Analytical Study of the Snap-Through and Bistability of Beams With Arbitrarily Initial Shape

Hussein Hussein, Mohammad I. Younis

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29 Scopus citations

Abstract

We derive the snap-through solution and the governing snapping force equations for an arbitrarily preshaped beam deflected under a mid-length lateral point force. The exact solution is obtained based on the classical theory of elastic beams as a superposition of the initial shape and the modes of buckling. Two kinds of solutions are identified depending on the axial force level. The two solutions, bifurcation conditions, bistability conditions, and the snapping force equations are derived and discussed. The snap-through and snapping force solutions are then calculated for two common beam initial shapes, the curved (first buckling shape) and the inclined one (V-shape). In both cases, explicit expressions are obtained describing the snap-through behavior. The analytical modeling results show excellent agreement with finite element simulations. The comparison between the two cases shows a similar snap-through behavior qualitatively, while several differences and similarities are noticed quantitatively.
Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalJournal of Mechanisms and Robotics
Volume12
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 23 2019

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01
Acknowledgements: This research has been supported by KAUST research fund.

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