arXiv subjects

Jonathan Barés

Publications and source records attributed to Jonathan Barés.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Programming strain-stiffening in soft composites via structural memory near jamming

Soft composite solids, comprising discrete inclusions embedded within a compliant matrix, are emerging candidates for engineering synthetic tissues and soft robotic materials. Current strategies for controlling their nonlinear mechanics, such as strain-stiffening, have primarily relied on the nonlinear elasticity of polymer matrices. Although direct contacts between inclusions may enhance stiffening responses at high densities, the role of the non-equilibrium and history-dependent nature of disordered contact networks in composite mechanics remains unexplored. In this work, by applying a mechanical training protocol near a shear-jamming phase boundary, we demonstrate that the structural memory encoded in contact networks drives a crossover from granular-like to biopolymer-like strain stiffening. Simulations of a coarse-grained composite model reveal that this biopolymer-like mechanical response emerges from enhanced non-affine reconfigurations of nearly-jammed contact networks. Without relying on matrix nonlinearity, we establish a design strategy that leverages non-equilibrium memory effects intrinsic to granular systems to achieve highly programmable strain-stiffening in soft composites.

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arXiv2026

Origin of geometric cohesion in non-convex granular materials: interplay between interdigitation and rotational constraints enhancing frictional stability

We present a series of experiments investigating the local microstructure of cylindrical piles composed of highly concave particles. By systematically varying particle geometry -- from spheres to strongly non-convex polypods -- as well as frictional properties and the number of branches, we explore how these parameters, together with the preparation protocol, shape the internal structure of the system. Using X-ray tomography combined with a dedicated image-analysis pipeline, we accurately extract the position, orientation, and contacts of every particle in each pile. This allows us to quantify the evolution of key structural observables as a function of particle geometry and preparation method. In particular, we measure the distributions of local packing fraction, coordination number, number of neighbors, and contact locations, along with particle-particle positional and orientational correlations. More importantly, we construct a new stability indicator that correlates perfectly with the observed pile stabilities, enabling us to identify the fundamental mechanisms responsible for \textit{geometrically induced cohesion} in granular systems composed of non-interlocking particle shapes: interdigitation, rotational constraint, friction-mediated cohesion, and the ability of a pile to re-stabilize.

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arXiv2024

Flow regimes and repose angle in a rotating drum filled with highly concave particles

We present a series of experiments investigating the flow regimes and repose angles of highly concave particle packings in a rotating drum. By varying grain geometry from spherical to highly non-convex shapes, adjusting frictional properties and the particle number of branches, we examine how these parameters and the drum speed influence the flow behavior. Our study identifies two distinct flow regimes: the rolling regime, where granular matter exhibits solid-like behavior near the walls and flows like a liquid near the free surface, and the slumping regime, characterized by cyclic avalanches and solid body rotations. Using quantitative criteria such as the repose angle difference and the area ratio of particle packings, we construct phase diagrams delineating the cross-over between these regimes. Our findings highlight the significant effects of particle concavity, friction, and rotation speed on the flow dynamics of granular materials, providing new insights into the mechanical behaviors of \emph{meta-granular matter}.

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arXiv2024

Experimental exploration of geometric cohesion and solid fraction in columns of highly non-convex Platonic polypods

In this study, we investigate the stability and solid fraction of columns comprised of highly non-convex particles. These particles are constructed by extruding arms onto the faces of Platonic solids, a configuration we term \emph{Platonic polypods}. We explore the emergence and disappearance of solid-like behavior in the absence of adhesive forces between the particles, referred to as \emph{geometric cohesion}. This investigation is conducted by varying the number of arms of the particles and the thickness of these arms. To accomplish this, columns are assembled by depositing particles within a cylindrical container, followed by the removal of the container to evaluate the stability of the resulting structures. Experiments were carried out using three distinct materials to assess the influence of the friction coefficient between the grains. Our findings reveal that certain granular systems exhibit geometric cohesion, depending on their geometrical and contact properties. Furthermore, we analyze the initial solid fraction of the columns, demonstrating that these arrangements can achieve stability even at highly loose states, which contrasts with traditional granular materials.

