Das, MoumitaVaziri, AshkanKudrolli, ArshadMahadevan, L.2019-09-272007Das, Moumita, Ashkan Vaziri, Arshad Kudrolli, and L. Mahadevan. 2007. “Curvature Condensation and Bifurcation in an Elastic Shell.” Physical Review Letters 98 (1). https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.98.014301.0031-90071079-71141092-0145http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:41417308We study the formation and evolution of localized geometrical defects in an indented cylindrical elastic shell using a combination of experiment and numerical simulation. We find that as a symmetric localized indentation on a semicylindrical shell increases, there is a transition from a global mode of deformation to a localized one which leads to the condensation of curvature along a symmetric parabolic defect. This process introduces a soft mode in the system, converting a load-bearing structure into a hinged, kinematic mechanism. Further indentation leads to twinning wherein the parabolic defect bifurcates into two defects that move apart on either side of the line of symmetry. A qualitative theory captures the main features of the phenomena but leads to further questions about the mechanism of defect nucleation.en-USJournal Article2019-09-2710.1103/PhysRevLett.98.014301