Loading…
Report
Efficient snap-through of spherical caps by applying a localized curvature stimulus
Stein-Montalvo, Lucia, Lee, Jeong-Ho, Yang, Yi, Landesberg, Melanie, Park, Harold S., Holmes, Douglas P.
Saved in:
| Title | Efficient snap-through of spherical caps by applying a localized curvature stimulus |
|---|---|
| Authors | Stein-Montalvo, Lucia, Lee, Jeong-Ho, Yang, Yi, Landesberg, Melanie, Park, Harold S., Holmes, Douglas P. |
| Publication Year |
2021
|
| Description |
In bistable actuators and other engineered devices, a homogeneous stimulus (e.g. mechanical, chemical, thermal, or magnetic) is often applied to an entire shell to initiate a snap-through instability. In this work, we demonstrate that restricting the active area to the shell boundary allows for a large reduction in its size, thereby decreasing the energy input required to actuate the shell. To do so, we combine theory with 1D finite element simulations of spherical caps with a non-homogeneous distribution of stimulus-responsive material. We rely on the effective curvature stimulus, i.e. the natural curvature induced by the non-mechanical stimulus, which ensures that our results are entirely stimulus-agnostic. To validate our numerics and demonstrate this generality, we also perform two sets of experiments, wherein we use residual swelling of bilayer silicone elastomers--a process that mimics differential growth--as well as a magneto-elastomer to induce curvatures that cause snap-through. Our results elucidate the underlying mechanics, offering an intuitive route to optimal design for efficient snap-through.
Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures |
| Document Type |
Working Paper
|
| Subject Terms |
