Fig. 6: Snapshots and sketches of a sheared ring.
a Simulation snapshot of N = 200-ring at the onset of the inflation phase, on the flow-gradient (x–y) plane. Wi =  145.06, \(\dot{\gamma }=5.6\,\times\, 1{0}^{-3}[{({k}_{{\rm{B}}}T)}^{0.5}{m}^{-0.5}{a}^{-1}]\). b As a, on the flow–vorticity (x–z) plane. c Stretched and inflated configuration on the flow-gradient (x–y) plane. Wi = 543.95, \(\dot{\gamma }=2.1\,\times\, 1{0}^{-2}\,[{({k}_{{\rm{B}}}T)}^{0.5}{m}^{-0.5}{a}^{-1}]\). d As c, on the flow–vorticity (x–z) plane. In all four panels a–d, the solid scale bar in the centre extends to 5 σ in all directions. e Viewed projected on the flow-gradient (x–y) plane, the ring is rendered as a succession of blobs, the largest of which is located at the tips and has size ξT. The elevation of the tip over the neutral (flow–vorticity) plane is ye, and the tilt angle is θ. f Viewed projected onto the flow–vorticity (x–z) plane, the ring has an oval shape and it is stretched outwards in all directions due to the backflow of solvent (denoted by the curved green arrows), reflected at the two horseshoe-shaped regions at the tips.
