Identification of arches in 2D granular packings

TL;DR

This paper presents a method to identify arches in 2D granular packings using particle support contacts, analyzing different packings and discussing the potential to detect arches solely from static structures without deposition history.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to identify arches based on static structure analysis, eliminating the need for deposition history in 2D granular packings.

Findings

Arches are successfully identified using support contacts.

Different packing methods influence arch structures.

Potential to detect arches without deposition history is discussed.

Abstract

We identify arches in a bed of granular disks generated by a molecular dynamic-type simulation. We use the history of the deposition of the particles to identify the supporting contacts of each particle. Then, arches are defined as sets of mutually stable disks. Different packings generated through tapping are analyzed. The possibility of identifying arches from the static structure of a deposited bed, without any information on the history of the deposition, is discussed.