Catastrophe analysis of a planar system with flexural pivots

This paper emphasizes the role of mathematical techniques that the Catastrophe Theory has recently provided as powerful tools for both the control and the design of compliant systems whose behavior is governed by a potential function. The problem of the identification of absolutely safe working areas as regards the stability of the equilibrium is addressed. An application example of such a theory to the stability analysis of a planar mechanism equipped with flexural pivots is carried out for the first time.