Parameter sensitivity of inelastic buckling and post-buckling response Original Research Article

This paper is concerned with recent sensitivity results for buckling and post-buckling problems. The article starts with an overview of the FEM-based approach to inelastic structural mechanics systems with singular points along the equilibrium path. The existing sensitivity techniques are reviewed, their inherent drawbacks are indicated and a new methodology is suggested. The discretized formalism is mainly employed throughout but a continuum formulation appropriate for this class of problems is also given. Numerical studies illustrate the presentation.