Applied Math

Duke Applied Mathematics



Publications [#244133] of David G. Schaeffer

Papers Published

  1. Socolar, JES; Schaeffer, DG; Claudin, P, Directed force chain networks and stress response in static granular materials., The European physical journal. E, Soft matter, vol. 7 no. 4 (April, 2002), pp. 353-370 [doi]
    (last updated on 2024/03/28)

    Abstract:
    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.


Duke University * Arts & Sciences * Mathematics * March 28, 2024

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