Nonaffine Deformation of Semiflexible Polymer and Fiber Networks

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Nonaffine Deformation of Semiflexible Polymer and Fiber Networks

Sihan Chen, Tomer Markovich, and Fred C. MacKintosh

Phys. Rev. Lett. 130, 088101 – Published 24 February 2023

Abstract

Networks of semiflexible or stiff polymers such as most biopolymers are known to deform inhomogeneously when sheared. The effects of such nonaffine deformation have been shown to be much stronger than for flexible polymers. To date, our understanding of nonaffinity in such systems is limited to simulations or specific 2D models of athermal fibers. Here, we present an effective medium theory for nonaffine deformation of semiflexible polymer and fiber networks, which is general to both 2D and 3D and in both thermal and athermal limits. The predictions of this model are in good agreement with both prior computational and experimental results for linear elasticity. Moreover, the framework we introduce can be extended to address nonlinear elasticity and network dynamics.

Received 11 July 2022
Accepted 18 January 2023

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.088101

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Bending Elastic deformation Shear deformation Strain

Cytoskeleton Extracellular matrix Polymer networks

Mean field theory Worm-like chain model

Physics of Living SystemsPolymers & Soft MatterStatistical Physics & Thermodynamics

Authors & Affiliations

Sihan Chen ^1,2, Tomer Markovich ^2,3,4, and Fred C. MacKintosh^1,2,5,6

¹Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
²Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
³School of Mechanical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
⁴Center for Physics and Chemistry of Living Systems, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
⁵Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
⁶Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA