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Spontaneous Tilt of Thermalized Elastic Sheets

ORAL

Abstract

Through molecular dynamic simulations and theoretical analysis, we show that a thermalized elastic sheet clamped on one edge spontaneously tilts out of the plane of clamping, hence breaking the inversion symmetry of the system. For a given temperature, a rectangular sheet only tilts if its aspect ratio is sufficiently large. Using the thermalized membrane as a reference state, we show that tilt is a type of buckling instability. We derive the critical aspect ratio for tilt as a function of temperature by analyzing the in-plane stress and strain of the elastic sheet due to clamping.

Presenters

  • Zhitao Chen

    University of California, Santa Barbara, University of California Santa Barbara

Authors

  • Zhitao Chen

    University of California, Santa Barbara, University of California Santa Barbara

  • Duanduan Wan

    Wuhan University, Wuhan Univ

  • Mark J Bowick

    University of California, Santa Barbara, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, KITP, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of California Santa Barbara