title: Elasticity of stiff polymer networks.
abstract: We study the elasticity of a two-dimensional random network of rigid rods ("Mikado model"). The essential features incorporated into the model are the anisotropic elasticity of the rods and the random geometry of the network. We show that there are three distinct scaling regimes, characterized by two distinct length scales on the elastic backbone. In addition to a critical rigidity percolation region and a homogeneously elastic regime we find a novel intermediate scaling regime, where the elasticity is dominated by bending deformations.
authors.affiliation: Hahn-Meitner-Institut, Abteilung Theorie, Glienicker Strasse 100, D-14109 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frey
mesh_terms: D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D004548:Elasticity; D008956:Models, Chemical
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers