MD1 Buckling of Columns File: Dr.

Roble

This set of Machine Design Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on
“Buckling of Columns”.
1. Piston rod is an example of column.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Explanation: An slender machine component having its length considerable in proportion to its
width qualifies for a column criterion.
2. Bucking of column means
a) Lateral deflection
b) Axial deflection
c) Torsional deflection
d) None of the listed
Answer: d
Explanation: Buckling is characterised by lateral deflection but it is different from lateral
deflection as there is sudden lateral deflection in buckling unlike lateral deflection where there is
gradual deflection.
3. Slenderness ratio is [l= length of column and k= least radius of gyration of cross section about
its axis].
a) l/k
b) k/l
c) l/2k
d) k/2l
Answer: a
Explanation: It is a ratio of length to least radius of gyration.
4. Columns with what slenderness ratio are not designed with respect to buckling but are
designed for compressive stresses.
a) >1
b) <1
c) >30
d) <30
Answer: d
Explanation: When slenderness ratio is <30, there is no effect of buckling.
5. If slenderness ratio=45, which mode of failure will dominate?
a) Buckling
b) Compressive Stresses
c) Both buckling and compressive stress
d) Can’t be stated
Answer: a
Explanation: If slenderness ratio>30, column shall be more prone to buckling.
6. Short column and long column are classified on the basis of
a) Slenderness ratio
b) Diameter
c) Length
d) None of the listed
Answer: a
Explanation: Slenderness ratio takes into consideration length and radius of gyration and thus is
preferred.
7. Cast iron column with a slenderness ratio of 75 are
a) Short Columns
b) Long Columns
c) Very short columns
d) None of the listed
Answer: a
Explanation: Cast iron column with a slenderness ratio <80are short columns.
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8. Steel columns with a slenderness ratio of 95 are
a) Short Columns
b) Long columns
c) Very long columns
d) None of the listed
Answer: a
Explanation: Steel columns with slenderness ratio <100 are classified in short columns.
9. Which of the following are true for End fixity coefficient
a) Dimensionless number
b) Used in Euler’s equation
c) Provides condition of restraint at two ends
d) All of the listed
Answer: d
Explanation: It is a dimensionless number used in Euler’s equation to take into account the
restraints at the two ends.
10. Value of end fixity coefficient for both hands fixed is
a) 1
b) 4
c) 2
d) 0.25
Answer: b
Explanation: Lower the mobility higher is the end fixity component.

Design of Steel Structures Web Buckling & Crippling

1. Which of the following is correct?

a) web in rolled section behaves like a column when not placed under concentrated loads
b) web in rolled section behaves like a column when placed under concentrated loads
c) web in rolled section does not behave like a column when placed under concentrated loads
d) web in rolled section cannot be compared with column
Answer: b
Explanation: The web in rolled section behaves like a column when placed under concentrated
loads. The web is quite thin and is therefore, subjected to buckling.
2. The effective depth when top flanges are restrained against lateral deflection and rotation is
a) d/3
b) d
c) 2d
d) d/2
Answer: d
Explanation: Bottom flange is assumed to be restrained against lateral deflection and rotation. for
top flanges, the end restraints and effective depth of the web are to be considered. The effective
depth when top flanges are restrained against lateral deflection and rotation is d/2, where d is
depth of web.
3. The effective depth when top flanges are restrained against lateral deflection but not against
rotation is
a) 2d/3
b) d
c) 2d
d) d/2
Answer: a
Explanation: The effective depth when top flanges are restrained against lateral deflection but
not against rotation is 2d/3, where d is depth of web. Bottom flange is assumed to be restrained
against lateral deflection and rotation. for top flanges, the end restraints and effective depth of
the web are to be considered.
4. The effective depth when top flanges are restrained against rotation but not against lateral
deflection is
a) 2d/3
b) 2d
c) d
d) d/2
Answer: c
Explanation: Bottom flange is assumed to be restrained against lateral deflection and rotation. for
top flanges, the end restraints and effective depth of the web are to be considered. The effective
depth when top flanges are restrained against rotation but not against lateral deflection is d,
where d is depth of web.
5. The effective depth when top flanges are not restrained against rotation and lateral deflection
is
a) 2d/3
b) 2d
c) d
d) d/2
Answer: b
Explanation: The effective depth when top flanges are not restrained against rotation and lateral
deflection is 2d, where d is depth of web. Bottom flange is assumed to be restrained against
lateral deflection and rotation. for top flanges, the end restraints and effective depth of the web
are to be considered.
6. The maximum diagonal compression in plate girder simply supported occurs
a) does not occur
b) above neutral axis
c) below neutral axis
d) at neutral axis
Answer: d
Explanation: The maximum diagonal compression in plate girder simply supported occurs at
neutral axis . It will be inclined at 45˚ to the neutral axis.
7. Web buckling strength at support of simply supported plate girder is given by
a) Fwb =Btwfcd
b) Fwb =twfcd
c) Fwb =Btw
d) Fwb =Bfcd
Answer: a
Explanation: Web buckling strength at support of simply supported plate girder is given by
Fwb =Btwfcd , where B is length of stiff portion of bearing plus additional length given by
dispersion at 45˚to the level of neutral axis, tw is thickness of web, fcd is allowable compressive
stress corresponding to assumed web strut according to buckling curve c.
8. Slenderness ratio when ends are assumed to be fixed for a plate girder is
a) 2.45 d
b) 8.5 d/t
c) 2.45 d/t
d) 8.5 t
Answer: c
Explanation: When ends are assumed to be fixed, effective length = d√2/2 = d/√2, minimum
radius of gyration = t/√12. Therefore slenderness ratio = (d/√2)/( t/√12) = 2.45d/t, where d =
depth of web, t = thickness of web.
9. What is web crippling ?
a) web is of large thickness
b) flange near portion of stress concentration tends to fold over web
c) web near portion of stress concentration tends to fold over flange
d) flange is of large thickness
Answer: c
Explanation: Webs of rolled section are subjected to large amount of stresses just below
concentrated loads and above reactions from support. Stress concentration occurs at junction of
web and flange. As a result, large bearing stresses are developed below concentrated load.
Consequently, the web near portion of stress concentration tends to fold over flange. This type of
local buckling phenomenon is called crippling or crimpling of web.
10. Which of the following is true?
a) web crippling is buckling of web caused by compressive force delivered through flange
b) web crippling is buckling of flange caused by compressive force delivered through web
c) web crippling is buckling of web caused by tensile force delivered through flange
d) web crippling is buckling of flange caused by tensile force delivered through web
Answer: a
Explanation: Web crippling is buckling of web caused by compressive force delivered through
flange. To keep bearing stresses within permissible limits, the concentrated load should be
transferred from flanges to web on sufficiently large bearing areas.
11. The most critical location for failure due to web crippling is
a) flange cross section
b) middle of web
c) start of fillet
d) root of fillet
Answer: d
Explanation: The most critical location for failure due to web crippling is root of fillet since
resisting area has the smallest value here.
12. The angle of dispersion of load for web crippling is assumed to be
a) 2:1
b) 1:2.5
c) 4:5
d) 2:3
Answer: b
Explanation: The angle of dispersion of load for web crippling is assumed to be 1:2.5 .With
reference to this, bearing length is calculated.
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13. The crippling strength of web at supports is given by
a) Fcrip = (b+n1)fyw
b) Fcrip = (b+n1) t
c) Fcrip = (b+n1)/fywt
d) Fcrip = (b+n1)fywt
Answer: d
Explanation: The crippling strength of web at supports is given by Fcrip = (b+n1)fywt, where
b+n1 is length obtained by dispersion through flange, t is thickness of web, fyw is design yield
strength of web.
14. The crippling strength of web at interior point where concentrated load is acting is given by
a) Fcrip = (b+2n1)fyw
b) Fcrip = (b+2n1) t
c) Fcrip = (b+2n1)fywt
d) Fcrip = (b+n1)/fywt
Answer: c
Explanation: The crippling strength of web at interior point where concentrated load is acting is
given by Fcrip = (b+2n1)fywt, where b+2n1 is length obtained by dispersion through flange, t is
thickness of web, fyw is design yield strength of web.
15. Which off the following will be a remedy to web crippling?
a) spreading load over small portion of flange
b) provide stiffeners which bear against flanges at load points
c) provide web of small thickness
d) web crippling cannot be prevented
Answer: b
Explanation: Web crippling can be prevented by spreading load over large portion of flange. The
other remedy is provide stiffeners which bear against flanges at load points and are connected to
web to transfer force to it gradually. The other remedy is to make the web thicker.

