Arguments for and against Engesser's buckling formulas

Abstract

To account for shear in buckling pioblems, one uses either the approach of Engesser or the socalled modified approach, proposed by Haringx in connection with helical springs. Both are based on onedimensional reasoning. While most authors seem to prefer the second method, Nänni [4] has shown by means of the three-dimensional theory of elasticity that, for bars, the first one is superior. The present paper is based on a more fundamental one-dimensional approach and confirms Nänni's and hence Engesser's results. It also shows that, together with shear, shortening of the bar must be taken into account, and it improves Engesser's formulas accordingly. It finally shows why Haringx' approach is correct for springs. © 1982 Springer-Verlag.