Figure 5.

Ensemble-averaged filament velocities (A and B) and displacements (C) as a function of distance from the strain path d display the propagation of induced strain throughout the network at the beginning (A) and end (B and C) of the applied strain (times displayed in plots). Dashed lines in (A) and (C) show exponentially decaying functions of d with critical decay distances of (A) ∼10–18 μm and (C) ∼11–14 μm. Extrapolation of decays to d = 0 give maximum filament velocities of 0.2–0.35 μm/s (A) and displacements of 0.6–1.4 μm (C). (B) Velocities at the end of the strain show that particle deceleration and recoil during strain, responsible for stress softening, exhibit a nonmonotonic dependence on the degree of cross-linking. To see this figure in color, go online.