Buckling of a Weakened Infinite Beam on an Elastic Foundation

An infinite beam attached to an elastic foundation is buckled by an axial force. The beam is weakened by one or more joints or partial cracks. The governing equations are solved analytically and an exact nonlinear characteristic equation gives the buckling criterion. It is found that the buckling force depends on the foundation stiffness and the rotational resistance of the joints. The buckling modes are complex, and may be either antisymmetric or symmetric.