Snap-through system

grabcad

The experimentally oriented study examines the nonlinear snap-through phenomenon in a class of elastic space trusses shaped as regular pyramids. The joints at the base polygon's vertices are pinned while the one at the apex is subjected to increasing proportional load in the vertical direction. A model of a pyramid truss has been developed, manufactured and tested successfully for teaching purposes, focusing on understanding truss mechanics, geometric nonlinearity, and stability. Analytical solutions are derived for each load condition under standard assumptions of linear material law, mild axial deformation in bars, and significant nodal displacements. For pyramidal trusses, a function linking force to the vertical displacement of uniaxial structural elements was established based on various starting angles of clamped elements. The accuracy of the analytical solution for the snap-through system obtained at different starting angles of uniaxial structural elements was validated against laboratory experimental results.