Swelling Elastic Surface

Crease formation in a highly deformable slab. 

With numerical simulations, scientists have analyzed the role of surface tension on small scales. Researchers simulated the compression of an elastic layer to discover what happened after its compressive strain exceeded a critical level. By stimulating swelling of the material, scientists hope to shed light on crease formation. 

Related Abstract

  Creasy modeling of a compressed elastic surface

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Journalists wishing to reproduce this image for news stories about related research should include the following image credit: Tuomas Tallinen & L. Mahadevan, Harvard University.