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?