An experimental verification of the one-dimensional static Willis-form equations

Abstract

This paper investigates the behavior of a heavy soft spring in steady circular motion. Since the spring is inhomogeneous due to centrifugal force, one can rigorously prove that it follows the one-dimensional static Willis-form equations. The theoretical predictions agree very well with experimental results. It further demonstrates that these equations can give a clear understanding of the stress-stiffening and spin-softening effect. These findings reveal that the Willis-form equations can give very accurate linear approximations of finite deformation problems and are also helpful to clarify the classical concept of the principle of material frame indifference.