INSTABILITY OF STRUTS

DATA

Table 1: Measurement of specimen

Measurements Value
Length of specimen, L 0.60 m
Width of specimen, h 0.025 m
Thickness of specimen, t 0.0035 m
Modulus of elasticity, E 70Gpa
Dial Gauge Reading, 1 Div 0.01 mm
Formula:

 Y= mx+c
 m= slope
 c= intercept

Table 2: Fixed-fixed support

Table 3: Fixed-pinned support

Table 4: Pinned-pinned support

 Table 5: Buckling load

Buckling load Percentage error

Types of support Experimental data Theoretical data %
Fixed-fixed 97.932 685.65 85.72
Fixed-pinned 90.186 349.82 74.23
Pinned-pinned 92.919 171.41 45.79

GRAPH

Graph 1: Fixed-fixed Support

Deflection vs Deflection/Load
6

5
f(x) = 97.93 x − 0.18

4
Deflection

0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06
Deflection/Load
 Graph 2: Fixed-Pinned Support

Deflection vs Deflection/Load

18
16 f(x) = 90.19 x − 0.74
14
12
Deflection

10
8
6
4
2
0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25
Deflection/Load
 Graph 3: Pinned-Pinned Support

Deflection vs Deflection/Load

12

10
f(x) = 92.92 x + 0.09
8
Deflection

0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12
Deflection/Load
ANALYSIS

b d3
Moment of inertia, I =
12

25× 3.53
=
12

= 89.32 mm 4

π 2 EI
Buckling load, P =
kL2

Fixed-fixed (0.5)

2 4
P = π ( 7 ×10 ) (89.32)
¿¿
= 685.65 N

Fixed-pinned (0.7)

2 4
P = π ( 7 ×10 ) (89.32)
¿¿
= 349.82 N

Pinned-pinned (1.0)

2 4
P = π ( 7 ×10 ) (89.32)
¿¿
= 171.41 N

Percentage Error ¿ |experimental−theoretical

theoretical |×100 %
Fixed-fixed: |97.932−685.65
685.65 |×100 %=85.72 %
Fixed-pinned: |90.186−349.82
349.82 |×100 %=74.23 %
Pinned-pinned: |92.919−171.41
171.41 |×100 %=45.79%
DISCUSSION

The objective of the experiment were accomplished which are to determine the buckling load for a
strut. The strut was tested with an increment of 10N until it reach 100N each reading for three
different support condition which are fixed-fixed, fixed-pinned, and pinned-pinned.

Based on graph 1, 2, and 3 is the graph of deflection against (deflection/load) for the each type of
support (fixed-fixed, fixed-pinned, and pinned-pinned). It is observed that as the load was increasing,
the deflection was increasing. The slopes of the graphs, the buckling load, were obtained for
different type of support. The buckling load for fixed-fixed, fixed-pinned, and pinned-pinned were
685.65N, 349.82N, and 171.41N respectively.

The accuracy between the experimental and theoretical were 85.72% for fixed-fixed support, 74.23%
for fixed-pinned support, and 45.79% for pinned-pinned support. There were huge different of the
percentage error value comparing the experimental and theoretical values. This result were
accepted and a few precautions should be taken such as ensure that the applied load is always less
than 80% of the buckling load. Over-burdening may make the steel break. In conclusion, some
arbitrary errors are created by the encompassing.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the experiment was a success as the strut was subjected to different type of support
to determine the buckling load. The accuracy of the experimental results was good but not totally
accurate. The effect of material, length of specimen, shape and fixing conditions were observed.
Different graphs were drawn from the results obtained which enhanced further analysis. This
represent the imperfection of the strut and the equipment used plus the imposed eccentricity.
Those error can be reduce by taking some precaution of repeating experiment and take the average
data.