Collapse of lipidic ultrasound contrast agents under high-frequency compressive load has been historically interpreted by the vanishing of surface tension. By contrast, buckling of elastic shells is known to occur when costly compressible stress is released through bending. Through quasi-static compression experiments on lipidic  shells, we analyze the buckling events in the framework of classical elastic buckling theory and deduce the mechanical characteristics of these shells. They are then compared to that obtained through acoustic characterization.

Dataset where collected

1) regarding shell shape parameters, by image analysis of microshells under microscope.

2) regarding pressure in the chamber, by direct recording of the pressure values given by the sensor

See section experimental methods.