- 1). Look up Young's modulus for your column material. Engineering Toolbox lists some moduli for various metals and alloys.
- 2). Measure the length of the column from the base to the top, subtracting any support structures. Label this number "L."
- 3). Calculate the moment of inertia.
If the column is a thin-walled hollow cylinder, the moment of inertia is equal to the mass of the cylinder in kg times the distance between the axis (center) and the inner edge of the cylinder, squared. Or m*r^2.
If the column is a solid cylinder, the moment of inertia is equal to half of the mass of the cylinder times the distance between the axis and the outside of the cylinder squared.
Label this measurement "I." - 4). Put E, L and I into the following formula: P= (pi squared)(E)(I) / (L squared).
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