Modal and stability analysis of structures in periodic elastic states: application to the Ziegler column

We present a spectral method to compute the transverse vibrational modes, or Floquet Forms (FFs), of a 2D bi-articulated bar in periodic elastic state due to an end harmonic compressive force. By changing the directional nature of the applied load, the trivial straight Ziegler column exhibits the classic instabilities of stationary states of dynamical system. We use this simple structure as a numerical benchmark to compare the various spectral methods that consist in computing the FFs from the spectrum of a truncated Hill matrix. We show the necessity of sorting this spectrum and the benefit of computing the fundamental FFs that converge faster. Those FFs are almost periodic entities that generalize the concept of harmonic modal analysis of structures in equilibria to structures in periodic states. Like their particular harmonic relatives, FFs allow to get physical insights in the bifurcations of periodic stationary states. Notably, the local loss of stability is due to the frequency lock-in of the FFs for certain modulation parameters. The presented results could apply to many structural problems in mechanics, from the vibrations of rotating machineries with shape imperfections to the stability of periodic limit cycles or of any slender structures with tensile or compressive periodic elastic stresses.