Mechanics of Solids –II UET Mardan

EXPERIMENT NO. 01

TO DETERMINE BUCKLING LOAD UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS

Aims:
To test a strut fixed with all three end conditions and prove the relationship between the buckling
load and the end conditions.

To help show the ‘effective length’ principle.

Apparatus:

Theory:

In structural engineering, buckling is the sudden change in shape (deformation) of a structural component
under load, such as the bowing of a column under compression or the wrinkling of a plate under shear.
If a structure is subjected to a gradually increasing load, when the load reaches a critical level, a member
may suddenly change shape and the structure and component is said to have buckled.

A Swiss mathematician - Leonhard Euler, created a formula that predicts the maximum (critical) axial
buckling load (Pcr) of a strut.

2
π EI
Pcr = 2
(KL )

Where K is an ‘effective length factor’ - determined by how the ends of the strut are fixed. It is the ratio
of the ‘effective length’ (l) between two points, to the overall length (L) of the strut.

Figure 2 shows that the way a strut is fixed decides its effective length. A strut with one fixed end has
an effective length of 0.7 of its total length. A strut with two fixed ends has an effective length of 0.5
of its total length. This assumes that the ends are fixed firmly - any movement in the ends will affect
the calculations.

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Figure 2 Euler’s Equations for Different Strut End Conditions

Procedure:
Create a blank results table, similar to Table 1. If using VDAS®, select the Strut
Experiments. The software will create a table of results automatically.

Second Moment of Area for the Strut:

Fixing
Peak Peak Average
Conditio
(Buckling (Buckling Peak
n
Stru ) Load 1 ) Load 2 (Buckling)
t Load
Pinned - Pinned 5

Pinned - Fixed 4

Fixed - Fixed 3

Table 1 Blank Results Table

1. Connect and switch on the Load Display. Allow a few minutes for the display and the
load cell of the measuring end to warm up. Tap the load measuring end to
remove any effects of friction, then zero the display.
2. Find the 600 mm steel strut (number 5). Measure its dimensions accurately and find its
second moment of area. Fit it in the pinned ends condition.
3. Use the large hand wheel to load the strut slowly. As the hand wheel is turned, watch

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the load reading and the deflection of the strut. When it is seen that the load does not
increase, but the strut is still deflecting, the strut has buckled. Record the ‘peak load’,
shown in the Load Display. Release the load.

4. Apply a light load, and gently push the strut to make it buckle the opposite way to
the last test. Increase the load until the strut buckles, and record the peak load.

5. Release the load and remove the strut.

6. Now find and fit strut number 4 in the fixed - pinned condition. Use the loading end as
the fixed end. This strut is 25 mm longer than strut number 3, to allow for the length
lost in one fixing. This gives a constant test length for correct comparisons.
7. Repeat the test and record the loads.

8. Repeat the test for strut number 3 in the fixed-fixed end condition. Again,
the length of this strut allows for the length lost in the fixings, to give a fair
comparison.

Results Analysis.
 For each strut, calculate the average peak buckling load. Do the loads
for each fixing condition follow the theory (fixed - fixed buckles at
four times the load of pinned - pinned, and fixed - pinned buckles at
twice the load of pinned - pinned).
 Also calculate theoretical buckling load (critical load) for each
condition and compare the results also then calculate the percentage
error.

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