Mechanics of large folds in thin interfacial films

Abstract

A thin film at a liquid interface responds to uniaxial confinement by wrinkling and then by folding; its shape and energy have been computed exactly before self contact. Here, we address the mechanics of large folds, i.e. folds that absorb a length much larger than the wrinkle wavelength. With scaling arguments and numerical simulations, we show that the antisymmetric fold is energetically favorable and can absorb any excess length at zero pressure. Then, motivated by puzzles arising in the comparison of this simple model to experiments on lipid monolayers and capillary rafts, we discuss how to incorporate film weight, self-adhesion and energy dissipation.

5 pages, 3 figures

References in corpus (2)

• Elasticity of an interfacial particle raft
• Non-symmetric localized fold of a floating sheet

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Wrinkles and folds in a fluid-supported sheet of finite size
• Pattern transitions in a compressible floating elastic sheet
• Nonlinear buckling and symmetry breaking of a soft elastic sheet sliding on a cylindrical substrate
• Interplay of gross and fine structures in strongly-curved sheets
• Wrinkles, rucks, and folds formed in a heavy sheet on a frictional surface