A long slender column ABC is pinned at ends A and C and compressed by an axial force P (see figure). At the midpoint B, lateral support is provided to prevent deflection in the plane of the figure. The column is a steel wide flange section (W 250 × 67) with E = 200 GPa. The distance between lateral supports is L= 5.5 m.
Calculate the allowable load P using a factor of safety n = 2.4, taking into account the possibility of Euler buckling about either principal centroidal axis (i.e., axis 1-1 or axis 2-2).
