Directed force chain networks and stress response in static granular materials.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

A theory of stress fields in two-dimensional granular materials based on directed force chain networks is presented. A general Boltzmann 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 Boltzmann 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.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Socolar, JES; Schaeffer, DG; Claudin, P

Published Date

  • April 2002

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 7 / 4

Start / End Page

  • 353 - 370

PubMed ID

  • 27638167

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1292-895X

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1292-8941

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1140/epje/i2002-10011-7

Language

  • eng