Session J53: Disordered Systems: Jamming
11:15 AM–2:15 PM, Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Room: 153B
Sponsoring Unit:
GSNP
Chair: Patrick Charbonneau, Duke University
Abstract ID: BAPS.2012.MAR.J53.10
Abstract: J53.00010 : The Influence of Topology on Signal Propagation in Granular Force Networks
1:03 PM–1:15 PM
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Abstract 
Authors:
Danielle Bassett
(University of California Santa Barbara)
Eli Owens
(North Carolina State University)
Karen Daniels
(North Carolina State University)
Mason Porter
(Oxford University)
Granular materials exhibit numerous rich and complex behaviours, which have been investigated from both continuum and particulate perspectives. In particular, sound propagation through granular materials is both heterogeneous and complicated, and understanding its features is important not only from the perspective of fundamental physics but also for practical applications such as the characterization and non-destructive testing of such materials. Unfortunately, continuum models of sound propagation have been unable to explain the full range of observed behaviours. Here we represent granular materials as spatially-embedded networks composed of nodes (particles) and weighted edges (contact forces between particles) located in Euclidean space, and we use network science to provide fundamental insights into how sound propagates. Using photoelastic particles, we quantitatively characterise the internal force structure and show that its meso-scale network structure plays a crucial role in sound propagation. These results might help to explain the failure of previous physical models, and illustrate that contact topology alone is insufficient to understand signal propagation in granular materials.
To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2012.MAR.J53.10