Journal
SOFT MATTER
Volume 9, Issue 34, Pages 8274-8281Publisher
ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY
DOI: 10.1039/c3sm50873k
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- National Science Foundation [CMMI-1129894]
- Schlumberger-Doll Research
- MIT's Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program
- Battelle-MIT postdoctoral fellowship program
Ask authors/readers for more resources
We investigate how the configurations obtained from the writhing of a heavy elastic rod are influenced by its intrinsic natural curvature. To this end, we perform a combination of numerics and precision model experiments on the compression or twisting of a thin rod. The 'softness' of these single elastic filaments stems from their slenderness (high aspect ratio), which allow for geometrically nonlinear compliant modes that can accommodate large deformations. We uncover the original mechanism that the presence of a body force (gravity in our case) delays the effect of natural curvature, which results from the complex interplay between geometrical constraints, elasticity and weight. We rationalize our experimental results by coupling the predictive power of a numerical method of our own, with classic theory for elastic rods under large deformations. This preponderance of geometry is relevant in systems over a wide range of length scales where curvature and body-forces often co-exist; from engineered rod-like structures such as wires, cables, and pipelines, to natural macromolecules, flagella, fibers and tendrils.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available