Abstract
Bistable polymer composite structures are morphing shells that can change shape and maintain two stable configurations. At present, mainly two types of bistable polymer composite structures are being studied: cross-ply laminates and antisymmetric cylindrical shells. This paper proposes a unified semianalytical model based on the extensible deformation assumption and nonlinear theory of plates and shells to predict bistability. Moreover, the higher-order theoretical model is extended for better prediction accuracy, while the number of degrees of freedom is not increased; this ensures a lower computational cost. Finally, based on these theoretical models, the main factors affecting the stable characteristic of the two bistable polymer composite structures are determined by comparing the models of various orders. The main challenges in describing the bistable behavior, such as bifurcation points and the curvatures of stable states, are addressed through prediction of the corner transversal displacement in stable configurations. The results obtained from the theoretical model are validated through nonlinear finite element analysis.
Highlights
Morphing structures play an important role in the aerospace industry
As a new type of morphing structure, the bistable polymer composite structures have received extensive attention due to their low weight and excellent mechanical properties [1,2]. They have two different configurations, which can both be stable without the need for an ongoing actuation force [3]. Owing to their excellent characteristics and performances, these bistable polymer composite structures have been extensively studied through theoretical models [4–9], numerical simulations [10–14], and experiments [15–19]
When the cross-ply laminate (CPL) is in a stable configuration, the corner transversal displacement and curvature of the stable state decrease nonlinearly with the increase in the ply thickness, and bifurcation occurs
Summary
As a new type of morphing structure, the bistable polymer composite structures have received extensive attention due to their low weight and excellent mechanical properties [1,2] They have two different configurations, which can both be stable without the need for an ongoing actuation force [3]. Owing to their excellent characteristics and performances, these bistable polymer composite structures have been extensively studied through theoretical models [4–9], numerical simulations [10–14], and experiments [15–19]. As with the Rayleigh–Ritz method, the equilibrium configurations of the bistable polymer composite structures were determined via minimization of the total potential energy with respect to the Lagrangian parameters. The equivalent thickness is the same as the actual thickness of the laminate, but it is different for orthotropic materials
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