Abstract: Snap-through buckling and bifurcation buckling of elastic arches are introduced. Nonlinear Finite Element analysis of arches was performed using FE software ANSYS. Using the first-order bucking modes as displacement perturbations, the effects of pre-buckling displacement on buckling were considered. After tracing the complete load-deflection path of arches, secondary buckling load was obtained. Rise-span ratio, span and the ratio of rise to gyration radius were used as variables to investigate the buckling behavior of end-pinned and fixed arches with uniform distributed radial or vertical loads. The results show that the secondary buckling load of shallow arches was much lower than their linear buckling load. With the decrease of rise-span ratio or span of arches, the ratio of secondary buckling load to linear buckling load decreased. Secondary buckling mode of shallow arches depended on the ratio of rise to gyration radius.