Abstract
M.Ing.
It should be the objective of every engineer to design as cost-effective as possible. This
study is part of a much larger programme in which the most effective column design
method is to be found by comparing the different column design criteria and methods of
design which are in use for different materials. The materials under consideration are
carbon and low-alloy steels (structural steels), stainless steels and an aluminium alloy that
is regarded as suitable for structural design.
It has been judged that sufficient experimental data is available to the Chromium Steels
Research Group (CSRG) at the Rand Afrikaans University on carbon and low-alloy steels
and stainless steels and that sufficient data on the mechanical properties of the aluminium
alloy 6261-T6, which is regarded suitable for structural applications, is available to the
CSRG after previous research done by the author.
This short dissertation reports on a preliminary study of the different design criteria and
methods for the design of columns. It also reports on the experimental study through
which the results of column tests done on the abovementioned aluminium alloy are
compared with different column design curves. These curves were obtained by using the
previously determined mechanical properties for the aluminium alloy under consideration
in the different design criteria and methods for the design of columns.