Master equation for the probability distribution functions of forces in soft particle packings

Abstract

Employing molecular dynamics simulations of jammed soft particles, we study microscopic responses of force-chain networks to quasi-static isotropic (de)compressions. We show that not only contacts but also interparticle gaps between the nearest neighbors must be considered for the stochastic evolution of the probability distribution functions (PDFs) of forces, where the mutual exchange of contacts and interparticle gaps, i.e. opening and closing contacts, are also crucial to the incremental system behaviors. By numerically determining the transition rates for all changes of contacts and gaps, we formulate a Master equation for the PDFs of forces, where the insight one gets from the transition rates is striking: The mean change of forces reflects non-affine system response, while their fluctuations obey uncorrelated Gaussian statistics. In contrast, interparticle gaps are reacting mostly affine in average, but imply multi-scale correlations according to a wider stable distribution function.

5 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Soft Matter

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• Sound damping in frictionless granular materials: The interplay between configurational disorder and inelasticity
• Unified study of viscoelasticity and sound damping in hard and soft amorphous solids
• Contact force measurements and local anisotropy in ellipses and disks
• An experimental investigation of the force network ensemble