ABSTRACT

A column in structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through

compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other
words, a column is a compression member. Short compression members will fail once
thestressexceeds the compressive yield strength of the material. However, long compression
members will fail due to buckling before the yield strength of the member is reached. Column
also is a structural member which resisting compression loading. Meanwhile, buckling
phenomenon is happens when a column is experienced under axial load which makes the
member to deflect sideway and triggering failure after excessive forces. The critical load of a
column is the maximum axial load that a column can support, before failure and any load greater
than the critical load will cause the beam to deflect laterally and bow out. To engineers it is
important to predict buckling levels so that the destructive, dangerous and sudden level could be
estimated before it occurs.Buckling occurs suddenly, and is characterized by large deflections
perpendicular to the axis of the column. They support a load but most often their critical load is
determined by when buckling occurs. This experiment was designed with the objectives of
confirming the theoretical predictions for when columns buckle and how to increase their critical
load. It was assumed that the longer columns would buckle sooner and also the simply supported
vs. clamped end columns would also buckle sooner by a factor of 4. Another assumption was
made that the increasing slenderness ratio of the columns would decrease their critical stress.
Buckling is a failure mode which occurs in long slender structural members, before a plastic
deformation, such as yielding or crushing can happen. This report deals with a series of
experiments on struts of different lengths, but the same crosssectional area.

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 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Study Background

A strut is a structural component designed to resist longitudinal compression. Struts

provide outwards-facing support in their lengthwise direction, which can be used to keep two
other components separate, performing the opposite function of a tie. When the cross section
area is not large compared to the length i.e. the member is slender, and then the member will
generally fail by buckling well before the compressive yield strength is reached. A compressive
member can fail in two ways. The first is via rupture due to the direct stress and the second is by
an elastic mode of failure called buckling. Short wide compressive member tends to fail by
material crushing. When buckling occurs the strut will no longer carry any more load and it will
simply continue to buckle.

1.2 Goal and objectives

i. To investigate the influence of multiple column lengths and end restraint (support
conditions) under axial loading.
ii. To derive the Euler buckling factor by accounting a few columns length and end restraint
conditions.
iii. To determine the critical buckling loads for struts with supports.
iv. To test the Euler’s Theory of buckling.

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1.3 Laboratory scope

Buckling phenomenon is happens when a struts is experienced under axial load which
makes the member to deflect sideway and triggering failure after excessive forces. There are two
types of support for this experiment that is pinned-pinned support and pinned-fixed support. We
decide to use three different length of struts. So, it’s easy to compare which length will easy to
fail either longer one or shorter one.
The theoretical buckling load, Ptheory for buckling of struts is given by the following Euler
formula:

1.4 Significance of laboratory testing

This experiment is to investigate the compression members under multiple type length of
End Restraint condition. During the experiment, the struts will placed between the support and
load will imposed to know the value of bucking load that can caused the struts.

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 Digital Display

Buckling of Struts

Buckling of Struts Equipment

Steel Struts

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 CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEWS

The buckling theory under compressive axial load was discovered by Leonard Euler
within 1707 to 1783. By taking the end restrained condition supported by pinned connections and
frictionless, an ideal column which is systematic with deflection occurring only in one plane is
derived and expressed by equation 1.0. The modified equation formed the basis for much of the
work on stability of plates with various loads and boundary conditions.

The most basis form of plate buckling problem is a simply supported plate under uniaxial
compression. In 1891, Bryan gave the first solution for the problem by using the energy method
to obtain the values of the critical loads.

Buckling phenomenon is happens when a column is experienced under axial load which
makes the member to deflect sideway and triggering failure after excessive forces. The critical
load of a column is the maximum axial load that a column can support, before failure and any
load greater than the critical load will cause the beam to deflect laterally and bow out. To
engineers it is important to predict buckling levels so that the destructive, dangerous and sudden
level could be estimated before it occurs.

