Floating objects with finite resistance to bending
We consider the equilibrium flotation of a thin, flexible cylinder at the interface between a liquid and a gas. In particular, we determine the maximum load that such a cylinder can support without sinking. We find that as the length of such a cylinder increases the maximum load at first increases....
Veröffentlicht in: | Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids. - 1992. - 24(2008), 16 vom: 19. Aug., Seite 8701-6 |
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1. Verfasser: | |
Format: | Online-Aufsatz |
Sprache: | English |
Veröffentlicht: |
2008
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Zugriff auf das übergeordnete Werk: | Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids |
Schlagworte: | Journal Article |
Zusammenfassung: | We consider the equilibrium flotation of a thin, flexible cylinder at the interface between a liquid and a gas. In particular, we determine the maximum load that such a cylinder can support without sinking. We find that as the length of such a cylinder increases the maximum load at first increases. However, the maximum load reaches a plateau when the length of the cylinder is comparable to the elastocapillary length, which is determined by a balance between the bending of the cylinder and surface tension. We then consider the implications of our analysis for the walking on water of both arthropods and man-made robots. In particular, we show that the legs of water striders are typically slightly shorter than this 'optimal' length, suggesting that elastocapillary effects may act as a selection pressure |
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Beschreibung: | Date Completed 17.09.2008 Date Revised 13.08.2008 published: Print-Electronic Citation Status PubMed-not-MEDLINE |
ISSN: | 1520-5827 |
DOI: | 10.1021/la800245k |