An analysis of dynamic stability of an elastic column

By the Lyapunov direct method, dynamic stability of two conservative systems of finite degrees of freedom with one parameter is analyzed. Two Lyapunov functions are proposed for the two systems, respectively. When the number of degree of freedom the two systems tends to infinite, the two systems can simulate dynamic stability of a compressed elastic column with one end fixed and the other clamped in rotation. In the sense of the Lyapunov stability, the column is proved to be dynamically stable when the load equals to the Euler critical load.