title: Shape of an elastic loop strongly bent by surface tension: experiments and comparison with theory.
abstract: When a very flexible wire is dipped into a soapy solution, it collapses onto itself. We consider the regions of high curvature where the wire folds back onto itself, enclosing a capillary film. The shapes of these end loops are measured in experiments using soap films and compared to a known similarity solution. The sizes of these structures provide a simple and reliable way to measure surface tension.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Charles Coulomb, UMR 5221, Université Montpellier 2 and CNRS, Montpellier, France. smora@univ-montp2.fr
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: Ty
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Phou
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fromental
authors.forename: Basile
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Audoly
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pomeau
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D015233:Models, Statistical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010825:Physics / Q000379:methods*; D018583:Pliability; D012399:Rotation; D012984:Software; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013500:Surface Tension; D013718:Tensile Strength