title: Fractal design for an efficient shell strut under gentle compressive loading.
abstract: Because of Euler buckling, a simple strut of length L and Young modulus Y requires a volume of material proportional to L3f12} in order to support a compressive force F, where f=F/YL2 and f<<1. By taking into account both Euler and local buckling, we provide a hierarchical design for such a strut consisting of intersecting curved shells, which requires a volume of material proportional to the much smaller quantity L3f exp[2 square root(ln 3)(ln f-1)].
authors.affiliation: Unilever R&D, Olivier van Noortlaan 120, AT3133, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands. robert.farr@unilever.com
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Farr