Force focusing in confined fibers and sheets

TL;DR

This paper investigates the shape and force distribution in confined fibers and sheets, revealing material-independent properties and deriving force ratios across different confinement regimes.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework for understanding force focusing in confined fibers and sheets, validated by experimental comparisons and analysis of force ratios.

Findings

Detached region shape is independent of material properties and container size.

Force ratios depend solely on the length of the fiber or sheet relative to the circle radius.

Force ratios vary across three identified regimes of circle radius.

Abstract

A thin fiber or sheet curled into a circular container has a detached region whose shape and force ratios are independent of material properties and container radius. We compute this shape and compare it with experiments. The discrete forces acting at either end of the detached region have a ratio that depends only on the length of the fiber or sheet relative to the circle radius. We calculate this force ratio in three regimes of circle radius.