High-throughput Characterization of Bistable Beam Stability Boundaries

Overview This dataset provides a comprehensive experimental mapping of the snap-through stability boundaries for bistable elastic beams. The data was generated using a high-throughput rotating platform at the Flexible Structures Laboratory (EPFL). By prescribing programmable angular velocity profiles Ω(t), the platform subjects specimens to tunable centrifugal and Euler force fields. The collection comprises around 20.000 individual experiments across 65 distinct configurations, enabling the statistical characterization of nonlinear dynamic instabilities. Dataset Structure The data is provided in a single compressed archive. To maintain metadata integrity, the experimental parameters are encoded directly into the folder hierarchy: Database/ → [BC_Type]/ → [Configuration]/ → [Loading_Parameters]/ → Data/ BC_Type: Category of boundary conditions (e.g., Thickness, TiltAngle, SymmetricClamps). Configuration: Specific geometric values (e.g., t2.10_eps0.035_theta5.0). Loading_Parameters: The drive conditions: amp_[a]_freq_[f]_state_[s0], where amp is amplitude [rad/s], f is frequency [Hz], and s0 is the initial stable state (0 or 1). Data: Contains three independent repetitions per condition. File Contents (per repetition) images_[timestamp]/: Raw image sequences of the beam. Note: While captured in the lab frame, these images are digitally stabilized to the rotating frame. Minor wiggling may occur due to rotation correction. processed_data_epm_[timestamp].json: Time-series of midspan displacement δ(t), velocity, and acceleration from the motor encoder. splines_epm_[timestamp].json: Series of centerline data encoded as Hermite exponential splines. Technical Specifications Parameter Ranges Parameter Range Thickness (t) 1.60 to 2.70 mm Pre-compression (ε) 0.015 to 0.060 Tilt Angle (θ) 0 to ±20deg Clamp Angles (φi,φe) 0 to ±15deg Export to Sheets Working with Spline Data The centerlines are represented as C2-continuous splines with 5 knots. To load and analyze the .json spline files, use the Python library splinebox. See their tutorial to load series of splines. Citation If you use this dataset in your research, please cite the following paper: Gutierrez-Prieto, E., Yakir, G., & Reis, P.M. (2026). High-throughput characterization of snap-through stability boundaries of bistable beams in a programmable rotating platform. Mechanics of Materials.