title: Elastic knots.
abstract: We study the mechanical response of elastic rods bent into open knots, focusing on the case of trefoil and cinquefoil topologies. The limit of a weak applied tensile force is studied both analytically and experimentally: the Kirchhoff equations with self-contact are solved by means of matched asymptotic expansions; predictions on both the geometrical and mechanical properties of the elastic equilibrium are compared to experiments. The extension of the theory to tight knots is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institut Jean le Rond d'Alembert, UMR 7190, CNRS, Paris, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Audoly
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Clauvelin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Neukirch