The Packing of Granular Polymer Chains

DOI10.1126/SCIENCE.1177114MaRDI QIDQ3101750zbMATH OpenOpenAlexWikidataFDO

Authors Ling-Nan Zou, Xiang Cheng, Mark L. Rivers, Heinrich M. Jaeger, Sidney R. Nagel

Publication date 30 November 2011

Published in Science (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/0911.2259

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Packing and covering in (n) dimensions (aspects of discrete geometry) (52C17) Experimental work for problems pertaining to statistical mechanics (82-05) Statistical mechanics of polymers (82D60) Molecular structure (graph-theoretic methods, methods of differential topology, etc.) (92E10)

Abstract: Rigid particles pack into structures, such as sand dunes on the beach, whose overall stability is determined by the average number of contacts between particles. However, when packing spatially extended objects with flexible shapes, additional concepts must be invoked to understand the stability of the resulting structure. Here we study the disordered packing of chains constructed out of flexibly-connected hard spheres. Using X-ray tomography, we find long chains pack into a low-density structure whose mechanical rigidity is mainly provided by the backbone. On compaction, randomly-oriented, semi-rigid loops form along the chain, and the packing of chains can be understood as the jamming of these elements. Finally we uncover close similarities between the packing of chains and the glass transition in polymers.

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(6)

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• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1064376 (Why is no real title available?)
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• A geometric framework for dynamics with unilateral constraints and friction, illustrated by an example of self-organized locomotion
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