Study on the Snap-Through Behavior of Bistable Plates

This paper aims to analyze snap-through behavior of two-layer cross-ply bistable composite laminate square plates. The analyses consider the factors of laminate thickness, temperature and external applied force. In this study, the model was performed on the basis of the classical thin plate theory, the Von Kármán large deformation theory and Principle of Virtual Work. Afterwards the statics equilibrium equation was available. Subsequently the analysis was presented by adjusting the laminate thickness for these prior factors. Through the numerical simulations with Matlab^® software, the curvatures in x-direction and y-direction were calculated to investigate the snap-through behavior. Two stable cylindrical configurations and an unstable saddle shape were given with different curvatures to show the equilibrium positions. Then the figures prove the external applied distributed force plays a vital role to the snap-through behavior. The results show that under macroscopic view, the ratio of side-length to thickness is three hundred or less, as the plates are thinner, the snap-through will appear more frequently, and the external forces will be less needed.