  Columnar buckling is a ubiquitous phenomenon that occurs in both living
things and man-made objects, regardless of the length scale ranging from
macroscopic to nanometric structures. In general, analyzing the post-buckling
behavior of a column requires the application of complex mathematical methods
because it involves nonlinear problem solving. To complement these complex
methods, this study presents simple analytical formulas for the large
deflection of a heavy elastic column under combined loads. The analytical
formulas relate the concentrated load acting on the tip of the column, the
column's own weight, and the deflection angle of the column through a simple
mathematical expression. This can assist in obtaining an overall picture of the
post-buckling behavior of heavy columns from an application point of view.
