Mechanics of Slender Structure: Naturally Curly Hair in 3D

This lecture explores the mechanics of slender structures using the example of naturally curly hair in 3D, discussing concepts such as natural curvature, bending, twisting, geometric nonlinearities, and mechanical instabilities. The presentation delves into the kinematics, energy equilibrium, and stability of slender elastic rods, emphasizing the use of numerical methods and simulations to study the behavior of suspended curly hair. Various questions regarding planar shapes, helical regions, and energy equilibriums are addressed through experimental, computational, and theoretical approaches.