Large Deflection of Clamped Curved Beam Under Finite Clamping and Different Combinations of Bending-Stretching

Abstract

The paper experimentally and theoretically analyses large deflection behaviour of clamped curved beam subjected to finite clamping and combined bending-stretching loads. The experimental specimen is clamped around central location under vertically concave and convex orientations. For each specimen settings, clamping is done by two different torque values. Application of vertical end loads on the clamped concave and convex systems produces two different combinations of bending and in-plane loadings. Large deflection behaviour of the experimental system is modelled theoretically considering geometric nonlinearities coming from combined bending-stretching, non-uniform curvature and asymmetric geometry. Effect of finite clamping is incorporated in the theoretical model through equivalent additional end loads. Due to the involved geometric nonlinearities, analysis is carried out through variational energy principle based incremental Lagrangian approach in curvilinear system and transformed into global frame. The semi-analytical model is successfully validated by comparing with the experimental results. The combined theoretical-experimental study addresses practical complication associated with local deformation at boundaries. In addition, the physically plausible theoretical model may be of interest for simulation of many real world structures with complicating system parameters. Moreover, observations on combined effects of curvature, loading combinations and finite clamping may provide reference for design optimization of equivalent engineering structures.