Betweenness centrality illuminates intermittent frictional dynamics

TL;DR

This study uses numerical simulations to reveal how betweenness centrality in granular networks correlates with stick-slip dynamics, showing sharp spikes during slip events and linking network connectivity changes to frictional behavior.

Contribution

It demonstrates that betweenness centrality patterns reliably track granular frictional dynamics and identifies the network connectivity changes driving these patterns.

Findings

Betweenness centrality spikes sharply during slip events.

Lower particle connectivity increases betweenness centrality.

High confinement reduces contact loss and connectivity changes.

Abstract

Dense granular systems subjected to an imposed shear stress undergo stick-slip dynamics with systematic patterns of dilation-compaction. During each stick phase, as the frictional strength builds up, the granular system dilates to accommodate shear strain, developing stronger force networks. During each slip event, when the stored energy is released, particles experience large rearrangements and the granular network can significantly change. Here, we use numerical simulations of 3D, sheared frictional packings to show that the mean betweenness centrality -- a property of network of interparticle connections -- follows consistent patterns during the stick-slip dynamics, showing sharp spikes at each slip event. We identify the source of this behavior as arising from the connectivity and contact arrangements of granular network during dilation-compaction cycles, and find that a lower potential for connection between particles leads to an increase of mean betweenness centrality in the system. Furthermore, we show that at high confinements, few particles lose contact during slip events, leading to a smaller change in granular connectivity and betweenness centrality.