Review: Entropy maximization in the force network ensemble for granular solids. Authors: Brian P. Tighe, Adrianne R. T. van Eerd, and Thijs J. H. Vlugt. Phys. Rev. Lett, 100, 238001 (2008) : recommended with commentary

Abstract

An ongoing debate in the soft condensed matter community concerns the distribution of contact forces, P(f), for jammed disordered solids. A jammed system has a non-zero yield stress, or alternatively, non-zero elastic coefficients. In pioneering work, Liu et al.[1] combined theory and experiments to yield the first results for P(f), which was an exponential: P(f) α exp(−f). The experiments have become a classic in the field, and are referred to as carbon-paper experiments for the use of carbon paper at the boundaries to measure the particle-wall forces.