Stability of localized solutions under rigid loading in a heuristic buckling model

The stability of static localized buckling solutions which bifurcatefrom the critical load for a strut on an elastic foundationis analysed under conditions of rigid loading (i.e. with prescribedend shortening) using a non-periodic modal analysis. The characteristicof such deflection patterns is in marked contrast with stabilityunder the more straightforward case of dead loading (behaviourunder prescribed load). The model presented incorporates initialdestabilization and subsequent restabilization of the responseat the lowest order.