Jumping instabilities in the post-buckling of a beam on a partial nonlinear foundation

Mode jumping is an instability phenomenon in the post-buckling region, which causes a sudden change in the equilibrium configuration and is thus harmful to structure. The configuration of a partial elastic foundation can directly induce mode coupling from the buckling stage and through the whole post-buckling region. The mode coupling effect due to the configuration of partial foundation on mode jumping is investigated and demonstrated to be an important factor of determining mode jumping. By properly choosing the partial elastic foundation configuration, mode jumping can be avoided.