Initially Curved Struts

L/2

L/2
Vo

vc

The objective is to determine the ultimate stress u which can be applied axially
for an initially curved strut given that the maximum allowable stress in the strut
is max .

V0
a

V
Vc
V

is the initial shape of the strut in its unloaded state.

is the central displacement of the unloaded strut.
is the deflection of the strut due to the axial load P.
is the central deflection of the strut due to the axial load P.
is the deflected shape referred to the unbowed axis of the strut.

V0

The Bending Moment at a distance x from the origin is

d 2V
EI 2
dx

d 2V
dx 2

P
.V
EI

P. V0

P
.V0
EI

V0

Assume the unloaded shape is

d 2V
dx 2

.V

Let

. a.sin

P
EI

x
L

a.sin
x
.
L

This is a standard differential equation and the solution is

2

A.sin x

B.cos x

.sin

2
2
2

3-4

x
L

--- (1)

Boundary Conditions:
V 0 when
V 0 when
either
if sin L 0

x 0
B 0
x L
A.sin L 0
A 0 or sin L 0
then
L n

2
hence 2
For the fundamental solution L
/ L2 therefore the third term of
equation (1) is equal to .
2
As 2
/ L2 for all values P and we know that the strut is stable for values
of P Pcr then sin L 0 is impossible
A 0
2
x
a
Hence
V
.sin
2
L
2
2
L
P
2
But
EI
x
1
V
. a.sin
Pe
L
1
P
2
EI
where Pe
the Euler Critical Load and as can be seen from the above
2
L
when P Pe .
equation V
1
.V0
V
Hence
Pe
1
P
1
V V V0
.V0 V0
But
Pe
1
P
1
V
.V
--- (2)
P 0
1
Pe

1
P
1
Pe

is called the Amplification Factor and it defines how the initial displaced

shape changes as the load P is increased.

Note: The Amplification Factor in this case amplifies displacement, however when
an Axial Load is applied to a strut previously loaded in flexure it may be shown
that the same Factor when applied to displacements, moments and stresses
closely determines the amplified values. This is the case provided the initial
displaced shape of the strut is approximately the shape assumed in the analysis of a
strut with an initial lack of straightness.

3-5

The Maximum Bending Moment M max occurs at the centre of the strut where the total
deflection is a Vc
M max
P. a Vc
P.

M max

1
P
1
Pe

--- (3)

.a

P
h
M max .
A
I
where h is the distance from the centroidal axis to the extreme compressive fibre, A is
the cross-sectional area and I is the second moment of area.

Hence

max

P
. 1
A

max

But

I
A

k2

P
A

max

. a. h.

P
Pe

A
I

a. h
k2

and writing

Noting also that

the applied stress

.1

P
Pe

Note

a
e

Solving for

max
a

1
2

1
2

max

1
2

2
e
max

If the maximum allowable stress in the material is taken as the yield stress
max

then

and

where

y
u

is the ultimate permissible applied stress

1
2

1
2

2
e
y

This is called the PERRY FORMULA after Perry who first derived it.

3-6

then

Real Struts
In order to design real struts account must be taken of the imperfections which are not
measurable. It is helpful to look first at the way in which struts of various lengths
behave and the bounds on their failure stresses.
u
x

Results from Tests

Yield

y
x

Lower

Euler Line
x x x
x
x x
x x
x
x
x x x x
x
Bound Line
x
x

L
k

The above graph shows a plot of the Ultimate Stress

against the slenderness ratio

L
from tests on a set of struts. The plot is bounded by three other lines namely the
k
2
E

yield stress

, the Euler Line

L
k

which are upper bounds and the

lower bound line. It is necessary to find the lower bound line for design purposes.
Note that at very low values of

L
the ultimate stress is close to the yield stress and at
k

large values the test results are close to the upper bound (Euler) line.
The problem lies in predicting

in the middle section where most practical struts

can be found. The major reason for the variation in value of u at a given
slenderness is that the struts become partly plastic before failure in this region i.e. the
sum of the axial stress
P / A and the compressive stress due to the bending
moment P

v exceeds the yield stress y for the material. The lateral

displacement v depends on the order of the imperfections (which vary from strut to

strut) and on the yield stress. The buckling load is, therefore, sensitive to the order of
the imperfections and depends on y which changes from bar to bar especially in
standard quality steels.

3-7

Perry-Robertson Formula
In order to produce a formula which represented the Lower Bound Line and which
accounted for plasticity and all imperfections Robertson adapted the Perry formula.
By carrying out many tests he was able to establish an empirical formula for the
quantity

ah
which appears in the Perry Formula. This formula is called the
k2

Perry-Robertson Formula and subsumes all imperfections into an equivalent lack of

Ve h
. He discovered that taking
k2

straightness Ve so that

L
k

0.003

gave a line which was below all ultimate stresses u for buckling of pin-ended struts
and which therefore represented the lower bound line.
Robertson further refined the empirical formula to

L
0.3
100k

and this is currently the basis for calculating buckling loads in the code of practice.
The Perry-Robertson Formula is therefore

L
0.3
100k

with

y
u

17
.

e
y

so for design purposes

It is usual to use a factor of safety of 1.7 on

a

1
2

3-8

to calculate the safe working stress