Strength of Low-Dimensional Objects

Abstract

Filaments, films, tubes, membranes, and shells are considered as a general class of low-dimensional objects, the thickness of which is much smaller than their length and possible displacements. The strength of such materials almost achieved the theoretical limit, and their bearing capacity is restricted by macroscopic elastic (or viscoelastic) loss of stability rather than fracture. The generality of the phenomena of the loss of bearing capacity in low-dimensional objects and elastic (or viscoelastic) instability and its modes (wrinkles and focuses in twisting of a wire and a ribbon and in buckling, corrugation, curvature condensation of tubes and shells and plastic folds in flicking) is analyzed.