On the post-buckling behavior of elastic fixed-end column with central brace

This paper investigates the large displacement post-buckling behavior of a column with central brace using the elastica solution. The method is able i n predicting the buckling load and in tracing the exact post-buckling paths , both primary and secondary paths. Depending on the brace stiffness, diffe rent shapes of symmetrical and anti-symmetrical post-buckling paths can be shown to exist. Whilst previous work reported only one threshold value of b race stiffness, the results also show the existence of infinite number of t hreshold values, each indicates a change in the post-buckling behavior.