Stability analysis of gradient elastic beams by the method of initial value

The buckling of a bar is studied analytically on the basis of a simple linear theory of gradient elasticity in the frame of the method of initial values. The method of initial values provides the values of the displacements and stress resultants throughout the bar once the initial displacements and initial stress resultants are known. We use probably for the first time the method of initial values to get critical loads of a strain gradient beam under completely different boundary conditions at the two end faces of the beam. Exact carryover matrix is presented for the classical beam and gradient beam analytically. The first mode shapes of classical beam and gradient beam are plotted. The method of initial values is also applied to the beams with variable cross-section. The priorities of the method of initial values are depicted. The variational approach gives a sixth-order ordinary differential equation for a beam in buckling. The additional boundary conditions are used to obtain critical loads. It is observed that critical loads increase dramatically for increasing values of the gradient coefficient.