Directed force chain networks and stress response in static granular materials

A theory of stress fields in two-dimensional granular materials based on directed force chain networks is presented. A general equation for the densities of force chains in different directions is proposed and a complete solution is obtained for a special case in which chains lie along a discrete se...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The European physical journal. E, Soft matter and biological physics Soft matter and biological physics, 2002-07, Vol.8, p.453-453
Main Authors: Socolar, J. E. S., Schaeffer, D. G., Claudin, P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Condensed Matter
Other
Physics
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:A theory of stress fields in two-dimensional granular materials based on directed force chain networks is presented. A general equation for the densities of force chains in different directions is proposed and a complete solution is obtained for a special case in which chains lie along a discrete set of directions. The analysis and results demonstrate the necessity of including nonlinear terms in the equation. A line of nontrivial fixed point solutions is shown to govern the properties of large systems. In the vicinity of a generic fixed point, the response to a localized load shows a crossover from a single, centered peak at intermediate depths to two propagating peaks at large depths that broaden diffusively.
ISSN:1292-8941
1292-895X
DOI:10.1140/epje/i2002-10030-4