Bending device and anticlastic surface measurement of solids under large deformations and displacements

Abstract Large bending of elastic bodies gives rise to significant transverse effects. Based on a recent theoretical model in the context of finite elasticity, both the longitudinal and anticlastic curvatures in bent solids under large deformation and displacement can be accurately assessed. In order to experimentally investigate the anticlastic deformation induced by large inflexion and corroborate the theoretical predictions, a properly designed mechanical bending device is here proposed. By imposing a rotation at the ends of the sample, both the longitudinal and anticlastic curvatures are measured by DIC (digital image correlation) monitoring instrumentation and compared with the theoretical results, finding good agreement. Compact analytical formulae for assessing the radii of curvature within the thickness of the sample are provided. Conversely to existing studies of the anticlastic surface induced by infinitesimal bending, the present analysis takes into account large through-to-thickness curvature variations, whose knowledg can plays a key role for a wide class of mechanical applications.