title: Nonlinear geometric effects in mechanical bistable morphing structures.
abstract: Bistable structures associated with nonlinear deformation behavior, exemplified by the Venus flytrap and slap bracelet, can switch between different functional shapes upon actuation. Despite numerous efforts in modeling such large deformation behavior of shells, the roles of mechanical and nonlinear geometric effects on bistability remain elusive. We demonstrate, through both theoretical analysis and tabletop experiments, that two dimensionless parameters control bistability. Our work classifies the conditions for bistability, and extends the large deformation theory of plates and shells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA. chen.z@seas.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Zi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qiaohang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Carmel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Majidi
authors.forename: Wenzhe
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Srolovitz
authors.forename: Mikko P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Haataja
mesh_terms: D031257:Droseraceae; D004548:Elasticity; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics