Continuum theory of bending-to-stretching transition.

Transition from bending-dominated to stretching-dominated elastic response in semiflexible fibrous networks plays an important role in the mechanical behavior of cells and tissues. It is induced by changes in network connectivity and relies on the construction of new cross-links. We propose a simple continuum model of this transition with macroscopic strain playing the role of order parameter. An unusual feature of this Landau-type theory is that it is based on a single-well potential. The theory predicts that bending-to-stretching transition should proceed through propagation of the fronts separating domains with affine and nonaffine elastic response.