Buckling of stepped beams resting on an elastic foundation

The influence of structural parameters of a stepped beam with two ends fixed and resting on Winkler foundation on its buckling critical force has been discussed in this paper. The structure inhomogeneity results from two piezoceramic plates perfectly bonded at the top and bottom surface of the beam. For the performed analysis five different supports of beam ends which prevent longitudinal displacements have been adopted. Numerical analysis has been divided into two parts. The first part concerns the influence of the system geometry on its critical force, whereas in the second part, a modification of the buckling load resulting from the electric field applied to the piezosegment has been investigated.