The bistable snap-through behavior of a compressed beam is modeled and measured experimentally as its supporting surface is bent through positive and negative curvatures. When the supporting angle of the beam exceeds a critical angle, bistability is lost and only one stable state is supported. The critical angle is controlled only by the initial compressive stress in the beam, and we report a nondimensionalized calculation method for this angle. This large-deflection nonlinear model provides design rules for low-power sensors and actuators that can measure and control surface curvature from the micro- to macroscale.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Keywords:
microelectromechanical systems, bistable, clamped compressed beam, MEMS, elastica, inclined beam
Topics:
Compression, Deflection, Microelectromechanical systems, Shapes, Boundary-value problems, Sensors

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