Stretch and twist coefficients of an elastic filament

ID: stretch-and-twist-coefficients-of-an-elastic-filament

For an elastic filament with reference arclength , curvature , axial strain and excess twist rate , a harmonic energy density is . Bending and torsional rigidities have units of energy times length; the stretch modulus has units of force. Factoring out therefore makes lengths but an inverse length. Axial strain under tension is approximately . Twist is controlled by torque and rotational boundary conditions, not force alone. A three-dimensional thermally fluctuating worm-like chain has persistence length .

New to topics? Read the docs here!