Modeling and optimization of various section thickness cross-axis corrugated flexure pivot using chained Maxwell–Mohr method

This article presents the Variable Section Thickness Cross-Axis Corrugated Flexure Pivot (VSTCACFP). The pivot design integrates Corrugated Flexure Beams (CFBs) with Variable Section Thickness (VST), utilizing semicircular flexure beams as basic units to achieve a longer effective deformation length compared to traditional leaf or notch cantilever beams. This distinctive feature enables extremely large displacements while maintaining high precision. The Chained Maxwell–Mohr Method (CMMM), a highly efficient and accurate modeling technique, is proposed to capture the nonlinear in-plane deformations of complex periodic curved beams. Following the development of the model and the establishment of performance indices, an optimization process was conducted using a genetic algorithm. The study is validated through Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and experimental testing.