AS 202 Structures

Jan May 2007 Assignment 5 Dr. K. V. N. Gopal

1. Using the higher-order governing equation for a column and the corresponding general solution, obtain the critical buckling load for a fixed-fixed column using the necessary boundary conditions. (Hint: There are two possible sets of solutions of which the lower value for the first mode has to be chosen). (Ans: Pcr = 42EI/L2. The other solution corresponds to anti-symmetric buckling and its lowest value is 8.182EI/L2 which is greater than the symmetric buckling value. ) Note 1: In the simple analysis of columns with elastic restraints the assumption is that the load acting at the joint is transmitted as a compressive force on the column and does not cause bending of the beam. Note 2: According to Timoshenko and Gere, in buckling analysis, a straight configuration is stable if (the total potential energy) > 0 and unstable if < 0. A critical condition is reached when = 0. Hence to obtain the elastic buckling load by energy method we can equate the total strain energy to the total work done, with an appropriate function chosen for the deformed shape. 2. For a cantilevered column, the function y(x) = A(1 cos x/2L) , satisfied the geometric and natural or force boundary conditions and hence gives the exact solution for the buckling load. What is the percentage deviation from this exact solution if an approximate deformed shape is chosen as y(x) = Bx2(3L x) ? Solve using the energy method. 3. Repeat the above analysis for a simply supported column with the approximate displacement chosen as y(x) = Ax(L-x) and obtain the percentage error in the buckling load obtained. Note 3: For buckling analysis with large deformation, we considered the total length of the member in the deformed position to be l the original length and used the exact expression for the curvature. This is because during elastic buckling there is no change in the length of the member. In the energy method, the decrease in the horizontal distance between the supports due to buckling, is used to calculate the work done by the compressive force. 4. Mode of failure : Given a geometric configuration of a column (or a beam column), i.e. the length, supports and cross-section, and material properties such as yield stress, the failure mode can be found by the obtaining the critical stress for buckling and comparing it with the yield stress in compression/tension. The lowest value determines the failure mode.