ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors examine the use of finite elements for linearized elastic stability analysis of beams and plates. While it is true that buckling of a structure involves nonlinear considerations, a linearized eigenvalue analysis is still very useful to the designer since the results signal an upper bound to structural loading. The authors consider beams and flat plates. They provide the extensive and important field of elastic stability. The authors concerned with the finite element analysis of eigenvalue-eigenfunction problems. Such problems occur in many areas of study. A beam-column has transvene loads in addition to an axial load P.
