Static and dynamic, local and global, bifurcations in nonlinear autonomous structural systems

Discrete damped or undamped gradient systems described by nonlinear autonomous ordinary differential equations (ODE) of motion are examined in detail. Emphasis is given to the relationship between static with possibly existing dynamic bifurcations. Criteria for dynamic bifurcations and stability of precritical, critical, and postcritical states associated with the nature of Jacobian eigenvalues are also presented. Cases of discrepancies between local and global dynamic analysis regarding the stability of equilibriums are reported for the first time. Finally, using a simple energy criterion, exact dynamic buckling loads for vanishing but nonzero damping are readily obtained.