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Lower bounds for the energy in a crumpled elastic sheet - A minimal ridge

S. C. Venkataramani

math.AParXiv:math/0210012

Abstract

We study the linearized Fopl - von Karman theory of a long, thin rectangular elastic membrane that is bent through an angle 2 α. We prove rigorous bounds for the minimum energy of this configuration in terms of the plate thickness σ and the bending angle. We show that the minimum energy scales as σ5/3 α7/3. This scaling is in sharp contrast with previously obtained results for the linearized theory of thin sheets with isotropic compression boundary conditions, where the energy scales as σ.

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