Self-actuated snap back of viscoelastic pulsing structures

The effect of material viscoelasticity on the stability of structures is investigated. It is demonstrated that viscoelastic effects can cause structures to exhibit temporary bistability in a deformed configuration. When this bistability is lost, the structure may suddenly jump back to its initial configuration in a phenomenon described as self-actuated snap back. It is shown for both a single degree of freedom system and a hemispherical cap that the viscoelastic behaviour may be inferred by consideration of the purely elastic response. These inferences are confirmed by means of finite element analysis.