Buckling of stepped composite columns

The stability of elastic columns subjected to axial pressure is studied. An elastic multistepped column with rectangular cross sections are considered assuming that at the re-entrant corners of the column stable cracks are located. The influence of a crack on the loss of stability of the column is described by means of local flexibility and the function of compliance coupled with the stress intensity factor, which is known from the linear elastic fracture mechanics. A column with a single step is studied in more detail. The influence of crack location and length on the buckling load is assessed numerically. Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 42, No. 1, pp. 87–100, January–February, 2006.