Discrete element simulations of crumpling of thin sheets Original Research Article

Forced crumpling of stiff self-avoiding sheets is studied by discrete element simulations. Simulations display stress condensation and scaling of ridge energy in agreement with theoretical expectations for elastic and frictionless sheets, and extends such behavior to elasto-plastic sheets. Crumpling of ideally elastic and frictionless sheets is compared to that of elasto-plastic sheets and sheets with friction.