title: Propagation of interacting force chains in the continuum limit.
abstract: We study the effect of mergers in the force chain model describing the stress profile in static granular materials. Combining numerical and analytical calculations, we show that granular materials do not generally behave in an elasticlike manner; however, they may under specific conditions, which are elaborated. Nonelastic behavior resulting from the nonlinearity of the full force chain model is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Technion, Haifa 32000, Israel.
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Roichman
authors.forename: Dov
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: Irad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yavneh