NAFEMS is talking shop with Tony Abbey on a range of topics relevant to, and suggested by, the engineering analysis community.

Episode 5 - Cheating in Nonlinear Buckling

“The first time I did a nonlinear buckling analysis, I set up a cylinder model, applied the load – and waited. What a letdown! The cylinder just compressed, went way past the yield stress with no buckling in sight ...

The head of nonlinear development was in the next cubicle, so I quizzed him. He just turned to me and explained that we have to cheat.”

In this quick overview of nonlinear (and linear) buckling Tony explains the wisdom behind these words.