Bi-stability resistant to fluctuations. (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Caruel, M.; Truskinovsky, L.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the mechanics and physics of solids. Volume 109(2017:Dec.)
• Page Start: 117
• Page End: 141
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Mechanics, Applied -- Periodicals; Solids -- Periodicals; Mechanics -- Periodicals; Mécanique appliquée -- Périodiques; Solides -- Périodiques; Mechanics, Applied; Solids; Periodicals; 531.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmps.2017.08.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-5096

Abstract

Abstract: We study a simple micro-mechanical device that does not lose its snap-through behavior in an environment dominated by fluctuations. The main idea is to have several degrees of freedom that can cooperatively resist the de-synchronizing effect of random perturbations. As an inspiration we use the power stroke machinery of skeletal muscles, which ensures at sub-micron scales and finite temperatures a swift recovery of an abruptly applied slack. In addition to hypersensitive response at finite temperatures, our prototypical Brownian snap spring also exhibits criticality at special values of parameters which is another potentially interesting property for micro-scale engineering applications.