Granular Force Chains — Hertz Contact
Force chain networks in compressed granular media — Hertzian contact mechanics, stress transmission
Packing
Number of grains N:
80
Polydispersity:
0.30
Compression δ:
0.05
Friction μ:
0.30
Force threshold (display):
0.20
New Packing
Compress Step
Run Compression
F_n = k_n δ^{3/2} (Hertz)
F_t ≤ μ F_n (Coulomb)
⟨f^α⟩ ~ e^{-β f} (force PDF)
Under compression, granular packings form heterogeneous force chains — filament-like networks carrying most of the load. Chain structure is sensitive to disorder and friction. Hertzian contact: F ∝ overlap^{3/2}.