Elasticity of Stiff Polymer Networks

TL;DR

This paper investigates the elastic properties of a 2D random network of rigid rods, revealing three distinct regimes, including a novel intermediate bending-dominated regime, advancing understanding of network elasticity.

Contribution

It introduces a model incorporating anisotropic rod elasticity and random geometry, identifying three scaling regimes and a new bending-dominated regime in network elasticity.

Findings

Identification of three distinct elastic regimes

Discovery of a novel bending-dominated scaling regime

Characterization of two length scales on the elastic backbone

Abstract

We study the elasticity of a two-dimensional random network of rigid rods (``Mikado model''). The essential features incorporated into the model are the anisotropic elasticity of the rods and the random geometry of the network. We show that there are three distinct scaling regimes, characterized by two distinct length scales on the elastic backbone. In addition to a critical rigidiy percolation region and a homogeneously elastic regime we find a novel intermediate scaling regime, where elasticity is dominated by bending deformations.