Identifying bridges from asymmetric load-bearing structures in tapped granular packings

Abstract The presence of gravity and friction results in the formation of cooperative bridge structures in granular systems, where neighboring particles support each other for mutual stability. These bridge structures serve as unique mechanical backbones in both static granular packings and dynamic...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chijin Zhou, Shuyang Zhang, Xueliang Dai, Yixin Cao, Ye Yuan, Chengjie Xia, Zhikun Zeng, Yujie Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Communications Physics
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-02229-4
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849234906486407168
author Chijin Zhou
Shuyang Zhang
Xueliang Dai
Yixin Cao
Ye Yuan
Chengjie Xia
Zhikun Zeng
Yujie Wang
author_facet Chijin Zhou
Shuyang Zhang
Xueliang Dai
Yixin Cao
Ye Yuan
Chengjie Xia
Zhikun Zeng
Yujie Wang
author_sort Chijin Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The presence of gravity and friction results in the formation of cooperative bridge structures in granular systems, where neighboring particles support each other for mutual stability. These bridge structures serve as unique mechanical backbones in both static granular packings and dynamic granular flows, significantly influencing their mechanical responses and rheological behaviors. Using high-resolution x-ray tomography, we experimentally investigate the bridge structures in tapped granular packings composed of particles with varying friction coefficients. We find that gravity can induce subtle structural changes on the load-bearing contacts, allowing us to identify the correct load-bearing contacts based on structural information alone. Using these identified load-bearing contacts, we investigate the cooperative bridge structures which are mechanical backbones of the system. We characterize the geometric properties of these bridges and find that their cooperativity increases as the packing fraction decreases. The knowledge of bridges can enhance our understanding of the mechanical stability and rheological properties of granular materials, since bridges represent localized, mutually stabilizing configurations that bear load collectively.
format Article
id doaj-art-554f4bc0ca7c4cfb815f1ef81a23bdbc
institution Kabale University
issn 2399-3650
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Communications Physics
spelling doaj-art-554f4bc0ca7c4cfb815f1ef81a23bdbc2025-08-20T04:02:57ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Physics2399-36502025-07-01811610.1038/s42005-025-02229-4Identifying bridges from asymmetric load-bearing structures in tapped granular packingsChijin Zhou0Shuyang Zhang1Xueliang Dai2Yixin Cao3Ye Yuan4Chengjie Xia5Zhikun Zeng6Yujie Wang7Department of Physics, College of Mathematics and Physics, Chengdu University of TechnologySchool of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityDepartment of Physics, College of Mathematics and Physics, Chengdu University of TechnologySchool of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityResearch Center for Advanced Science and Technology, University of TokyoShanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal UniversitySchool of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityDepartment of Physics, College of Mathematics and Physics, Chengdu University of TechnologyAbstract The presence of gravity and friction results in the formation of cooperative bridge structures in granular systems, where neighboring particles support each other for mutual stability. These bridge structures serve as unique mechanical backbones in both static granular packings and dynamic granular flows, significantly influencing their mechanical responses and rheological behaviors. Using high-resolution x-ray tomography, we experimentally investigate the bridge structures in tapped granular packings composed of particles with varying friction coefficients. We find that gravity can induce subtle structural changes on the load-bearing contacts, allowing us to identify the correct load-bearing contacts based on structural information alone. Using these identified load-bearing contacts, we investigate the cooperative bridge structures which are mechanical backbones of the system. We characterize the geometric properties of these bridges and find that their cooperativity increases as the packing fraction decreases. The knowledge of bridges can enhance our understanding of the mechanical stability and rheological properties of granular materials, since bridges represent localized, mutually stabilizing configurations that bear load collectively.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-02229-4
spellingShingle Chijin Zhou
Shuyang Zhang
Xueliang Dai
Yixin Cao
Ye Yuan
Chengjie Xia
Zhikun Zeng
Yujie Wang
Identifying bridges from asymmetric load-bearing structures in tapped granular packings
Communications Physics
title Identifying bridges from asymmetric load-bearing structures in tapped granular packings
title_full Identifying bridges from asymmetric load-bearing structures in tapped granular packings
title_fullStr Identifying bridges from asymmetric load-bearing structures in tapped granular packings
title_full_unstemmed Identifying bridges from asymmetric load-bearing structures in tapped granular packings
title_short Identifying bridges from asymmetric load-bearing structures in tapped granular packings
title_sort identifying bridges from asymmetric load bearing structures in tapped granular packings
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-02229-4
work_keys_str_mv AT chijinzhou identifyingbridgesfromasymmetricloadbearingstructuresintappedgranularpackings
AT shuyangzhang identifyingbridgesfromasymmetricloadbearingstructuresintappedgranularpackings
AT xueliangdai identifyingbridgesfromasymmetricloadbearingstructuresintappedgranularpackings
AT yixincao identifyingbridgesfromasymmetricloadbearingstructuresintappedgranularpackings
AT yeyuan identifyingbridgesfromasymmetricloadbearingstructuresintappedgranularpackings
AT chengjiexia identifyingbridgesfromasymmetricloadbearingstructuresintappedgranularpackings
AT zhikunzeng identifyingbridgesfromasymmetricloadbearingstructuresintappedgranularpackings
AT yujiewang identifyingbridgesfromasymmetricloadbearingstructuresintappedgranularpackings