A mixed analytical-numerical investigation of snap-through of low arches with a power-law variable thickness

Snap-through is an instability phenomenon that happens in arch and dome shaped structures in which the structure has to go from a stable equilibrium state and through an unstable path into another stable equilibrated configuration in a jumping action. In this study, a linear elastic isotropic low arch is considered as the structure with a power-law variable thickness. The phenomenon is investigated by considering the equation of the deflection for this variable thickness arch, solving it with an elegant analytical technique, and finding the snap-through critical load from anextreme condition. The effect of power-law exponent and geometry of the arch centerline on the critical load is investigated and the constant thickness case and a very rare case of power-law thickness variation found in the literature are considered for verification.

کلیدواژه ها:

snap-through ، low arch ، variable thickness ، power-law ، mixed analytical- numerical