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MiS Preprint
126/2006
Convergence of equilibria of three-dimensional thin elastic beams
Maria Giovanna Mora and Stefan Müller
Abstract
A convergence result is proved for the equilibrium configurations of a three-dimensional thin elastic beam, as the diameter $h$ of the cross-section goes to zero. More precisely, we show that stationary points of the nonlinear elastic functional $E^h$, whose energies (per unit cross-section) are bounded by $C h^2$, converge to stationary points of the $\Gamma$-limit of $E^h/h^2$. This corresponds to a nonlinear one-dimensional model for inextensible rods, describing bending and torsion effects.
The proof is based on the rigidity estimate for low-energy deformations by Friesecke, James, and Müller and on a compensated compactness argument in a singular geometry. In addition, possible concentration effects of the strain are controlled by a careful truncation argument.
