ELASTICA STABILITY ANALYSIS OF A SIMPLE FRAME UNDER A FOLLOWER FORCE

An elastica stability analysis is applied to a geometrically perfect a nd elastically supported two-bar frame, which is subjected to a follow er compressive load at its joint, eccentrically applied to its column centreline. The individual and coupling effect of the loading eccentri city and the support elasticity on the stability and postbuckling resp onse is discussed. It is found that for a slight change in the amount of support elastic stiffness, the static bifurcational mechanism disap pears and the frame exhibits a monotonically rising equilibrium path.