Stability

of
Columns
2.week
 Columns and struts: Structural members subjected to
compression and which are relatively long compared to
their lateral dimensions are called columns or Struts.
Generally, the term column is used to denote vertical
members and the term strut denotes inclined members

Examples: strut in a truss, Piston rods, side links in

forging machines, connecting rods etc.
 Stable, Neutral and unstable Equilibrium

Stable equilibrium: A stable equilibrium is one in which a

body in static equilibrium on being displaced slightly,
returns to its original position and continues to remain in
equilibrium.
Neutral equilibrium: A neutral equilibrium is one in
which a body in equilibrium, on being displaced does
not returns to its original position, but its motion stops
and resumes its equilibrium state in its new position.
Unstable equilibrium: An unstable equilibrium is one in
which a body in equilibrium on being slightly disturbed,
moves away from its equilibrium position and loses its
state of equilibrium.
 Buckling Load: The maximum load which a column can support
before becoming unstable is known as buckling load or crippling
load or critical load

At this stage, the maximum stress in the column will be less than the
yield stress (crushing stress) of the material.

The buckling takes place about the axis having

minimum radius of gyration or least moment of
inertia.
Safe load: It is the load to which a column is subjected
to and is well below the buckling load. It is obtained by
dividing the buckling load by a suitable factor of safety.

safe load = buckling load / factor of safety

Stability factor: The ratio of critical load to the

allowable load on a column is called stability Factor
 MODES OF FAILURE OF THE COLUMNS

The mode of failure of columns depends upon their lengths and

depending on the mode of failure columns are classified as

a. Short columns b. Long columns

Short Columns: A short column buckles under compression as
shown in figure and fails by crushing. The load causing failure is
called crushing load. P
The load carrying capacity of a short column depends
only on its cross sectional area(A) and the crushing stress
of the material(σcu). The crushing load Pu for axially
loaded short column is given by Pcu =σcu × A .
P
The safe load on the column is obtained by dividing the crushing
load by suitable factor of safety. i.e., Psafe =Pcu/ FS
 Long columns: Long columns, which are also called
slender columns, when subjected to compression,
deflects or bends in a lateral direction as shown in the
figure. The lateral deflection of the long column is
called buckling.
The long column fails when there is excessive
buckling .ie when the load on the column exceeds critical
load.
Critical load denotes the maximum load carrying
capacity of the long column.
The load carrying capacity of long column depends upon several
factors like the length of the column, M.I of its cross–section,
Modulus of elasticity of the material, nature of its support, in
addition to area of cross section and the crushing strength of the
material.
 SC – 10

Short columns fails by crushing or yielding of the material under

the load P1
Long column fails by buckling at a substantially smaller load P2
(less than P1).

The buckling load is less than the crushing

load for a long column
The value of buckling load for long column is
low whereas for short column the value of P
1
buckling load is relatively high.

P
2
 Failure of long columns(contd) sc-11

Consider a long column of uniform cross sectional area A

throughout its length L subjected to an axial compressive
load P. The load at which the column just buckles is known
as buckling load or crippling load.
P
Stress due to axial load σc = P/A

Stress due to buckling

σb = ( M.ymax)/ I
L e
= {(P.e). ymax}/
I
Where e = maximum bending
= (ofP.e)
the/column
Z
at the centre
 Failure of long columns(contd) Sc-12

Extreme stress at centre of column will be the sum of direct

compressive stress and buckling stress

σmax = σc + σb

In case of long columns, the direct compressive

stresses are negligible when compared to buckling
stress. So always long columns fail due to buckling.
 sc-13
Modes of failures (contd.)
Intermediate Columns: These are columns which have
moderate length, length lesser than that of long columns
and greater than that of short columns.
In these columns both bulging and buckling effects are
predominant. They show the behavior of both long
columns and short columns when loaded.
 Euler’s Theory (For long columns)

Assumptions:
1. The column is initially straight and of uniform
lateral dimension
2. The material of the column is homogeneous,
isotropic, obeys Hookes law
3. The stresses are within elastic limit
4. The compressive load is axial and passes through
the centroid of the section
5. The self weight of the column itself is neglected.
6. The column fails by buckling alone
 Euler’s Theory (For long columns)

Sign convention for Bending Moments

A Bending moment which bends the

column as to present convexity
towards the initial centre line of the
member will be regarded as positive

Bending moment which bends the

column as to present concavity
towards the initial centre line of the
member will be regarded as negative
 Euler’s Formula for Pin-Ended Beams
(both ends hinged)
Consider an axially loaded long column AB of length L. Its both
ends A and B are hinged. Due to axial compressive load P, let the
deflection at distance x from A be y.

The bending moment at the section is given B

by d2y P
2
=-Py
EI dx
-ve sign on right hand side, since as x
increases curvature decreases
L
d 2y Py y
2+ =0 x
dx EI

A P
 This is the linear differential equation, whose solution is
Y = c1.cos [x√P/(EI)] + c2.sin[x √P/(EI)] …(1)

Where c1 and c2 are the constants of integration. They can be

found using the boundary conditions.
At x =0, y =0,we get c1=0 (from eq.1)
Also at x=L, y =0 we get
c2 .sin [L√P/(EI)] =0
If c2 = 0, then y at any section is zero, which means there is no
lateral deflection which is not true
Therefore sin [L√P/(EI)] =0
 sin [L√P/(EI)] =0

=> [L√P/(EI)] = 0, π, 2 π ,……n π

Taking least non zero value we get
[L√P/(EI)] = π
Squaring both sides and simplifying

π 2E I
PE =
L2
This load is called critical or buckling
load or crippling load
 End condition Equivalent Euler’s Buckling load
length(Le)

Both ends hinged Le=L PE= (π 2E I) / Le2

One end fixed, other Le=2L PE= (π 2EI) / 4L2

end free

One end fixed, other Le=L / √2 PE= 2(π 2EI) / L2

end pin jointed

Both ends fixed Le=L/2 PE= 4(π 2 EI) / L2

Note: L is the actual length of respective column and Le is to be

considered in calculating Euler's buckling load
Extension of Euler’s formula