
An analysis is made of the thermal buckling and snap-through action of an initially curved bimetallic beam, supported by two hinges at the extremities. A beam theory solution is obtained for the bimetallic element, which shows that the deflection and snap-through response of the bimetallic beam, to increasing temperature, is considerably different from the approximate solutions obtained by Timoshenko and by Burgreen. The validity of the earlier treatments is dependent upon the maintenance of a first mode deflected shape, whereas in the present analysis this restriction is removed. It is found that thermostatic snap-through is obtainable at low temperatures, only when there is a large difference in the coefficients of expansion of the bimetallic constituents, but that snap-through will always take place at sufficiently high temperatures. This high temperature behavior of the beam was not obtained in the approximate one-mode solutions.
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 10 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
