🏗️ Buckling Calculator
Calculate the critical buckling load of a slender column using Euler’s buckling formula, based on its stiffness, length, and end supports.
What column buckling is
A slender column under compression can suddenly bow sideways and fail well before the material itself would crush — this is called buckling. Euler’s formula predicts the critical load at which this instability occurs.
The formula
Euler’s critical buckling load is Pcr = π²EI / Le², where E is the modulus of elasticity, I is the cross-section’s moment of inertia, and Le = K × L is the effective length, with K depending on how the column’s ends are supported (0.5 for both fixed, 0.7 for fixed-pinned, 1.0 for both pinned, 2.0 for fixed-free).
This calculator gives a theoretical estimate for slender columns; real structural design must include safety factors and follow applicable engineering codes.