Fold propagation in tapered-springs: Part I
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Many elastic systems can localize during deformation into coexistent modes, or phases , of lower and higher strain; further deformation is accommodated by growth of the high-strain phase at a constant load, which is sometimes declared a ‘propagating instability’. The strains in each phase can be obtained from applying the Maxwell equal-areas construction to the generalized stress–strain relationship, which must be satisfied on the boundary between the phases. If the elastic domain has a spatially varying stress–strain relationship, this can reveal interesting behaviour: in particular, we investigate systems with spatially varying stress–strain relationships using ‘folded’ tape-springs with varying cross-sectional geometry. Two special cases are considered in which the geometry varies systematically: ‘constant- α ’ and ‘constant- b ’ springs. These form folds which are spiral in shape, in contrast to the constant-curvature fold in a standard tape-spring. These concepts may have beneficial application in designing new deployable structures.
Authors: J. A. Clarkson, K. A. Seffen
Institution: University of Cambridge
Language: English
Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4409511068