STATIC AND SNAP-THROUGH BEHAVIORS OF TRAPEZOIDAL BI-STABLE LAMINATES

The bistable composite laminates are kind of structural unit with two stable equilibrium states. Due to the complexity of mathematics, the mechanical analysis of trapezoidal plates is seldom studied, which can provide theoretical basis for the development of deformable intelligent structures such as collapsible structures, deformable wings and energy concentrators, though. Based on the classical theory, a new model of trapezoidal cross-laminated bistable laminates is presented in this paper. Using the principle of minimum potential energy, Newton-Raphson technique and the application of higher order polynomials in the configuration function, two steady state configurations of trapezoidal laminated plates with different geometrical sizes under free boundary conditions are studied. In addition, flexible intelligent piezoelectric microfiber composite (MFC) actuators are used to trigger the snap-through between two stable configurations of bistable laminates. The voltage required to drive the change of bistable structure of trapezoidal laminates is calculated. The calculation of the bistable model has a certain guiding significance for the design and manufacture of equipment and mechanism under various special circumstances.