Critical scaling for yield is independent of distance to isostaticity

Abstract

Using discrete element simulations, we demonstrate that critical behavior for yielding in soft disk and sphere packings is independent of the distance to isostaticity over a wide range of dimensionless pressures. Jammed states are explored via quasistatic shear at fixed pressure, and the statistics of the dimensionless shear stress μ of these states obey a scaling description with a diverging length scale ζâ|μ-μc|-ν. The critical scaling functions and values of the scaling exponents are nearly independent of distance to isostaticity despite the large range of pressures studied. Our results demonstrate that yielding of jammed systems represents a distinct nonequilibrium critical transition from the isostatic critical transition which has been demonstrated by previous studies. Our results may also be useful in deriving nonlocal rheological descriptions of granular materials, foams, emulsions, and other soft particulate materials.