Snap-through behaviors of a pre-deformed ribbon under midpoint loadings

Based on the geometrically nonlinear Kirchhoff rod theory, the snap-through behaviors of an asymmetrically clamped ribbon under midpoint loadings are explored through a numerical approach. The pre-compressed elastic ribbon would experience supercritical pitchfork bifurcation and transform into multiple stable/unstable patterns when subjected to lateral end translations. With its midpoint pushed through a prescribed path and beyond a threshold,...