A CT segment inside a wellbore buckles into different shapes (modes)

when the axial compressive

force acting on it exceeds values determined by the particular
combination of geometry
and physical properties of the segment. The segment remains unbuckled
for lower axial
compressive force. This threshold between buckling modes is often
called the “critical” compressive
force.
When the axial compressive force increases to the critical sinusoidal
buckling limit, the segment
deforms into a sinusoidal or “snake-like” shape in continuous contact
with the wellbore.
The buckled segment does not move away from the wellbore nor lie in a
plane. The segment
continues to change shape as the axial force increases beyond the critical
sinusoidal buckling
limit, but the normal force exerted by the segment on the wellbore is due
mainly to the weight
of the segment. Sinusoidal buckling does not present a limiting condition
for CT operations
but is an intermediate condition on the path to helical buckling.