Numerical verification of post-critical Beck's column behavior

The paper presents a different approach in studying the structural behavior for a perfectly elastic, uniform, cantilever column subject to combinations of dead and follower forces applied at the tip end. The static and dynamic responses are simulated using the explicit finite element program LS-DYNA. All possible geometric non-linearities are included in the numerical analysis. The paper presents FE model development, its verification, and several numerical tests showing continuous response of the column under different loading scenarios. The post-critical behavior identifying the divergence, flutter, and flutter-jump is presented and compared with the well-known stability map based on double eigencurves. The stability for a subtangential parameter close to 1/2, restabilization under follower forces is also investigated, and a new interpretation of the regions in the stability map is proposed. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.