A minimising movement scheme for the p-elastic energy of curves

Energy diagrams are important to understand the dynamics of a system. The topology of an energy diagram helps illustrate the equilibrium points of the system.
The point in the energy diagram at which the system’s potential energy is the lowest is known as the local minima. The system tends to stay in this position indefinitely unless acted upon by a net force. The slope of the potential energy diagram at the local minima is zero, indicating that zero net force is acting on the system. The...

The concept of curvature in plane curves, crucial in structural engineering, defines how sharply a beam bends under load. This curvature is determined using the curve's first and second derivatives.
Consider a cantilever beam with a point load at its free end (for instance, a diving board). When analyzing beam deflection with small slopes, the shape of the beam's elastic curve becomes key. The governing equation for this analysis involves the bending moment and the beam's flexural...

The dynamics of a mechanical system can be easily understood by interpreting a potential energy diagram. Since energy is a scalar quantity, the interpretation of the dynamics of the system becomes even simpler.
Take the example of a skater on a parabolic ramp. The potential energy at different points along the ramp will be proportional to the height of the ramp, which varies quadratically with the horizontal position on the ramp. As the skater moves down the ramp from the highest position,...

The work-energy theorem can be generalized to the motion of a particle along any curved path. The simple argument here is that the curved path can be considered a sum of many infinitesimal paths, each of which is a straight path. The force on the particle can be considered constant along any such infinitesimal path so that the work-energy theorem can be applied along it. So, it is also valid for the sum of these paths. The net work done is the integral of the work done along the infinitesimal...

Elasticity is the ability of an object to withstand the effects of distortion and to return to its original size and shape once the forces causing deformation are removed. When an elastic material deforms under the action of an external force, it experiences internal resistance to the deformation. However, if no external force is applied, it returns to its original state.
The elasticity of an object can be described by a stress-strain curve, which represents the relationship between stress...

Strain energy quantifies the energy stored within a material due to deformation under loading conditions, a fundamental concept in materials science and engineering. The strain energy can be modeled when a material is subjected to axial loading with uniformly distributed stress. In this scenario, the stress experienced by the material is the internal force divided by the cross-sectional area, and the strain induced is directly proportional to this stress through the modulus of elasticity.
If...