Abstract
Buckling may occur in slender columns and members subjected to compressive loads, or vessels and pipes subjected to external pressure for instance. The criteria for buckling have been determined based on the results of many years of research. However, students and engineers hardly experience buckling phenomena in labs since buckling tests on materials are not as established as tensile tests and hardness tests. Therefore, we have developed a kit that allows them to easily experience elastic buckling phenomena by using small rod specimens with different lengths and diameters. These are made of straightened metal wires for DIY. The compressive force on the specimen is applied by hand, and the force is measured using inexpensive kitchen scales. The GRANTA EduPack software was used to study the Young’s modulus of metal rods. By comparing the measured compressive load for buckling obtained from the experiment with the theoretical value, one can think deeply about the phenomena and the theoretical formula for buckling.
