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This calculator is designed specifically for structural steel columns. Columns made by other materials (e.g. aluminum alloys) should use other formulas.

Given the material properties (Young's modulus E, yield stress s_y, proportional limit s_pl) and the column geometry (effective length L_eff and radius of gyration r), this calculator will compute the allowable stress with respect to a given safety factor.

Note:	1.	The proportional stress is equal to the yield stress minus the maximum compression residual stress sres left over from any hot or cold forming operation, spl = sy - sres Typically, the proportional stress is 50% to 100% of the yield stress, spl = (0.5 ~ 1)·sy.
	2.	Radius of gyration , where I is the area moment of inertia of the cross section and A is the cross section area.
	3.	If a safety factor less than the AISC-recommended value (which ranges from 1.67 to 1.92) is entered, the calculator will use the larger ASIC value. ASIC stands for the American Institute of Steel Construction

Young's Modulus (E):		Pa kPa MPa GPa psi ksi
Yield Stress (sy):		Pa kPa MPa GPa psi ksi
Proportional Limit (spl):		Pa kPa MPa GPa psi ksi
Effective Length of the column (Leff):		mm cm m in ft
Radius of Gyration (r):		mm cm m in ft
Safety Factor (SF):

Answers

Allowable Stress (sallow):  237  MPa Pa kPa MPa GPa psi ksi   Safety Factor (SF):  1.69     Slenderness Ratio (Leff / r):  5.00     Critical Slenderness Ratio (SRc):  99.3

 

The column is classified as either long or short/intermediate, and two different formulas are used in these two regions.

The critical slenderness ratio SR_c separates long columns from short/intermediate columns. Basically, SR_c corresponds to the case when the stress due to the axial load reaches the proportional limit and the critical load at the same time.

If L_eff / r < SR_c, the column is considered short/intermediate. Inelastic buckling is likely to be the cause of failure, where the stress exceeds the proportional limit before reaching the critical load. The ASIC safety factor and resulting allowable stress are given by,

If L_eff / r > SR_c, the column is considered long. Elastic buckling in accordance with Euler's formula is expected. The ASIC safety factor and resulting allowable stress are given by,

If the safety factor specified by the user is larger than the ASIC safety factor in the above formulas, the user's value will be used in calculating the allowable stress.