A Continuum Theory for the Natural Vibrations of Spherical Viral Capsids

The goal of this work is to present a study of the natural vibrations of spherical viral capsids - we think, in particular, of the Satellite Tobacco Mosaic Virus (STMV) and of the Cowpea Chlorotic Mottle Virus (CCMV) - by employing a continuum mechanics approach. We model such capsids as linearly elastic shells, whose response at any point is transversely isotropic with respect to the radial direction through that point (the simplest and most important subcase, isotropic response, is almost invariably considered in literature).

Our choice is motivated by the desire to account for the rotational symmetries with respect to the radial direction of capsomers, the functional units a capsid consists of. In addition to transverse isotropy, the shell theory we employ has some other unusual traits.

Francesco Bonaldi, A Continuum Theory for the Natural Vibrations of Spherical Viral Capsids, Tesi di laurea in Ingegneria matematica.

Presentazione.