Discussion on tangle deformation of elastic loop body induced by discrete torsional rotations

Abstract

This paper investigates the tangle deformation of a loop body connected with elastic tube segments and revolute hinges. We prepared three types of segment geometry: a straight tube, a necking tube, and a bellows tube. Demonstrating the traction tests for these elastic loop structures, we observed that the bellows-type model only formed the tangle conformation induced by torsional rotations of the discrete hinges while the structures having the other types of segments shrank without torsional rotation. According to the mechanics of materials, we discuss about the relationship between bending and torsional stiffness of each segment to clarify the tangle mechanism of the proposed structures.