Fluid-induced snap-through instability of spherical shells

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Ledda, Pier Giuseppe, Garg, Hemanshul, Østergaard-Clausen, Vitus, Rudzki, Lucas Krumenacker, Madary, Ahmad, Pezzulla, Matteo
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Ledda, Pier Giuseppe
Garg, Hemanshul
Østergaard-Clausen, Vitus
Rudzki, Lucas Krumenacker
Madary, Ahmad
Pezzulla, Matteo
author_facet Ledda, Pier Giuseppe
Garg, Hemanshul
Østergaard-Clausen, Vitus
Rudzki, Lucas Krumenacker
Madary, Ahmad
Pezzulla, Matteo
contents We study the snapping instability of a spherical elastic shell induced by a viscous flow, the umbrella flipping problem when life is at low Reynolds numbers. We combine precision desktop-scale experiments, fluid-structure simulations, shell theory, fluid mechanics, and scaling analysis to determine the instability threshold as a function of the geometrical and material parameters of the system. Building on these findings, we devise a snapping-based valve that passively and abruptly alters the hydraulic resistance of a channel, offering robust flow control without active components. Beyond the application, our study presents what we believe to be a prototypical example of fluid-induced elastic instability in viscous flow, providing a foundation for future explorations in soft hydraulics and flow-responsive structures.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_12247
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Fluid-induced snap-through instability of spherical shells
Ledda, Pier Giuseppe
Garg, Hemanshul
Østergaard-Clausen, Vitus
Rudzki, Lucas Krumenacker
Madary, Ahmad
Pezzulla, Matteo
Fluid Dynamics
Soft Condensed Matter
We study the snapping instability of a spherical elastic shell induced by a viscous flow, the umbrella flipping problem when life is at low Reynolds numbers. We combine precision desktop-scale experiments, fluid-structure simulations, shell theory, fluid mechanics, and scaling analysis to determine the instability threshold as a function of the geometrical and material parameters of the system. Building on these findings, we devise a snapping-based valve that passively and abruptly alters the hydraulic resistance of a channel, offering robust flow control without active components. Beyond the application, our study presents what we believe to be a prototypical example of fluid-induced elastic instability in viscous flow, providing a foundation for future explorations in soft hydraulics and flow-responsive structures.
title Fluid-induced snap-through instability of spherical shells
topic Fluid Dynamics
Soft Condensed Matter
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.12247