ON CHARACTERISTICS OF SNAP-THROUGH ACTION OF COMPLEX ARCH SPRINGS : 1ST REP., STATICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF UNIT ARCH SPRING AND MOVABLE SPRING OF Z-TYPE MICROSWITCH

Abstract

By using the incremental finite element method, the snap-through problem of the unit arch and that of the movable spring for the Z-type precision snap-acting switch (i.e. the microswitch) are analysis with sufficient accuracy in this report. The latter is treated as an example of the complex arch spring. Concerning the finite element formulation with beam-column elements, a new element model, the both ends of which are elastically supported on a fixed foundation, is proposed. By examining the numerical results by the method of experimental designs, some design formulae of the movable spring of the Z-type microswitch are obtained.