Volume fluctuations and geometrical constraints in granular packs
| dc.creator | Aste, Tomaso | |
| dc.date | 2005-07-12 | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-07-07T08:30:36Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-07-07T08:30:36Z | |
| dc.description | Structural organization and correlations are studied in very large packings of equally sized acrylic spheres, reconstructed in three-dimensions by means of X-ray computed tomography. A novel technique, devised to analyze correlations among more than two spheres, shows that the structural organization can be conveniently studied in terms of a space-filling packing of irregular tetrahedra. The study of the volume distribution of such tetrahedra reveals an exponential decay in the region of large volumes; a behavior that is in very good quantitative agreement with theoretical prediction. I argue that the system's structure can be described as constituted of two phases: 1) an `unconstrained' phase which freely shares the volume; 2) a `constrained' phase which assumes configurations accordingly with the geometrical constraints imposed by the condition of non-overlapping between spheres and mechanical stability. The granular system exploits heterogeneity maximizing freedom and entropy while constraining mechanical stability. | |
| dc.description | 5 pages, 4 figures | |
| dc.identifier | https://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0507260 | |
| dc.identifier | http://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0507260 | |
| dc.identifier | Phys. Rev. Lett. 96 (2006) 018002 | |
| dc.identifier | doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.018002 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/138275 | |
| dc.subject | Soft Condensed Matter | |
| dc.title | Volume fluctuations and geometrical constraints in granular packs | |
| dc.type | text |