Nonlocality in Granular Complex Networks
Dry granular systems respond to shear by a process of self-organization, that is nonlocal in nature. We study the interplay between the topological, kinematical and forcesignature of this process during shear banding in an sample of angular sand. Using Level-Set Discrete Element simulations of an in-situ triaxial compression experiment, and complex networks techniques, we identify communities of similar topology (cycles), kinematics (vortex clusters) and kinetics (force chains), and study their cooperative evolution. We conclude by discussing the implications of our observations for continuum modeling, including the identification of mesoscale order parameters, and the development of nonaffine kinematics models. 