Symmetric and unsymmetric buckling of circular arches

R. W. Dickey*, Joseph J. Roseman

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A nonlinear geometrically exact inextensible elastica theory is used to derive a mathematical system which models a clamped circular arch of central angle 2α under the action of a vertical force field of amplitude P (e.g., gravity). The equilibria of the arch are studied for various values of α, 0 < α < π. The existence of a solution of symmetric form for all fixed values of P and π is proved analytically by arguments based on variational principles. Numerical solutions are calculated for a variety of choices of π, and in each case buckling (nonuniqueness) is shown to occur when P is sufficiently large. In some cases, both symmetric and unsymmetric configurations are found, but each unsymmetric configuration obtained is found to be an unstable equilibrium, having energy greater than that of the symmetric configuration. Implications concerning the relative strengths and weaknesses of the various arches are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)759-775
Number of pages17
JournalQuarterly of Applied Mathematics
Volume54
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1996

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Symmetric and unsymmetric buckling of circular arches'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this