Laboratory work # 8 (14)

EXPERIMENTAL ESTIMATION OF CRITICAL STRESSES IN STRINGER UNDER

COMPRESSION

At action of compressing effort on a bar (column, rod, and stringer) two kinds of loss of
stability are possible:
1) Local loss of stability;
2) General loss of stability.
At local loss of stability one of flanges of a bar (stringer) is buckled (loss of stability).
The general loss of stability corresponds to buckling of whole bar, i.e. the structure is
bent in a direction, perpendicular to an axis of the minimal inertia moment of cross section.
The each kind of loss of stability has the corresponding meaning of critical stress cr.
At compression of a bar that kind of loss of stability will appear to which the minimal
critical stress corresponds.
Therefore purpose of work is the definition of a kind of stability loss and comparison of
critical stresses which found theoretically and from experiment.
The critical stress is generally determined by the empirical formula, fair both for elastic,
and for elasto-plastic areas of strained state:

1ν
σ cr  σ ut  . (1)
1  ν  ν2
σ ut
where ν  ,
σE
At local loss of stability we calculate local critical stresses by Euler’s formula:

௞ா ఋ ଶ
ߪ௟ா ൌ ್ మ
ൌ ݇‫ ܧ‬ቀ ቁ (2)
ቀ ቁ ௕
ഃ

where b – is the width of a flange of cross section in mm;  - thickness of a flange in

mm, lE – Euler’s local critical stress, E=72GPa – elasticity modulus. Those critical stresses
you should calculate for each flange from your stringer is consisted. The each flange you
should consider as a plate.
The meaning of the attaching factor k for plates of your stringer is determined by the
diagram on fig. 1 that depends from grip conditions. Theoretically plate can have three kinds
of grip conditions: free edge, pinning and fixed support. You should determine a kind of grip
conditions on four sides of a plate. You should discount the relation of length to width. In
case of general loss of stability we can calculate critical stresses by Euler’s formula:
2

σgE  С  π
 E  I min
2
(3)
F l 

1
 where F - area of cross section of a bar in m2; Imin - the minimal moment of inertia in
m4, gE – Euler’s general critical stress in Pa, l- is length in m.
k

1 2 3 4

free side pinned side

fixed side

Fig. 1. Attaching factor k for plates.

If Elp it is necessary recalculate by formula (1).

The factor C is determined according to grip conditions of a bar, fig. 2. At experiment the
stringer bases on whole cross section. In this case C= 14. In safety factor it is usual
stressman accepts the minimal meaning C=1.

2
 Fig. 2. Attaching factor C for column in global instability.

Sequence of realization of work

1. You should write down heading of this laboratory work, your surname, date, draw
stringer with dimensions and grip condition for its flanges.
2. Calculate critical stresses of local and general losses of stability, having taken
advantage the formulas accordingly (1), (2) and (3). Meaning k for the formula (2) you
should choose by the diagram on fig.1, having proved choice of those or other grip
conditions. You should take two theoretical grip conditions close to real grip condition.
Similarly independently you should make choice the factor C for (3) according to fig. 2.
2. On given by the data of tests you should plot the diagram of dependence of effort of
compression of a bar P from displacement l (fig. 3).

Р[kg]
l[mm]

3. Determine the critical stresses received from experiment ecr of a bar and to prove its
character (general or local form of loss of stability):

P max
σ ecr  . (4)
F

where Pmax – is maximal load in N, F – is area of stringer’s cross section in m2.

4. If from experiment you established, that the local loss of stability precedes general,
but the meanings tcr and ecr determined on the formulas (1) and (2), do not coincide, it is
necessary to find meaning ke, that appropriate ecr. You must solve the equation (1) rather
Ecr (critical stress by Euler’s formula). In this equation we have that cr = ecr (from
experiment), and we shall receive:

2  e
σ ut σ cr
( σ E )2  σ ut  σ E  0. (5)
σ ut  σ ecr

3
 Value E which determined from (5) is necessary to substitute in (2) and from last to
determine ke.
5. Issue the report.

Pcr

l

Fig. 3. Klapeyron’s diagram

For equation (5) the solve is:
b  b 2  4 ac
σ1E,2  x1,2  (6)
2a
where (5) has view
ax 2  bx  c  0 , x1,2 = E.

2 e
σ ut  σ cr
In this equation we have a=1, b=ut,, с e
σ ut  σ cr
In this formula stresses are positive and E must be positive.
Upon value E from formula (6) you should calculate experimental value of attaching
factor ke:

b
 E ( )2
ke   (7)
E

4
 You should compare the experimental value of attaching factor ke by (7) with
theoretical value from fig.1 and estimate relative error:

ke  k
  100 (%)
ke

Requirements to the contents of the report

The report should contain:

1. Heading (number and the name of laboratory work, number of group and a surname
of the student, date, the purposes and tasks of work).
2. You should plot drawings of specimen.
3. Results of theoretical calculation for all critical stresses- local and general.
4. You should plot the experimental diagram and estimate experimental value of critical
stress.
5. You should compare experimental and theoretical values of critical stress and
calculate experimental value of attaching factor.
6. You should compare the experimental value of attaching factor with theoretical value
and estimate relative error.