Three‐Dimensional Simulations of Initially Straight Elasticas

Abstract

The governing nonlinear vector differential equations for large deflections of an end‐loaded, three‐dimensionally deformed, initially straight, axisymmetric elastica are developed and simulated numerically without decomposition. All simulations are based on repeated applications of truncated Taylor's expansions to advance along a deformed elastica. Both initial value problems, and two‐point boundary value problems with a corresponding shooting method are discussed. A number of examples are solved and compared with corresponding theoretical solutions, and with a finite element solution. An elastica solution with at least six independent equilibrium configurations satisfying a single set of boundary conditions and not heretofore treated in the literature is also presented.