Analysis of elastic beams on nonlinear foundations

Abstract The midpoint difference method is organized for solving the basic differential equation for the elastic deformation of a beam supported on an elastic, nonlinear foundation with rigid or elastic descrete supports. An iterative approach is used in solving the nonlinear problem; a weighted averaging scheme is employed to speed up the convergence to a solution. The method of analysis, as programmed for a computer solution, considers the continuous elastic, nonlinear foundation to be active only when the beam is pressing against the foundation; the foundation is assumed to be inactive in the regions where the beam has displaced away from the foundation. Two examples are presented to illustrate the application of the method of analysis.