Jamming and Stress Propagation in Particulate Matter

TL;DR

This paper introduces models of particulate materials that become mechanically stable through jamming, highlighting their fragility and the role of force chain networks in their stability, with implications for granular and colloidal systems.

Contribution

It proposes simple models linking jamming, fragility, and force chain stability, providing insights into the mechanical behavior of granular and colloidal materials.

Findings

Fragile nature of jammed particulate matter.

Force chain networks are key to stability.

Fragility leads to unique mechanical responses.

Abstract

We present simple models of particulate materials whose mechanical integrity arises from a jamming process. We argue that such media are generically "fragile", that is, they are unable to support certain types of incremental loading without plastic rearrangement. In such models, fragility is naturally linked to the marginal stability of force chain networks (granular skeletons) within the material. Fragile matter exhibits novel mechanical responses that may be relevant to both jammed colloids and cohesionless assemblies of poured, rigid grains.