BFC 20903 (Mechanics of Materials)

Chapter 5: Compression Member

Shahrul Niza Mokhatar

shahruln@uthm.edu.my

Shahiron Shahidan
shahidan@uthm.edu.my
 Chapter Learning Outcome
1. Determine the type of failure in
compression member
2. Determine the shape of buckling in
compression member
3. Analyse the compression member
using Eulers theory and Secant
formula

BFC 20903 (Mechanics of Materials)

Shahrul Niza Mokhatar
(shahrul@uthm.edu.my
 Introduction
The selection of the column is often a very critical part
of the design of structure because the failure of the
column usually has catastrophic effects.
If a column is long compared to its width, - fail in buckling
(bending & deflection laterally).
The buckling may be either elastic or inelastic depends upon the
slenderness of the column.
Column - vertical member carries compressive axial
loads.
The compressive axial load can be applied at the centroid
and offset from centroid.
 Types of Failures Column
Short column = when the cross-section large as compared
to its height. It fails due to crushing of column material.

long/slender column = when the cross-section small

as compared to its height. It fails due to buckling.
 Critical Buckling Load Eulers Theory
The maximum axial load that a column can support when
it is on the verge of buckling is called the critical
buckling load, Pcr.
To derive the Pcr, several assumption can be made:
Column is ideal column - perfectly straight, made of
homogeneous material and the load is applied through
the centroid of the cross section.
No lateral loads act along the height of column
Material behaves within elastic region or ideal rigid-
plastic or elastic-plastic behavior
Effective length and support
condition
 Limitation of Eulers Theory / Critical

stress, cr
Eulers formula can be used to determine the buckling load since
the stress in the column remains elastic.

(L/r) - slenderness ratio, buckling will occur about the axis when
the ratio gives the greatest value. Measurement of the columns
flexibility.
The graph below is used to identify the (L/r) for the column
made of a structural steel. For a steel column if (L/r)s 89 , Eulers
formula can be used to determine the
buckling load since the stress in the
column remains elastic. But if the (L/r)s
< 89, the columns stress will exceed
the yield point and the Euler formula is
not valid in this case.
Example 1
Example 2
Exercise
 Due to this condition of bracing, the column will
buckle with different axis namely are x and y axis.
 Secant Formula
The Euler formula was derived with the assumption;
i) The load,P is always applied through the centroid of the
columns cross sectional area and;
ii) The column is perfectly straight.
This is actually quite unrealistic since manufactured columns are
never perfectly straight. In actual condition, column never
suddenly buckle, instead they begin to bend slightly upon the
application of the load.
The actual criterion for load application will be limited either to a
specified deflection of the column or by not allowing the
maximum stress exceed the allowable stress in the column.
To investigate this effect
load, P is applied to the
column at a short eccentric
distance, e from the
centroid of the cross
section.
Secant Formula
Example 3
a) Determine the allowable eccentric load, P that can be applied.
 Perry-Robertson Formula
The formula used for structural steelwork is the Perry-
Robertson formula that represented as the average end stress
to cause yield in a strut.
Rankine-Gordon Formula
Assignment
- END -