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 CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

START

Week 1: Open Ended Laboratory Briefing and Equipment

Introductory (By Lecturer)

Week 1&2: Proposal Preparation, Plan and Organize Equipment

and Testing Procedure (By Student)

Week 3: Proposal Discussion and Presentation for Approval by

Lecturer

Week 3&4: Perform Laboratory and Data Acquisition

Laboratory 1: Identification of Internal Forces, Stresses and Deflection of Simply Supported

Beam

Laboratory 3: Investigation of Compression Members under Multiple Type Length of End

Restraint Condition

Week 5: Perform Laboratory and Data Acquisition

Laboratory 2: Identification of Yield Strength and Modulus of Elasticity of

Reinforcement Bar

Week 6: Preparation of Technical Report

Week 7: Submission

END
Figure 1: Flowchart from the Beginning to the End of Laboratory

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3.1 Procedure

Part 1

1. Fit the bottom chuck to the machine and remove the top chuck (to give two pinned
ends).Select the shortest strut, number 1, and measured the cross section using the vernier
provided and calculated the second moment of area, I, for the strut. (I=bd3/12).
2. Adjust the position of the sliding crosshead to accept the strut using the thumbnut to lock
off the slider. Ensure that there is the maximum amount of travel available on the
handwheel threat to compress the strut. Finally tighten the locking screw.
3. Carefully back- off the handwheel so that the strut is resting in the notch but not
transmitting any load. Rezero the force meter using the front panel control.
4. Carefully start to load the strut. If the strut begin to buckle to the left, “flick” the strut to
the right and vice versa (this reduces any error associated with the straightness of
strut).Turn the handwheel until there is no further increase in load (the load may peak and
then drop as it settles in the notches).
5. Record the final load in Table 1. Repeat with strut numbers 2 and 3 adjusting the
crosshead as required to fit the strut.

Part 2

1. To study the effect of end conditions, follow the same basic procedure as in part 1, but
this time remove the bottom chuck and clamp the specimen using the cap head screw and
plate to make a pinned-fixed end condition.
2. Record your result in Table 2 and calculate the values of 1/ L2 for the struts.

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 1

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 CHAPTER 4

RESULTS, DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSIONS

4.1 Results

Pinned-pinned condition
Strut Length (m) Buckling Load (N) Buckling Load (N) 1/L2 (m-2)
Number Experimental Theory

1 0.420 -23 48.91 5.67

2 0.470 -16 39.06 4.53

3 0.520 -10 31.91 3.70

Table 1: Pinned-pinned condition

Pinned-Fixed condition
Strut Length (m) Buckling Load (N) Buckling Load (N) 1/L2 (m-2)
Number Experimental Theory

1 0.420 -115 97.83 5.67

2 0.470 -100 78.12 4.53

3 0.520 -41 63.82 3.70

Table 2: Pinned-Fixed condition

4.2 Data Analysis

Calculating Moment of Area, I

Given that Ealuminium = 69 GN/m²

b = 0.019 m

d = 0.002 m

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Thus, moment of area,

Euler buckling load for pinned-pinned condition

1) L=0.42m 3) L=0.52m

2) L=0.47m

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Euler buckling load for pinned-fixed condition

1) L=0.42m 3) L=0.52m

2) L=0.47m

4.3 Discussion

From the result data, the failure occurred faster at the struts that have 520mm length
because the length is longer than others. For example, most column failure occurs at a lower load
than the crushing strength. This is because most columns are relatively slanders. A struts or
column will fail by buckling, where a relatively large bending distortion will develop along its
length. The member does not collapse immediately but remains in bent equilibrium. The
buckling phenomenon is an example of unstable equilibrium, where the behavior of a short struts
is that of stable equilibrium. The axial load to cause buckling is called the critical load. For a
given load, a critical length may also be deduced. In that case, the critical buckling load and
critical length depend on a number of factor such as shape and size of cross section, the
relationship between the lengths of the column and its lateral dimension and the degree of fixity
at both ends. From the table also, we basically know that the fixed end is much stronger than the
pins end. This shows the more force should be imposed on the members of the joint fixed-fixed
end, the ratio is two times larger than the pinned-pinned connection.

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 CONCLUSION

Based on the experiment of Buckling of Struts, we can conclude that Fixed end is much stronger
than the Pinned end and more force should be imposed on the member of the joint fixed end
connection, but in other criteria the usage in fixed end connection usually apply for concrete
beam or column connection. The Pinned end is used for Steel connection because it is usually
fixed end connection is for permanent connection.

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REFERENCE

[1] R.C Hibbeler (2014), Mechanic of Materials, Singapore : Pearson Education South Asia
Pte Ltd, 9th Edition.

[2] Department of Structural and Materials Engineering Faculty of Civil and Environmental
Engineering (UTHM), Open Ended Laboratory Instructions Mechanic of Materials
Laboratory (BFC 21201)

[3] Mekanik Bahan dan Struktur, Yusof Ahmad, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

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