Additional constraints may soften a non-conservative structural system: Buckling and vibration analysis

The effect of additional kinematic constraints on eigenfrequencies of non conservative systems presenting a non symmetric stiffness matrix is investigated with the use of the second order work criterion. It is shown that there are always additional constraints that may soften structural systems, from both buckling and vibration points of view. The steps for building such constraints are given, consequences on stability are discussed and several illustrating examples are presented.