We present the results of a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of the capillary instability of an elastic helical thread bound within a fluid. The influence of the thread's elastic energy on the classic Rayleigh–Plateau instability is elucidated. The most unstable wavelength can be substantially increased by the influence of the helical coil. The relation between our system and the capture thread of the orb-spider is discussed.
S. Jung, C. Clanet and J. W. M. Bush, Soft Matter, 2014, 10, 3225 DOI: 10.1039/C3SM52629A
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