UNIVERSITI TENAGA NASIONAL

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

MEMD221 MECHANIC OF MATERIAL LAB

LAB REPORT BUCKLING TEST

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Performed Date

Due Date*

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*Late submission penalty: Late 1 day: 10%,

than 3 days: 50%

Late 2 days: 20%,

Late 3 days: 30%,

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OBJECTIVE
1. To determine critical buckling loads for columns with support.
2. To examine the Euler theory of buckling.
3. To investigate the influence of different material parameters on buckling.
DATA
MATERIAL
Alu. AlMgSiO.5
F22
Brass CuZn40Pb2

AREA (mm)
25 x 6

LENGHT
600

25 x 6

600

Copper E-Cu

25 x 6

600

Material : Brass
650 N
850 N
950 N
1000 N
1050 N
1075 N

Force (N)
Material : Aluminium
250 N
400 N
500 N
590 N
625 N
-

Deflection (mm)
1
2
3
4
5
6

MOUNTING
knife-edge/knifeedge
knife-edge/knifeedge
knife-edge/knifeedge

Material : Copper
750 N
1000 N
1150 N
1200 N
1250 N
1300 N

Specimen details:
1. Brass High malleability, low melting point and easy to cast
2. Alluminium Soft, durable, lightweight, ductile and malleable metal
3. Copper High ductility, electrical and thermal conductivity
OBSERVATION
Copper is the highest deflection rate and force compared to brass and alluminium which is at
6mm deflection with a force of 1300 N.

ANALYSIS AND RESULTS

Deflection (mm)
Material : Brass
650 N
850 N
950 N
1000 N
1050 N
1075 N

1
2
3
4
5
6

Force (N)
Material : Aluminium
250 N
400 N
500 N
590 N
625 N
-

Material : Copper
750 N
1000 N
1150 N
1200 N
1250 N
1300 N

1400

1200

1000

800
FORCE (N)
600 Brass
Force (N) Material:

Force (N) Material: Alluminium

Force (N) Material: Copper

400

200

0
0

DEFLECTION (mm)

DISCUSSIONS
1. Plot a graph of Force vs. Deflection (mm). Identify the maximum experimental critical force
on each graph.
2. Calculate the theoretical critical force for each material.
3. Compare the values obtain in (1) and (2).
4. What are the differences between one material and another?
5. Identify one engineering example where buckling is highly concerned. Explain your answer in
details.
SOLUTION:
1. GRAPH
1400

1200

1000
Force (N) Material: Brass

Force (N) Material: Alluminium

800
FORCE (N)
600

400
Force (N) Material: Copper
200

0
0

DEFLECTION (mm)

The maximum experimental critical force is copper.

2. Calculate the theoretical critical force for each material.

modulus of elasticity E for:

1. Brass = 102 GPa
2. Alluminium = 69 GPa
3. Copper = 117 GPa
BRASS

ALLUMINIUM

COPPER

3. Compare the values obtain in (1) and (2).

4. What are the differences between one material and another?

Hardness
Expensives
5. Identify one engineering example where buckling is highly concerned. Explain your
answer in details.

Bicycle wheels
A conventional bicycle wheel consists of a thin rim kept under high compressive stress by the
(roughly normal) inward pull of a large number of spokes. It can be considered as a loaded
column that has been bent into a circle. If spoke tension is increased beyond a safe level, the
wheel spontaneously fails into a characteristic saddle shape (sometimes called a "taco" or a
"pringle") like a three-dimensional Euler column. This is normally a purely elastic deformation
and the rim will resume its proper plane shape if spoke tension is reduced slightly.

CONCLUSIONS
The error within this experiment was grossly inaccurate and exhibited unacceptable error. The
main source of error was due to poor testing technique. Evenwith proper technique, however,
persistent and large error was still present. There main error was due to ill conditioned test
samples and poorly calibrated equipment. The samples had experienced buckling many times
previous to this test, and the clampswere not aligned to place the force parallel along the beam.

REFERENCES
Modulus of Elasticity or Young's Modulus - and Tensile Modulus for common Materials, 2004
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/young-modulus-d_417.html
Buckling, 2010
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckling