{
  "abstract": "Multistable mechanical systems can store and release elastic energy through snap-through instabilities, but controlling transition pathways between stable states remains challenging when multiple routes are accessible. Here, we introduce a two-mass von Mises truss as a general model for studying pathway selection governed by coupled saddle-node bifurcations. The system consists of two coupled snap-through units with geometric imperfections, giving rise to four stable configurations: a fully inverted state, a fully natural state, and two intermediate mixed states. We show that the coupling stiffness reorganizes the quasi-static bifurcation structure and selects among three transition pathways under release: sequential snapping through one mixed state, direct cooperative snapping, or sequential snapping through the other mixed state. Using pseudo-arclength continuation, we track the relevant saddle-node bifurcations and identify the parameter regimes associated with each quasi-static pathway. We then demonstrate that dynamic bifurcation delay provides an additional rate-dependent mechanism for pathway selection. Even when the quasi-static bifurcation structure favours a unique sequential pathway, finite-rate loading delays snap-through beyond the corresponding static saddle-node points and can reorder the snapping sequence of the two units. A local reduction of the coupled dynamics near each saddle-node yields normal forms with coupling-dependent critical points and coefficients. The resulting theory identifies distinct rate-dependent delay laws in the inertia-dominated and overdamped regimes and predicts the critical rate at which the snapping order reverses. These results establish a general mechanics framework for tuning transition pathways in multistable systems through elastic coupling and loading-rate control.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2608.30095",
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Weicheng Huang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ke Huang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jiaying Zhang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mingchao Liu"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8xqw51r9zfvbd.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2608.30095",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "8xqw51r9zfvbd",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.30095",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "cond-mat.soft"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "math.DS"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2210|Advanced Materials and Mechanics"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7204929221",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2608.30095",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-08-30",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8xqw51r9zfvbd.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:41Z",
      "native_id": "2608.30095",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.30095"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "mathematics",
      "origin": "arxiv:math.DS",
      "subfield": "dynamical-systems"
    },
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:cond-mat.soft",
      "subfield": "condensed-matter"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Tunable Pathway Selection in Coupled Multistable Snap-Through Systems",
  "title_text": "Tunable Pathway Selection in Coupled Multistable Snap-Through Systems",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:48Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8xqw51r9zfvbd",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}