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arXiv2024

Loss of memory of an elastic line on its way to limit cycles

Under an oscillating mechanical drive, an amorphous material progressively forgets its initial configuration and might eventually converge to a limit cycle. Beyond quasistatic drivings, how structurally disordered systems lose or record such memory remains theoretically challenging. Here we investigate these issues in a minimal model system -- with quenched disorder and memory encoded in a spatial pattern -- where the oscillating protocol can formally be replaced by finite positive-velocity driving. We consider an elastic line driven at zero temperature in a fixed disordered landscape, with bi-periodic boundary conditions and tunable system size. This setting allows us to control the area swept by the line at each cycle in a given disorder realisation, as would the amplitude of an oscillating drive. We find that the line converges to disorder-dependent limit cycles, jointly for its geometrical \emph{and} velocity profiles. Moreover, the way it forgets its initial condition is strongly coupled to the nature of the velocity dynamics it displays depending on system size. We conclude on the implications of these results for the response of amorphous materials under \emph{non}-quasistatic oscillating protocols.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2024

Steady Granular Flow in a Rotating Drum: Universal description of stress, velocity and packing fraction profiles covering grain shape effects from convex to very concave

The flow behavior of granular matter is significantly influenced by the shape of constituent particles. This effect is particularly pronounced for very concave particles, which exhibit unique flow characteristics such as higher porosity and sharper phase transitions between jamming and unjamming states. Despite the richness and ubiquitousness of these systems, our understanding of their intricate flow behavior and the local mechanisms driving these behaviors remains incomplete. In this work, we investigate the effect of particle shape, ranging from spherical to highly concave, on steady flows in a rotating drum - a system that facilitates a continuous phase transition from a jamming state at greater depths to an unjamming state at shallower regions. We develop an analytical model to elucidate granular behavior within the rotating drum: (i) Firstly, by decomposing the shear stress, we reconcile the discrepancy between simulation data and theoretical predictions, establishing a relationship with the angle of repose. (ii)Secondly, we extend the generalized Bagnold scaling , coupled with a non-local fluidity relation based on packing fraction, providing a framework for a correlation between shear stress, shear rate, and packing fraction. Additionally, we introduce a characteristic length to quantify the influence of particle shape and drum speed. This analytical model offers explicit functional forms for physical quantity profiles, which are validated experimentally in a thin rotating drum and numerically in a two-dimensional rotating drum. Our results demonstrate that this model accurately describes the change of velocity due to the phase transition of granular flow within a rotating drum. Moreover, for different shapes of particle and drum speeds, the characteristic length captures the interplay between shear stress, shear rate, and the variation of packing fraction.

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arXiv2023

Compacting an assembly of soft balls far beyond the jammed state: insights from 3D imaging

Very soft grain assemblies have unique shape-changing capabilities that allow them to be compressed far beyond the rigid jammed state by filling void spaces more effectively. However, accurately following the formation of these systems by monitoring the creation of new contacts, the changes in grain shape, and measuring grain-scale stresses is challenging. We developed an experimental method overtaking these challenges and connecting their microscale behavior to their macroscopic response. By tracking the local strain energy during compression, we reveal a transition from granular-like to continuous-like material. Mean contact geometry is shown to vary linearly with the packing fraction, which is supported by a mean field approximation. We also validate a theoretical framework which describes the compaction from a local view. Our experimental framework provides insights into the granular micro-mechanisms and opens new perspectives for rheological analysis of highly deformable grain assemblies in various fields ranging from biology to engineering.

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arXiv2022

Softer than soft: diving into squishy granular matter

Softer than soft, squishy granular matter is composed of grains capable of significantly changing their shape (typically larger than 10% of deformation) without tearing or breaking. Because of the difficulty to test these materials experimentally and numerically, such a family of discrete systems remains largely ignored in the granular matter physics field despite being commonly found in nature and industry. Either from a numerical, experimental, or analytical point of view, the study of highly deformable granular matter involves several challenges covering, for instance: ($i$) the need to include a large diversity of grain rheology, ($ii$) the need to consider \dc{large material} deformations, and ($iii$) the analysis upon the effects the large body distortion has on the global scale. In this article, we propose a thorough definition of these squishy granular systems, and we summarize the upcoming challenges in their study.

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arXiv2021

Experimental validation of a micromechanically-based compaction law for soft/hard grain mixtures

In this letter, we report on an experimental study which analyzes the compressive behavior of 2D bidisperse granular assemblies made of soft (hyperelastic) and hard grains in varying proportions ($κ$). By means of a recently developed uniaxial compression set-up \cite{vu2019_pre} and using advanced Digital Image Correlation (DIC) method, we follow, beyond the jamming point, the evolution of the main mechanical observables, from the global scale down to the strain field inside each deformable grain. First, we experimentally validate and extend to the uni-axial case a recently proposed micro-mechanical compaction model linking the evolution of the applied pressure $P$ to the packing fraction $ϕ$ \cite{cantor2020_prl}. Second, we reveal two different linear regimes depending on whether the system is above or below a cross-over strain unraveling a transition from a discrete to a continuous-like system. Third, the evolution of these linear laws are found to vary linearly with $κ$, up to a saturation point around $κ=80$\% of hard particles. These results provide a comprehensive experimental and theoretical framework that can now be extended to a more general class of polydisperse soft granular systems.

