The tangent stiffness matrix of Timoshenko beam element is applied in the buckling of multi-step beams under several concentrated axial forces with elastic supports. From the governing differential equation of lateral deflection including second-order effects,the relationship of force versus displacement is established. In the formulation of finite element method (FEM),the stiffness matrix developed has the same accuracy with the solution of exact differential equations. The proposed tangent stiffness matrix will degenerate into the Bernoulli-Euler beam without the effects of shear deformation. The critical buckling force can be determined from the determinant element assemblage by FEM. The equivalent stiffness matrix constructed by the topmost deflection and slope is established by static condensation method,and then a recurrence formula is proposed. The validity and efficiency of the proposed method are shown by solving various numerical examples found in the literature.
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