arXiv · cond-mat/0201242
Directed force chain networks and stress response in static granular materials
Abstract
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.
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J. E. S. Socolar, D. G. Schaeffer, P. Claudin. 2002-06-11. Directed force chain networks and stress response in static granular materials. https://doi.org/10.1140/epje%2Fi2002-10011-7
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