ME 322 Mechanical Engineering Laboratories Feb. 2020 - June.

2020
CE 314 Civil Engineering Laboratory I Oct 2018 – 2021
Feb 2019
/ June

DATE:- ……………………..

TITLE:- Behaviour of Structural Elements

AIM:- Use experimental methods to

(a) Study buckling of columns and derive an expression for the buckling load of a
column.
(b) Study torsion of thin walled circular sections.

INTRODUCTION
When studying the behaviour of structures we try to identify different parts of structures as
different ‘elements’ based on the dominant structural action of the part concerned. Beams,
Columns, Slabs, etc are examples. This helps us to understand the way a structure behaves. Very
often theoretical analysis is based on such idealized elements. It is extremely important for an
engineer to physically observe and understand the structural behaviour of these elements. It is
only then that he/she will be able to develop a ‘feel’ for the behaviour of complex structures.
This will help a great deal in analyzing and/or designing of such structures. In this experiment
we focus on two types of elements: columns and shafts.

In the case of columns one of the most important structural actions is buckling. We will use
simple, small scale models to observe buckling and to study how some parameters influence the
buckling load. We will also explore the possibility of using these experimental results to derive
an expression for the buckling load of a circular column.

Our study of shafts will be limited to thin walled circular sections. Using small scale models we
will observe the way such shafts deform under torsion. We will also study the difference
between closed and open sections.

THEORY

Experimental investigation of buckling of columns

Consider a uniform column under axial loading. The buckling load (critical load) Pc might
depend on the following parameters:
• The length of the column, l
1
 • The second moment of area of the section, I
• The Young’s modulus of the material, E
• Shape of the cross section
• End condition

In order to simplify the problem let us limit our studies to pin ended, circular columns. Then
shape of the cross section and end-conditions can be eliminated from the above list.
Above is an educated guess. If it is correct there would be a relationship among these
parameters. Let it be of the form:
f (Pc, E, I, l) = 0 …………………………………..(1)

According to the Buckingham’s π theorem (which you have studied in CE 202: Fluid
Mechanics I) there should be 2 non-dimensional π numbers in this relationship. By inspection
(or by writing equations) we can see that they could be:
Pc I
π1 = ; π2 = …………………. (2)
l 2E l4

Therefore we can assume that (1) could taken a form:

π 1 = g (π 2 ) ………………………………(3)
where g is a function of π 2 to be determined.
By experimentally measuring the critical load and the dimensions of a column and knowing its E
we can calculate a pair of values for (π 1 ,π 2 ) that should satisfy (3). By repeating this for several
columns of different dimensions and preferably of different materials, we can obtain several
pairs of such values for (π 1 ,π 2 ) . Using this pairs of values – e.g. by plotting π 1 vs π 2 - it might
be possible to derive the function g and hence a relationship among Pc, I, l and E for pin-ended,
circular columns.

PROCEDURE

(a) Buckling of columns

1. Using the demonstration apparatus observe how a column buckles. Observe the
influence of the end condition on the buckling load. For the given specimen measure the
buckling load under different end conditions. Measure their physical dimensions too.

2
 2. Using the strut testing apparatus measure the buckling load of each of the given
specimens of uniform, circular columns (struts). Measure their dimensions too. Note the
material of such specimen as well.

(b) Torsion of thin walled sections

1. Mount each specimen on the torsion testing apparatus. Increase the end rotation in
small steps and record the corresponding values of the torque. (Carefully observe the
deformation pattern during torsion). Measure physical dimensions of each specimen
tested. Compare the behaviour of open and closed sections.

CALCULATIONS AND RESULTS

(a) Buckling of columns

1. Tabulate the measured buckling load of the demonstration column under different end
conditions and compare them with the corresponding theoretical values that you may
estimate using the expressions given in the appendix.
2. For specimens with circular sections tested in the strut testing apparatus compute the
π numbers, and study the variation of π 1 and π 2 . If the educated guess of (1) is correct
there should be a relationship of the form (3). Using appropriate graphs or otherwise
obtain this functional relationship between π 1 and π 2 (if it exists). Compare the results,
which are obtained using purely experimental techniques with the theoretical
relationships for the buckling load given in the appendix.

(b) Torsion of thin walled sections

1. For each specimen plot toque vs. rotation and estimate the torsional stiffness (defined
by the relationship T = kθ where T - torque, θ - angle of twist per unit length, k -
torsional stiffness).
2. Tabulate your results. Compare the torsional stiffness of closed sections with that of
open sections.

3
CONC
CLUSIONS
S

State th
he conclusioons that you
u can derive from the exxperimentall observatioons and resu
ults.

DISCU
USSION

You maay include thhe followinng in the discussion.

1. Difficultties, if any, in the expeerimental prrocedure adoopted.

2. Differennce, if any, between exxperimentallly derived expressions
e for bucklinng load of a
circular struut and the correspondinng theoreticcal expressioon.
3. Deformaation patterrn observedd in the torssion test. Highlight
H a differen
any nce betweenn
open and cllosed thin circular sectiions.

REFER
RENCES

1. Gerre, James M
M. and Tiimoshenko,, Stephen P., Mecha
anics of Materials,
M 4thed., PWS
S
publishing companny, Bostan. 1997.
2. Anyy other text book on Mechanics / Strength
S of M
Materials

Append
dix

Theorettical values of bucklingg loads: