title: Force and weight distributions in granular media: effects of contact geometry.
abstract: The influence of the local contact network on interparticle forces and effective particle weights is studied in simulations of two-dimensional packings of frictionless, Hertzian spheres. The weight distribution P(w) changes qualitatively when approaching a boundary and differs for regular and irregular packings, while the interparticle force distribution P(f) is robust. We provide examples where P(w) at the boundary, which is the quantity probed experimentally, deviates substantially from P(f) in the bulk. Discrepancies between the P(w)'s predicted by the q model and measured in experiments are due to differences in the contact geometry.
authors.affiliation: Instituut-Lorentz, Universiteit Leiden, Postbus 9506, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jacco H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Snoeijer
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Hecke
authors.forename: Ellák
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Somfai
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van Saarloos