Post-buckling analysis of slender elastic vertical rods subjected to terminal forces and self-weight

This article presents the behavior of slender elastic rods subjected to axial terminal forces and self-weight. The mathematical formulation is presented, a solution is sought for a double-hinged boundary condition and the analysis is carried out for different values of non-dimensional weight. The formulation derives from geometrical compatibility, equilibrium of forces and moments and constitutive relations yielding a set of six first order non-linear ordinary differential equations with boundary conditions specified at both ends, which characterizes a complex two-point boundary value problem. Furthermore, a perturbation method is used to find the critical buckling loads and initial post-buckling solutions. A numerical integration scheme based on a three parameter shooting method is employed in the post-buckling solutions.