Elastocapillarity can control the formation and the morphology of beads-on-string structures in solid fibers

M. Taffetani, P. Ciarletta

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

24 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Beads-on-string patterns have been experimentally observed in solid cylinders for a wide range of material properties and structural lengths, from millimetric soft gels to nanometric hard fibers. In this work, we combine theoretical analysis and numerical tools to investigate the formation and nonlinear dynamics of such beaded structures. We show that this morphological transition is driven by elastocapillarity, i.e., a complex interplay between the effects of surface tension and bulk elasticity. Unlike buckling or wrinkling, the presence of an axial elongation is found here to favor the onset of fiber beading, in agreement with existing experimental results on electrospun fibers, hydrogels, and nerves. Our results also prove that the applied stretch can be used in fabrication techniques to control the morphology of the emerging beads-on-string patterns. Such quantitative predictions open the way for several applications, from tissue engineering to the design of stretchable electronics and the microfabrication of functionalized surfaces.

Original languageEnglish
Article number032413
JournalPhysical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
Volume91
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23 Mar 2015

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 American Physical Society.

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