We consider two-parameter bifurcation of equilibrium states of an elastic rod on a deformable foundation. Our main theorem shows that bifurcation occurs if and only if the linearization of our problem has nontrivial solutions. In fact our proof, based on the concept of the Brouwer degree, gives more, namely that from each bifurcation point there branches off a continuum of solutions.

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We shall be concerned with the buckling of a thin circular elastic plate simply supported along a boundary, subjected to a radial compressive load uniformly distributed along its boundary. One of the main engineering concerns is to reduce deformations of plate structures. It is well known that von Kármán equations provide an established model that describes nonlinear deformations of elastic plates. Our approach to study plate deformations is based on bifurcation theory. We will find critical values of the compressive load parameter by reducing von Kármán equations to an operator equation in Hölder spaces with a nonlinear Fredholm map of index zero. We will prove a sufficient condition for bifurcation by the use of a gradient version of the Crandall-Rabinowitz theorem due to A.Yu. Borisovich and basic notions of representation theory. Moreover, applying the key function method by Yu.I. Sapronov we will investigate the shape of bifurcation branches.

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