Shape Characterization of a Simply Supported Beam in Morphing

Rather than address morphing in the conventional way of applying forces to a fixed-compliance structure, this work addresses morphing in a structure that can exhibit variable compliance. Specifically, this work addresses the shape morphing of a simply-supported elastic beam from a forward approach perspective, that is, determining beam shape due to applied forces. The focus on this study is on the spatial distribution of the structure due to local/total modulus change in its steady state condition. The resulting morphed shapes are quantified in terms of the characteristic parameters, such as spatial distribution of the peaks of the shapes, deviation from the axis of the symmetry and, in case of flat-top shapes, the width of the flat portion.