On the optimal structural design for a nonconservative,elastic stability problem

The design of a cantilever column under a follower load is considered with the aim of maximizing the critical value of the load. The optimality condition is derived, and a modified Ritz method is used to determine an approximate solution for the bending stiffness. Results are obtained numerically for the case of a sandwich column with constant bending stiffness in each of two segments. It is found that, for the same structural weight, the optimal design yields a critical load significantly higher than that for a uniform column.This research was supported in part by the US Army Research Office–Durham and in part by the United States Navy under Grant No. NONR N00014-67-A-0191-0009.