Finite Difference Analysis of Safe Load and Critical Time in a Four-Parameter Viscoelastic Column

A creep-buckling analysis is studied for a simply-supported viscoelastic column. The fluid-type four-parameter model is employed because of its general applicability to creep materials. Using the imperfection-based incremental approach, a nonlinear load deflection equation is derived. Safe load and critical (or life) time which characterize the stability of the viscoelastic column are obtained mathematically and interpreted physically. A finite difference algorithm is applied to solve the second-order differential equation of the viscoelastic stress-strain relation. Numerical calculation has been made and discussed far a SUS316 stainless steel column.