Lateral stability of thin tapered struts

• Main Authors: Durup, Paul Christian, Weisenberg, Joseph Oscar
• Format: Others
• Published: 1947
• Online Access: https://thesis.library.caltech.edu/4751/1/Durup_pc_1947.pdf; Durup, Paul Christian and Weisenberg, Joseph Oscar (1947) Lateral stability of thin tapered struts. Engineer's thesis, California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/FGGF-0080. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-12032008-152413 <https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-12032008-152413>

From the experimental investigation detailed herein it has been determined, at least for two types of struts, that there is a very close correlation between (1) the experimentally determined buckling load which a given strut will sustain and (2) the critical load determined by the use of Southwell’s method, which does not entail loading the strut to its critical load. By using an initial eccentricity and loads considerably less than the original, the critical load may be derived from the results of three or four simple test readings, not requiring an elaborate or refined setup. Experimental verification of existing theory of lateral buckling is noted for the case of struts tapered to a point at the application of the loading. The possibility of determining the eccentricity of a given loading by plots of β/p vs. β is pointed out and the type of curve to be expected as noted. However due to lack of refinement of the experimental setup, no definite conclusions are presented. The theoretical portion of this thesis offers the derivation of a formula for the lateral buckling of a thin linearly tapered strut of constant thickness. Due to the complexity of the problem certain simplifications were made to facilitate this derivation. Comparison of the values determined by use of this formula with the values experimentally determined for four struts shows a fairly close correlation. It is suggested that in some future work a more thorough investigation be made of the relation between the eccentricity of the loading and the load which a strut will carry, using a given deflection as a parameter.