Buckling failures are sometimes difficult to visualize.  This collection of animations help explain what causes buckling, how buckling failure can occur, and how to design for it.

Slenderness Ratio

Windows Media Player (.avi) / Quick Time Player (.mpg)

explains the variables that contribute to a column's slenderness ratio

 

 

Column Buckling

Windows Media Player (.avi) / Quick Time Player (.mpg)

shows the different modes of member buckling for a column

 

 

Beam Buckling

Windows Media Player (.avi) / Quick Time Player (.mpg)

shows the different modes for a beam to buckle, and what causes that buckling

 

 

Local Buckling

Windows Media Player (.avi) / Quick Time Player (.mpg)

shows a member buckling in both web local buckling and flange local buckling