Numerical analysis of a circular arch buckling under the symmetric pressure

The many interesting phenomena, such as snap-through, nonuniqueness, and stability, of a circular arch subjected to the symmetric pressure are studied. The balance of forces of an elemental length leads to a governing equation which is used to investigate stable states of the arch. With specific opening angle 2a=π/3, the sensitivities of angle and curvature at a base are surveyed for various of spring constants. The variations of angle and curvature at an edge are almost the same if the spring constant τ≥10.