Buckling loads for variable cross section bars in a nonuniform thermal field (Q1198371)

The effects of nonuniform thermal field, the variations of Young's modulus of elasticity and the thermal expansion coefficient on the buckling loads are considered. The induced axial forces due to temperature distribution along the member, axial stiffness for variable cross section and boundary conditions in the displacement formulation are determined and buckling load analysis is performed. The example refers to the simply supported constant beam treated by \textit{V. Birman} [e.g.: Int. J. Solids Struct. 28, No. 7, 819-830 (1991)], for which a more correct value for critical load is determined.