RUPTURE DYNAMICS IN MODEL POLYMER SYATEM WITH CATCH BONDS

Abstract

In this thesis, I investigate the rupture dynamics of a generic model polymer system involving interconnecting catch bonds (rather than a slip bond) between a rigid and a flexible transducer, where a constant force is applied to the latter. The aim is to study microscopic mechanism due to relative movement of (soft) surfaces at single polymer level with these new catch bonds which are allowed to rupture only, stochastically. I simulate the coupled equations of motion for bead and bond dynamics and develop a mean field formalism to gain further analytical insights. I provide my initial attempt to solve these analytical coupled mean-field equations under specific approximations