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Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water
Published on: August 2, 2012
Shape Control for Experimental Continuation
Robin M Neville1, Rainer M J Groh1, Alberto Pirrera1
1Bristol Composites Institute (ACCIS), Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TR, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
An experimental method has been developed to locate unstable equilibria of nonlinear structures quasistatically. The technique involves loading a structure by the application of either a force or a displacement at a main actuation point while simultaneously controlling the overall shape using additional bidirectional probe points. The method is applied to a shallow arch, and unstable segments of its equilibrium path are identified experimentally for the first time. Shape control is a fundamental building block for the experimental-as opposed to numerical-continuation of nonlinear structures, which will significantly expand our ability to measure their mechanical response.
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