Stability of a shallow arch with one end moving at constant speed

In this paper we consider a shallow arch with rise parameter h, free of lateral loading, but subject to prescribed end motion e with constant speed c. Attention is focused on finding out whether dynamic snap-through will occur. Quasi-static analysis is first performed to identify all equilibrium configurations and their stability properties when e and h are specified. If the arch is stretched quasi-statically, it will be straightened up and no snap-through will occur. However, when the speed c is not negligible it is possible for the arch to snap to the other side dynamically. Careful analysis shows that the only possible situation when dynamic snap-through may occur is h > 3 root 6 and root 8/3 h-4<e< 2/9 h(2)-4. In this case, to prevent dynamic snap-through to occur the end speed c must not exceed a critical speed, which is a function of e and h. The minimum critical stretching speed is found to be 25.9 for all possible combinations of e and h. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.