Inverse buckling problem for inhomogeneous columns

This study is motivated by our recent study (Elishako€, I., Rollot, O., 1999. New closed-form solutions for buckling of a variable sti€ness column by mathematica, Journal of Sound and Vibration 224, 172±182), which presented new closed-form solutions for buckling of columns with variable sti€ness. The column was simply supported at both ends. In the present study, we rederive, in other means, the same solution, and, moreover, obtain new solutions for two other sets of the boundary conditions by posing an inverse buckling problem. It is shown that the buckling load is dependent upon a single sti€ness coecient. By suitable choice of this parameter, the buckling load can be made arbitrarily large. Ó