Modeling Bistable behaviors in Morphing Structures through Finite Element Simulations
Issue title: Frontiers in Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology – Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology, 11–13 October 2013, Wuhan, China
Affiliations: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China | Department of Mathematics and Physics, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China | Fujian Radio and Television University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350003, China | College of Materials Science and Engineering, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China | Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis 63130, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author. E-mail: chen.z@seas.wustl.edu. Q. Guo, H. Zheng and Z. Chen contributed equally.
Abstract: Bistable structures, exemplified by the Venus flytrap and slap bracelets, can transit between different configurations upon certain external stimulation. Here we study, through three-dimensional finite element simulations, the bistable behaviors in elastic plates in the absence of terminate loads, but with pre-strains in one (or both) of the two composite layers. Both the scenarios with and without a given geometric mis-orientation angle are investigated, the results of which are consistent with recent theoretical and experimental studies. This work can open ample venues for programmable designs of plant/shell structures with large deformations, with applications in designing bio-inspired robotics for biomedical research and morphing/deployable structures in aerospace engineering.
