Is the Euler Buckling Formula Suitable for Calculating Balsa Wood Beam Loads?

[Tolale]

Hi
For a project I am doing i need to know the maximum load an "I" Beam made out of balsa wood can take. Looking through the internet I found the "Euler Buckling Formula"

F = $$\frac{E I pi^2}{l^2}$$

When I use this formula I get a load which is too big, and I think this mght not be the formula or I am doing something wrong.

I = 87499.99 mm^4
L = 400 mm

I find loads of different values of E for Balsa wood, so I am not sure if that's what I am doing wrong.

Thanks

 

[Studiot]

How do you know this load is too big?

Euler's formula has little to do with a beam in bending. So if you are really talking about the bending of beams you need to talk to your teacher.

You should not just pull formula out of a book or website.

 

[Tolale]

Ok, if it's not that equation, then which is it.
THe beam is a boom in a crane made out of balsa wood, it's hinged on one side and the other side will support the load.
What I'd want to find out is the maximum load the boom would withstand in bending like that, I thought it was the Euler equation, But using Young's modulus I found for balsa wood, it gives me a ridiculous answer.
Id appreciate any kind of help, thank you

 

[Andy Resnick]

Hi
For a project I am doing i need to know the maximum load an "I" Beam made out of balsa wood can take. Looking through the internet I found the "Euler Buckling Formula"

F = $$\frac{E I pi^2}{l^2}$$

When I use this formula I get a load which is too big, and I think this mght not be the formula or I am doing something wrong.

I = 87499.99 mm^4
L = 400 mm

I find loads of different values of E for Balsa wood, so I am not sure if that's what I am doing wrong.

Thanks

IIRC, your equation is relevant for buckling loads- that is, the load is axial along the beam. That's different than loading a cantilevered beam, where the load is perpendicular to the beam axis.

The detailed formulas depend on the geometry of the beam, the way the beam is held in place, and the distribution of the load, but for most applications, you should be able to find a better formula here:

http://structsource.com/analysis/types/beam.htm

Roark's book has a bizillion different cases worked out. The maximum load to failure is described in terms of the yield stress of the material (which is different than Young's modulus), but some useful information is in the bottom half of this page:

http://www.engineersedge.com/strength_of_materials.htm

Does this help?

 

[PJC01]

Hello,

Thank you for sharing your project with me. I am always excited to see people exploring and experimenting with different materials and formulas.

Firstly, I would like to clarify that the formula you have mentioned, the Euler Buckling Formula, is used to calculate the critical buckling load for a column under compression. It may not be the most accurate formula to determine the maximum load for an "I" beam made of balsa wood, as it does not take into account factors such as material strength and stability.

In order to determine the maximum load an "I" beam made of balsa wood can take, you may need to consider other factors such as the strength and density of the wood, the shape and design of the beam, and the distribution of the load. It is also important to note that balsa wood is a relatively lightweight and soft material, so it may not be suitable for heavy loads.

I would recommend consulting with a structural engineer or conducting further research to find a more appropriate formula or method for calculating the maximum load of your balsa wood beam. Additionally, using different values of E for balsa wood may also affect the accuracy of your calculations, so it is important to use the most reliable and consistent values in your formula.

I wish you all the best in your project and hope you are able to find a suitable solution for determining the maximum load of your balsa wood "I" beam. Keep exploring and learning, and don't hesitate to reach out for further assistance if needed.

Best regards,