1) Rankine-Gordon's empirical formula is applicable for _____

a. long column
b. short column
c. both a. and b.
d. none of the above
Answer
ANSWER: both a. and b.

2) What is the value of Rankine's constant for cast iron?

a. 1 / 750
b. 1 / 1600
c. 1 / 7500
d. 1 / 9000
Answer
ANSWER: 1 / 1600

3) The ratio of effective length and least lateral dimension for short column is _______
a. > 12
b. < 12
c. ≥ 12
d. none of the above
Answer
ANSWER: < 12

4) In Euler's theory, long columns having the ratio of (Le /LLD) ≥ 12 fail due to _______
a. crushing
b. buckling
c. both a. and b.
d. none of the above
Answer
ANSWER: buckling

5) Euler's formula is applicable only _________

1. for short columns

2. for long columns
3. if slenderness ratio is greater than √(π2 E / σc)
4. if crushing stress < buckling stress
5. if crushing stress ≥ buckling stress
a. 1, 2 and 3
b. 2, 3 and 5
c. 3 and 4
d. all of the above
Answer
ANSWER: 2, 3 and 5

6) Slenderness ratio is the ratio of effective length of column and ________

a. lateral dimension of a column
b. least radius of gyration of a column
c. maximum radius of gyration of a column
d. none of the above
Answer
ANSWER: least radius of gyration of a column

7) What is the relation between actual length and effective length while determining crippling load for a hollow
rectangular cast iron column having both ends fixed?
(where L= actual length and Le =effective length)
a. Le = L
b. Le = L/2
c. Le = 2L
d. Le = 4L
Answer
ANSWER: Le = L/2

8) While determining crippling load, the effective length of solid circular bar is 1/ √2 of actual length if, ______
a. both ends of solid circular bar are fixed
b. both ends of solid circular bar are hinged
c. one end is fixed and one is free
d. one end is fixed and other end is hinged
Answer
ANSWER: one end is fixed and other end is hinged

9) What is the safe load acting on a long column of 2 m having diameter of 40 mm. The column is fixed at both
and modulus of elasticity is 2 x 105 N/mm2? (F.O.S = 2)
a. 120 kN
b. 124 kN
c. 130 kN
d. 150 kN
Answer
ANSWER: 124 kN

10) If the effective length of a column is twice the actual length, then the column is ________
a. fixed at both the ends
b. hinged at both the ends
c. fixed at one end and free at the other end
d. fixed at one end and hinged at the other end
Answer
ANSWER: fixed at one end and free at the other end