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Mechanics

Buckling cascades in free sheets

Nature volume 419, page 579 (2002)Cite this article

Wavy leaves may not depend only on their genes to make their edges crinkle.

Abstract

The edge of a torn plastic sheet forms a complex three-dimensional fractal shape. We have found that the shape results from a simple elongation of the sheet in the direction along its edge. Natural growth processes in some leaves, flowers and vesicles could lead to a similar elongation and hence to the generation of characteristic wavy shapes.

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Figure 1: Buckling cascade in a deformed plastic sheet.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Nonlinear Dynamics and Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, 78712, Texas, USA

    Eran Sharon, Benoît Roman, Michael Marder, Gyu-Seung Shin & Harry L. Swinney

  2. Department of Physics, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Kyunggi, Korea

    Gyu-Seung Shin

Authors
  1. Eran Sharon
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  2. Benoît Roman
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  3. Michael Marder
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  4. Gyu-Seung Shin
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  5. Harry L. Swinney
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eran Sharon.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Sharon, E., Roman, B., Marder, M. et al. Buckling cascades in free sheets. Nature 419, 579 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/419579a

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