Force chain networks are generally applied in granular materials to gain insight into inter-particle granular contact. For conservative spherical particle systems, i.e. frictionless and undamped, force chains are information complete due to symmetries resulting from isotropy and constant curvature of a sphere. In fact, for conservative spherical particle systems, given the geometry and material, the force chain network uniquely defines the contact state that includes elastic forces, penetration distance, overlap volume, contact areas and contact pressures in a particle system. This is, however, not the case for conservative non-spherical particle systems. The reason is that a force chain network is not sufficient to uniquely define the contact state in a conservative non-spherical particle system. Additional information is required to define the contact state of non-spherical granular systems. Traction chain networks are proposed to complement force chain networks for the improved quantification of the state of contact of a granular system.

中文翻译：

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牵引链网络：非球形粒子系统的力链网络之外的见解

力链网络通常应用于颗粒材料，以深入了解颗粒间的颗粒接触。对于保守的球形粒子系统，即无摩擦和无阻尼，由于球体的各向同性和恒定曲率导致的对称性，力链是完整的信息。事实上，对于保守的球形粒子系统，给定几何形状和材料，力链网络唯一地定义了粒子系统中的接触状态，包括弹力、穿透距离、重叠体积、接触面积和接触压力。然而，对于保守的非球形粒子系统，情况并非如此。原因是力链网络不足以在保守的非球形粒子系统中唯一地定义接触状态。需要附加信息来定义非球形颗粒系统的接触状态。提出牵引链网络来补充力链网络，以改进对颗粒系统接触状态的量化。