Development of configurational forces during the injection of an elastic rod

TL;DR

This paper investigates the development of configurational forces during the injection of an elastic rod through a sliding sleeve, combining theoretical analysis and experimental validation to reveal their impact on mechanical response in relevant technologies.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical model and experimental evidence for configurational forces in elastic rods during injection, a phenomenon not thoroughly understood before.

Findings

Configurational forces influence the load-deflection behavior.

Experimental validation confirms theoretical predictions.

Force reversal observed in load/deflection diagrams.

Abstract

When an inextensible elastic rod is 'injected' through a sliding sleeve against a fixed constraint, configurational forces are developed, deeply influencing the mechanical response. This effect, which is a consequence of the change in length of the portion of the rod included between the sliding sleeve and the fixed constraint, is theoretically demonstrated (via integration of the elastica) and experimentally validated on a proof-of-concept structure (displaying an interesting force reversal in the load/deflection diagram), to provide conclusive evidence to mechanical phenomena relevant in several technologies, including guide wire for artery catheterization, or wellbore insertion of a steel pipe.