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Phys Rev Lett
; 97(16): 166104, 2006 Oct 20.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17155417
ABSTRACT
Spiral patterns are found to be a generic feature in close-packed elastic structures. We describe model experiments of compaction of quasi-1D sheets into quasi-2D containers that allow simultaneous quantitative measurements of mechanical forces and observation of folded configurations. Our theoretical approach shows how the interplay between elasticity and geometry leads to a succession of bifurcations responsible for the emergence of such patterns. Both experimental forces and shapes are also reproduced without any adjustable parameters.