Self-similar curling of a naturally curved elastica.
We consider the curling of an initially flat but naturally curved elastica on a hard, nonadhesive surface. Combining theory, simulations, and experiments, we find novel behavior, including a constant front velocity and a self-similar shape of the curl that scales in size as t(1/3) at long times after the release of one end of the elastica. The front velocity is selected by matching the self-similar solution with a roll of nearly constant curvature located near the free end.
Laboratoire Charles Coulomb, CNRS/Université Montpellier II, Montpellier, France.
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Callan-Jones
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Brun
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Audoly