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arXiv2021

Three-dimensional compaction of soft granular packings

This paper analyzes the compaction behavior of assemblies composed of soft (elastic) spherical particles beyond the jammed state, using three-dimensional non-smooth contact dynamic simulations. The assemblies of particles are characterized using the evolution of the packing fraction, the coordination number, and the von Misses stress distribution within the particles as the confining stress increases. The packing fraction increases and tends toward a maximum value close to $1$, and the mean coordination number increases as a square root of the packing fraction. As the confining stress increases, a transition is observed from a granular-like material with exponential tails of the shear stress distributions to a continuous-like material characterized by Gaussian-like distributions of the shear stresses. We develop an equation that describes the evolution of the packing fraction as a function of the applied pressure. This equation, based on the micromechanical expression of the granular stress tensor, the limit of the Hertz contact law for small deformation, and the power-law relation between the packing fraction and the coordination of the particles, provides good predictions from the jamming point up to very high densities without the need of tuning any parameters.

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arXiv2021

Highly strained mixtures of bidimensional soft and rigid grains: an experimental approach from the local scale

Granular systems are not always homogeneous and can be composed of grains with very different mechanical properties. To improve our understanding of the behavior of real granular systems, in this experimental study, we compress 2D bidisperse systems made of both soft and rigid grains. By means of a recently developed experimental set-up, \md{from the measurement of the displacement field we can} follow all the mechanical observables of this granular medium from the inside of each particle up-to-the whole system scale. We \md{are able to} detect the jamming transition from these observables and study their evolution deep in the jammed state for packing fractions as high as $0.915$. We show the uniqueness of the behavior of such a system, \md{in which way} it is similar to purely soft or rigid systems and how it is different from them. This study constitutes the first step toward a better understanding of the mechanical behavior of granular materials that are polydisperse in terms of grain rheology.

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arXiv2020

Micromechanical description of the compaction of soft pentagon assemblies

We analyze the isotropic compaction of assemblies composed of soft pentagons interacting through classical Coulomb friction via numerical simulations. The effect of the initial particle shape is discussed by comparing packings of pentagons with packings of soft circular particles. We characterize the evolution of the packing fraction, the elastic modulus, and the microstructure (particle rearrangement, connectivity, contact force and particle stress distributions) as a function of the applied stresses. Both systems behave similarly; the packing fraction increases and tends asymptotically to a maximum value $ϕ_{max}$, where the bulk modulus diverges. At the microscopic scale we show that particle rearrangements occur even beyond the jammed state, the mean coordination increases as a square root of the packing fraction and, the force and stress distributions become more homogeneous as the packing fraction increases. Soft pentagons present larger particle rearrangements than circular ones, and such behavior decreases proportionally to the friction. Interestingly, the friction between particles also contributes to a better homogenization of the contact force network in both systems. From the expression of the granular stress tensor, we develop a model that describes the compaction behavior as a function of the applied pressure, the Young modulus and the initial shape of the particles. This model, settled on the joint evolution of the particle connectivity and the contact stress, provides outstanding predictions from the jamming point up to very high densities.

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arXiv2020

Controlling crackling dynamics by triggering low intensity avalanches

We examine the effect of small, spatially localized, excitations applied periodically in different manners, on the crackling dynamics of a brittle crack driven slowly in a heterogeneous solid. When properly adjusted, these excitations are observed to radically modify avalanche statistics and considerably limit the magnitude of the largest events. Surprisingly, this does not require information on the front loading state at the time of excitation; applying it either at a random location or at the most loaded point gives the same results. Subsequently, we unravel how the excitation amplitude, spatial extent and frequency govern the effect. We find that the excitation efficiency is ruled by a single reduced parameter, namely the injected power per unit front length; the suppression of extreme avalanches is maximum at a well-defined optimal value of this control parameter. This analysis opens a new way to control largest events in crackling dynamics. Beyond fracture problems, it may be relevant for crackling systems described by models of the same universality class, such as the wetting of heterogeneous substrates or magnetic walls in amorphous magnets.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2020

