这是abaqus帮助里的，应该是最权威的解释了

Understanding negative eigenvalues

Sometimes, negative eigenvalues are reported in an eigenvalue buckling analysis. In most cases such negative eigenvalues indicate that the structure would buckle if the load were applied in the opposite direction. A classical example is a plate under shear loading; the plate will buckle at the same value for positive and negative applied shear load. Buckling under reverse loading can also occur in situations where it may not be expected. For example, a pressure vessel under external pressure may exhibit a negative eigenvalue (buckling under internal pressure) due to local buckling of a stiffener. Such “physical” negative buckling modes are usually readily understood once they are displayed and can usually be avoided by applying a preload before the buckling analysis.

Negative eigenvalues sometimes correspond to buckling modes that cannot be understood readily in terms of physical behavior, particularly if a preload is applied that causes significant geometric nonlinearity. In this case a geometrically nonlinear load-displacement analysis should be performed