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The origin of stiffening in cross-linked semiflexible networks

P. R. Onck·T. Koeman·T. Van Dillen·E. Van der Giessen
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Abstract

Strain stiffening of protein networks is explored by means of a finite strain analysis of a two-dimensional network model of cross-linked semiflexible filaments. The results show that stiffening is caused by non-affine network rearrangements that govern a transition from a bending dominated response at small strains to a stretching dominated response at large strains. Thermally-induced filament undulations only have a minor effect; they merely postpone the transition.

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P. R. Onck, T. Koeman, T. Van Dillen, E. Van der Giessen. 2005-02-16. The origin of stiffening in cross-linked semiflexible networks. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.95.178102

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