Unexpected collapses during isotropic consolidation of model granular materials

Understanding slow compression and decompression of frictionless soft granular matter by network analysis

“…However, for larger strains, irreversible events occur that involve some dynamics (motion, rearrangement) of the particles. 23–28 In analysis of these events, in addition to classical measures (pressure, energy, coordination number), we find it insightful to consider explicitly also the force networks, describing the interparticle interactions on a scale between particles and system size. By now it is well accepted that the static and dynamic properties of these networks are closely related to mechanical properties of the whole granular sample; the examples include granular samples exposed to vibrations/tapping 29,30 or pullout of an intruder from a granular sample.…”