Matched asymptotic expansions for twisted elastic knots: a self-contact problem with non-trivial contact topology

DOI10.1016/J.JMPS.2009.05.004zbMATH Open1371.74165arXiv0812.2881OpenAlexW2142977653WikidataQ59923768 ScholiaQ59923768MaRDI QIDQ985239FDOQ985239

N. Clauvelin, Sébastien Neukirch, B. Audoly

Publication date: 20 July 2010

Published in: Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: We derive solutions of the Kirchhoff equations for a knot tied on an infinitely long elastic rod subjected to combined tension and twist. We consider the case of simple (trefoil) and double (cinquefoil) knots; other knot topologies can be investigated similarly. The rod model is based on Hookean elasticity but is geometrically non-linear. The problem is formulated as a non-linear self-contact problem with unknown contact regions. It is solved by means of matched asymptotic expansions in the limit of a loose knot. Without any a priori assumption, we derive the topology of the contact set, which consists of an interval of contact flanked by two isolated points of contacts. We study the influence of the applied twist on the equilibrium.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/0812.2881

zbMATH Keywords

asymptotic analysisknotselastic materialcontact mechanicsrods and cables

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Classical linear elasticity (74B05) Rods (beams, columns, shafts, arches, rings, etc.) (74K10) Contact in solid mechanics (74M15)

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Cited In (8)

• A discrete geometric approach for simulating the dynamics of thin viscous threads
• Numerical solution of a bending-torsion model for elastic rods
• Sobolev gradients for the Möbius energy
• From the elastica compass to the elastica catapult: an essay on the mechanics of soft robot arm
• On a nonlinear rod exhibiting only axial and bending deformations: mathematical modeling and numerical implementation
• A descent scheme for thick elastic curves with self-contact and container constraints
• Energy-minimizing configurations for an elastic rod with self-contact energy close to the inextensible-unshearable and hard-contact limits
• Contact-friction modeling within elastic beam assemblies: an application to knot tightening

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