mechanical engineering Mechanical engineering is the study of physical machines that may involve force and movement. It is an engineering branch that combines engineering physics and mathematics principles with materials science, to design, analyze, manufacture, and ...

, a bistable structure is one that has two stable mechanical shapes, particularly where they are stabilized by different curvature axes. A common example of a bistable structure is a

slap bracelet A slap bracelet (or snap bracelet) was a bracelet invented by Wisconsin teacher Stuart Anders in 1983, sold originally under the brand name of "Slap Wrap". Consisting of layered, flexible stainless steel bistable spring bands sealed within a fa ...

. Bistable structures enable long tube-like structures to roll up into small cylinders.

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Geometric shapes Structural engineering {{engineering-stub