Stability of arches with internal hinge

Abstract

The in-plane stability of internally hinged, end-fixed shallow arches is in the spotlight. The non-linear model accounts for the coupled effect of the bending moment and axial force on the membrane strain. The model itself can handle homogeneous or non-homogeneous material distributions along the thickness of the uniform arch. Analytical findings reveal how the typical geometrical data, like arch length, radius of gyration, and arch angle, affect the lowest buckling loads. The typical non-linear behaviour of arches is also assessed including the equilibrium path and the internal force system.