Characterizing the intermediate phases of elastic networks through topological analysis

TL;DR

This paper reviews computational models of elastic networks, highlighting the existence of an intermediate phase characterized by isostaticity and self-organization, using topological analysis and the pebble game algorithm.

Contribution

It introduces a topological approach to understanding intermediate phases in elastic networks, emphasizing the role of network topology and self-organization.

Findings

Intermediate phase is rigid and stress-free in some models.

Networks can fluctuate near the rigidity threshold in self-organized states.

Connectivity analogs reveal additional intermediate phases with nonpercolating stress.

Abstract

I review computational studies of different models of elastic network self-organization leading to the existence of a globally isostatic (rigid but unstressed) or nearly isostatic intermediate phase. A common feature of all models considered here is that only the topology of the elastic network is taken into account; this allows the use of an extremely efficient constraint counting algorithm, the pebble game. In models with bond insertion without equilibration, the intermediate phase is rigid with probability one but stress-free; in models with equilibration, the network in the intermediate phase is maintained in a self-organized critical state on the verge of rigidity, fluctuating between percolating and nonpercolating but remaining nearly isostatic. I also consider the connectivity analogs of these models, some of which correspond to well-studied cases of loopless percolation and where another kind of intermediate phase, with existing but nonpercolating stress, was studied.