Mumbai university > MECH > SEM 3 > Strength Of Materials

Marks: 5M

Year: Dec 2013

The equivalent or effective length is defined as the distance between two adjacent points of contra flexure on the column. The point of contra flexure is defined as the point on the column where the there is a change in the direction of the axis of the column.

It is the point where there is maximum bending moment experienced by the column.

The equivalent length of a column is usually given in terms of the actual length and depends upon the end conditions of the column.

Sr. No	End Condition	Relationship between the equivalent length and the actual length	Diagram
1	Both Ends Hinged	$L_e = L$
2	One End Fixed, Other End Free	$L_e = 2L$
3	Both Ends Fixed	$L_e = \frac{L}{2}$
4	One End Fixed, Other End Hinged	$L_e = \frac{L}{\sqrt{2}}$