XCIV.A simple numerical method for the treatment of elastic stability questions and similar “Characteristic Value” problems

Summary The solution of “Characteristic Value” problems, such as the determination of the crippling load of a strut or the whirling speed of a rotating shaft, has hitherto only been possible (except in, simple cases) by the use of approximate methods. The present paper describes a very simple method of successive approximations by which the numerical solution of such problems may readily be determined to any desired degree of approximation.