ST132 · Euler Buckling — Demonstration

Compact demonstrator of the four classical Euler buckling cases

Four slender spring-steel bars are mounted side by side in a single frame, each with different end conditions — fixed-free, pinned-pinned, fixed-pinned, fixed-fixed. Weights incrementally load each bar; the critical load is reached at a visibly different value in each case, and the buckled shape is read directly against a grid-patterned backing wall. An effective qualitative introduction to the four cases of Euler buckling and the role of the support conditions in setting the critical load.

Experiments

Demonstration of the four Euler buckling cases:
- Case 1 — fixed-free bar
- Case 2 — pinned-pinned bar
- Case 3 — fixed-pinned bar
- Case 4 — fixed-fixed bar
Correlation between buckling length, buckling load and the support conditions

Test bars

Quantity 4 (one per Euler case)

Length 180 mm

Cross-section 0.5 × 12 mm

Material cold-worked spring steel 1.4310 — stays in the elastic range

Critical loads approx. 2…32 N across the four cases

Apparatus

Backing wall white with grid patterning — buckling length visible at a glance

Supports each bar-end individually pinned or fixed

Load mounts stacked weights on each upper support

Load set

Weights 10 × 5 N · 5 × 1 N

Delivery

Experimental unit with grid-patterned backing wall
Set of 4 spring-steel test bars
Complete weight set
Storage case with foam inlay, instruction manual

10 kg