On the Optimal Structural Design for a Nonconservative Elastic Stability Problem

摘要

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. (Author)