Yielding, Rigidity, and Tensile Stress in Sheared Columns of Hexapod Granules

Granular packings of non-convex or elongated particles can form free-standing structures like walls or arches. For some particle shapes, such as staples, the rigidity arises from interlocking of pairs of particles, but the origins of rigidity for non-interlocking particles remains unclear. We report on experiments and numerical simulations of sheared columns of "hexapods," particles consisting of three mutually orthogonal sphero-cylinders whose centers coincide. We vary the length-to-diameter aspect ratio, $α$, of the sphero-cylinders and subject the packings to quasistatic direct shear. For small $α$, we observe a finite yield stress. For large $α$, however, the column becomes rigid when sheared, supporting stresses that increase sharply with increasing strain. Analysis of X-ray micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) data collected during the shear reveals that the stiffening is associated with a tilted, oblate cluster of hexapods near the nominal shear plane in which particle deformation and average contact number both increase. Simulation results show that the particles are collectively under tension along one direction even though they do not interlock pairwise. These tensions comes from contact forces carrying large torques, and they are perpendicular to the compressive stresses in the packing. They counteract the tendency to dilate, thus stabilize the particle cluster.

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arXiv2020

Compaction of mixtures of rigid and highly deformable particles: a micro-mechanical model

We analyze the isotropic compaction of mixtures composed of rigid and deformable incompressible particles by the non-smooth contact dynamics approach (NSCD). The deformable bodies are simulated using a hyper-elastic neo-Hookean constitutive law by means of classical finite elements. For mixtures that varied from totally rigid to totally deformable particles, we characterize the evolution of the packing fraction, the elastic modulus, and the connectivity as a function of the applied stresses when varying inter-particle coefficient of friction. We show first that the packing fraction increases and tends asymptotically to a maximum value $ϕ_{max}$, which depends on both the mixture ratio and the inter-particle friction. The bulk modulus is also shown to increase with the packing fraction and to diverges as it approaches $ϕ_{max}$. From the micro-mechanical expression of the granular stress tensor, we develop a model to describe the compaction behavior as a function of the applied pressure, the Young modulus of the deformable particles, and the mixture ratio. A bulk equation is also derived from the compaction equation. This model lays on the characterization of a single deformable particle under compression together with a power-law relation between connectivity and packing fraction. This compaction model, set by well-defined physical quantities, results in outstanding predictions from the jamming point up to very high densities and allows us to give a direct prediction of $ϕ_{max}$ as a function of both the mixture ratio and the friction coefficient.

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arXiv2019

Transparent Experiments: Releasing Data from Mechanical Tests on Three Dimensional Hydrogel Sphere Packings

We describe here experiments on the mechanics of hydrogel particle packings from the Behringer lab, performed between 2012 and 2015. These experiments quantify the evolution of all contact forces inside soft particle packings exposed to compression, shear, and the intrusion of a large intruder. The experimental set-ups and processes are presented and the data are concomitantly published in a repository.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2019

Soft grain compression: beyond the jamming point

We present the experimental studies of highly strained soft bidisperse granular systems made of hyperelastic and plastic particles. We explore the behavior of granular matter deep in the jammed state from local field measurement from the grain scale to the global scale. By mean of digital image correlation and accurate image recording we measure for each compression step the evolution of the particle geometries and their right Cauchy-Green strain tensor fields. We analyze the evolution of the usual macroscopic observables (stress, packing fraction, coordination, fraction of non-rattlers, \textit{etc}.) along the compression process through the jamming point and far beyond. We also analyze the evolution of the local strain statistics and evidence a crossover in the material behavior deep in the jammed state. We show that this crossover depends on the particle material. We argue that the strain field is a reliable observable to describe the evolution of a granular system through the jamming transition and deep in the dense packing state whatever is the material behavior.

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arXiv2019

Shear jammed, fragile, and steady states in homogeneously strained granular materials

We study the jamming phase diagram of sheared granular material using a novel Couette shear set-up with multi-ring bottom. The set-up uses small basal friction forces to apply a volume-conserving linear shear with no shear band to a granular system composed of frictional photoelastic discs. The set-up can generate arbitrarily large shear strain due to its circular geometry, and the shear direction can be reversed, allowing us to measure a feature that distinguishes shear-jammed from fragile states. We report systematic measurements of the stress, strain and contact network structure at phase boundaries that have been difficult to access by traditional experimental techniques, including the yield stress curve and the jamming curve close to $ϕ_{SJ}\approx 0.74$, the smallest packing fraction supporting a shear-jammed state. We observe fragile states created under large shear strain over a range of $ϕ< ϕ_{SJ}$. We also find a transition in the character of the quasi-static steady flow centered around $ϕ_{SJ}$ on the yield curve as a function of packing fraction. Near $ϕ_{SJ}$, the average contact number, fabric anisotropy, and non-rattler fraction all show a change of slope. Above $ϕ_{F}\approx 0.7$ the steady flow shows measurable deviations from the basal linear shear profile, and above $ϕ_c\approx 0.78$ the flow is localized in a shear band.

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