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Abstract

The behavior of a bistable strut for variable geometry structures was investigated in this paper. A three-hinged arch subjected to a central concentrated load was used to study the effect of symmetric imperfections on the behavior of the bistable strut. Based on a nonlinear strain–displacement relationship, the virtual work principle was adopted to establish both the pre-buckling and buckling nonlinear equilibrium equations for the symmetric snap-through buckling mode. Then the critical load for symmetric snap-through buckling was obtained. The results show that the axial force is in compression before the arch is buckled, but it becomes in tension after buckling. Thus, the previous formulas cannot be used for the analysis of post-buckling behavior of three-hinged shallow arches. Then, the principle of virtual work was also used to establish the post-buckling equilibrium equations of the arch in the horizontal and vertical directions as well as the static boundary conditions, which are very important for bistable struts.

Keywords

Buckling arches variable geometry trusses bistable struts elasticity

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Effects of symmetric imperfections on the behavior of bistable struts

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