Characterization of the Micromechanics in a Compressed Emulsion
System: Force Distributions.
Jasna Brujic (1), Sam F. Edwards (1), Ian
Hopkinson (1), and Hernan A. Makse (2)
(1) Polymers and Colloids Group, Cavendish Laboratory, University of
Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK, and
(2) Levich Institute and Physics Department, City College of New York,
New York, NY 10031, US
The micromechanics of a variety of systems experiencing a structural
arrest due to their high density could be unified by a thermodynamic
framework governing their approach to 'jammed' configurations. The
mechanism of supporting an applied stress through the microstructure
of these highly packed materials is important in inferring the
features responsible for the inhomogeneous stress transmission and
testing the universality for all jammed matter. In this paper we
present a novel method for measuring the force distribution within the
bulk of a compressed emulsion system using confocal microscopy and
explain our results with a simple theoretical model and computer
simulations. We obtain an exponential distribution at large forces
and a small peak at small forces, in agreement with previous
experimental and simulation data for other particulate systems.
Example of force chains in compressed
emulsion systems .
PDF version of the
article appeared in Physica A .
Postcript version of the Physica A article .