Rigidity phase transition in granular packings

Publication Status is "Submitted" Or "In Press: 
LDEO Publication: 
Publication Type: 
Year of Publication: 
1999
Editor: 
Journal Title: 
Physical Review E
Journal Date: 
Dec
Place Published: 
Tertiary Title: 
Volume: 
60
Issue: 
6
Pages: 
6890-6896
Section / Start page: 
Publisher: 
ISBN Number: 
1063-651X
ISSN Number: 
Edition: 
Short Title: 
Accession Number: 
ISI:000084600700002
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Call Number: 
Abstract: 

We numerically model two-dimensional systems of granular aggregates confined between two rough walls and demonstrate that at a critical grain volume fraction nu(c) an abrupt rigidity transition occurs. The transition has first-order characteristics, although the elastic constants undergo a second-order transition. Densely packed grains, with a volume fraction nu>nu(c), display an elastic-plastic rheology. Loose packings, with nu>nu(c), display gaslike characteristics. It is shown that when the volume fraction is allowed to change freely (applying a constant normal stress to the walls), it evolves spontaneously to nu(c) under a wide range of boundary stress values, demonstrating that the phase boundary is an attractive critical state. [S1063-651X(99)01911-X].

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Part B271NQTimes Cited:43Cited References Count:29

DOI: