01160nas a2200109   4500008004300000245007000043210006900113520078700182100002500969700002000994856003601014       2008                        en_Ud  00aConvergence of equilibria of three-dimensional thin elastic beams0 aConvergence of equilibria of threedimensional thin elastic beams3 aA convergence result is proved for the equilibrium configurations of a three-dimensional thin elastic beam, as the diameter $h$ of the cross-section tends to zero. More precisely, we show that stationary points of the nonlinear elastic functional $E^h$, whose energies (per unit cross-section) are bounded by $Ch^2$, converge to stationary points of the $\\\\varGamma$-limit of $E^h/h^2$. This corresponds to a nonlinear one-dimensional model for inextensible rods, describing bending and torsion effects. The proof is based on the rigidity estimate for low-energy deformations by Friesecke, James and Müller and on a compensated compactness argument in a singular geometry. In addition, possible concentration effects of the strain are controlled by a careful truncation argument.1 aMora, Maria Giovanna1 aMüller, Stefan  uhttp://hdl.handle.net/1963/1896