Stability of hingers, hinged devices and schemes. (Q1848083)

The author studies general geometrical properties of hingers - sets which consist of interconnected rigid bars (levers), and are also connected with few fixed points. The construction allows any relative rotation of the bars in the space. Definitions of hinger instability and hinger unstable assemblability are given, their mutual connections are investigated, and relationship with concepts of stability of kinematic hinged schemes (KHS) is established. An example of unstable KHS is given; nevertheless, this scheme is stable with respect to any lever's length change. Some problems are formulated, among them - hypothesis about instability of definitively assemblable hinger.