# Carbon Fiber Strip Buckling Force Problem

1. Aug 27, 2014

### Tomas1337

Hey,

So Ive been trying to wrap my mind on how to solve this problem. Im trying to use a CFRP Sheet as sort of a spring actuator by using its buckling phenomena to deliver a force to the body its attached to. Kind of vague so here is a video:

This video does it electrically, but I want to be able to do this by using mechanical forces.

What i want to know are:
1) The force it will exert when it does buckle under different parameters (that whipping motion)
2) What displacement it needs for it to buckle
3) How much force needed to push it to its buckling point.

This strip will be supported at both ends by a pin joint and will initially be bent to one side. The only external force that will be acting is a force acting laterally on the strip to displace it so it can reach the point where it will buckle to the other side.

Im not actually sure where to start with this. I can either use simulation software to solve for these (If you can point me to the right software for this thatd be great!). Or I can do it the hard way and use pen and paper. Can someone point me to the right direction?

Last edited by a moderator: Sep 25, 2014
2. Sep 1, 2014