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Solid Mechanics 3
Laboratory Experiment
2. Introduction to Experiment
In this experiment you are asked to load struts of various lengths to establish the
relationship between the strut length and the buckling load, then compare the results to
the simple Euler theory.
You are asked to examine the Euler Buckling equation and select an appropriate
parameter to establish a relationship between the buckling load and the length of the
strut. You should plot a graph to prove the relationship between the buckling load and
the reciprocal of the strut length. You should conclude whether the Euler formula
predicts the buckling load.
This experiment also examines the effect of changing boundary (end) conditions at the
ends of the column on the buckling load.
You should realise the relationship between the buckling load and the second moment
of area as well as the type of material. The buckling load is directly proportional to the
second moment of area and the Young's modulus.
The magnitude of buckling loads would suggest that the flat thin beams were selected
to give relatively small loads over a wide range of end conditions and strut lengths.
Hibbeler, R.C., Mechanics of Materials, Sixth International Edition, Prentice Hall, 2005.
Π2 𝐸𝐼
As for theoretical result, since theoretical critical buckling load, 𝑃𝑐𝑟 = 𝐿2
Effective Length Average Buckling Load Buckling Load for Theoretical (N)
Length (mm) (mm) for Experimental (N)
240 480 142.5 146.1096621
280 400 89.5 107.3458742
320 320 92 82.18668494
350 500 62.5 68.70135949
420 420 38 47.70927742
520 520 19 31.12395169
Table 4: Theoretical result vs experimental result
140
120
Buckling Load (N)
100
80
Experimental Result
60 Theoretical Result
40
20
0
200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550
Effective Length (m)
Although the experimental result’s graph follows the theoretical result’s graph,
but it generally lies below the theoretical result except when effective length is 320mm.
effective length 320mm does not lie on the trend line of the experimental graph. The
difference where effective length 320mm does not lay on the trend line and
experimental results generally lies below theoretical results may have been caused by
errors. There are two types of possible errors that may occur in the experiment,
systematic and random error. One of the systematic errors that may have occurred is
instrumental error, where since the STR12 hardware is old and have been used many
times, it may not be able to accurately show the buckling load, hence making the result
to be below the graph. Another possible systematic error is materials property. The
material of the column used is aluminium with the given modulus of elasticity of 69GPa,
but since the theoretical graph is above the experimental graph, and buckling load is
directly proportional to modulus of elasticity, hence there is a possibility that the given
modulus of elasticity was too high which increases the theoretical values.
As for random error, since the experiment was done by inexperience students,
the column may not have been inserted properly sometimes, hence making the result to
be out of place, example, when effective length is 320mm. This error can be avoided by
asking multiple people to inspect before doing the experiment. Another random error
that may occur is that the columns are imperfect; this means that the column may have
been pre-buckled, since the column had been buckled many times. To avoid this error,
a new column could be used. Besides, another possible random error could occur when
zeroing the instrument. Since the instrument is zeroed every time it is testing a new test
or when doing a second try, and it may not be zeroed properly, hence making an error
in the result. To reduce this error, the experiment could be done multiple times and
averaging the result for higher accuracy of result.
7. Conclusions
In conclusion, the objectives of the experiment were achieved, showing the
relationship between critical buckling load and the effective length of struts. The
experiment shows that the longer the effective length of struts, the smaller the load for
critical buckling. And it also show that two fixed end has the highest critical buckling
load, one fixed end has the second highest and having both end pinned has the lowest
critical buckling load.
8. Student Comments
This experiment was conducted in a simple and interesting manner. From this
experiment, it shows that buckling theory applies in the real world. To improve the
experiment, one of the suggestions would be to allow the comparison of buckling load
with the same length but with different boundary conditions. Another suggestion would
be to use new column for better accuracy in the result.