel & Timber Design

To generalize the buckling equation for other end conditions,

the column length L, is replaced by the column effective
length KL where K is the effective length factor.
Concept of Buckling
 CE134P-2
Principles of Steel & Timber Design

In practice, several factors tend to cause buckling at a stress

less than the Euler critical stress and these include

• Initial out-of-straightness of the column causes bending stresses.

Axial load causing flexural buckling in the
Compression Limit State

elastic range, fails at a critical stress given
by the Euler expression as elastic critical
buckling stress
This expression indicates that the buckling
stress is directly proportional to the
modulus of elasticity of the material and is
independent of the yield stress.
• Residual stresses in the column produce higher than anticipated
stresses on the section.
• Eccentricity of the applied load causes flexural stresses in the column.
• Actual column end restraints differ from the assumed criteria.
• P-delta effects produce additional stress in the column.

The slenderness ratio has a pronounced

effect on the critical stress and should
preferably be limited to a maximum
recommended value of 200.

Members with a slenderness ratio exceeding

200 are excessively flexible and are liable to
damage during fabrication, transport, and
erection.