Bridging a gap: a heavy elastica between point supports

Journal article

We study the deformation and slip-through of a heavy elastic beam suspended above two point supports and subject to an increasing body force — an idealized model of a fibre trapped in the pores of a filter as flow strength increases, for example. Using both asymptotic and numerical techniques, we investigate the behaviour of the beam under increasing body force and the maximum force that can be supported before it must slip between the supports. We quantify this maximum body force as a function of the separation between the two supports. Surprisingly, we show the existence of a critical separation below which the beam can withstand an arbitrarily large body force, even in the absence of friction. This is understood as the limit of a catenary between the supports that is connected to (and supported by the tension in) a vertically hanging portion outside the supports. We explore how frictional forces impact the deformation and load-bearing capacity of the beam and show that our results are consistent with laboratory experiments.

Authors: Curtis, GK; Griffiths, IM; Vella, D

• Publication status: Accepted
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Journal: International Journal of Solids and Structures
• Acceptance date: 2025-10-15
• EISSN: 1879-2146
• ISSN: 0020-7683
• Language: English
• Keywords: catenary; heavy elastica; point supports; maximum force; asymptotic analysis; friction