Premium
Biopolymer mechanics: stability, dynamics, and statistics
Author(s) -
Wiggins Chris H.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
mathematical methods in the applied sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.719
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1099-1476
pISSN - 0170-4214
DOI - 10.1002/mma.182
Subject(s) - dynamics (music) , mathematics , stability (learning theory) , partial differential equation , statistical physics , frame (networking) , bending , statistical mechanics , classical mechanics , mathematical analysis , physics , computer science , machine learning , acoustics , telecommunications , thermodynamics
Motivated by the dynamics of twisted biopolymers such as DNA and filaments of Bacillus subtilis , we formulate the over‐damped dynamics of a twisted elastic rod. The development exploits the ‘natural’ frame, in which curve dynamics are described by a pair of non‐linear partial differential equations, partitioning bending from twisting motions and highlighting their geometric interplay. A number of open problems are highlighted, along with connections with questions about cellular structure and statistical dynamics. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.