Theoretical elastic moduli for disordered packings of interconnected spheres

A theoretical model has been developed which provides analytical expressions for the elastic moduli of disordered isotropic ensembles of spheres interconnected by physical bonds. Young's and shear moduli have been derived assuming an ideal random isotropic network and the radial distribution function for disordered packings of spheres. The interparticle interactions are accounted for in terms of surface forces for the two distinct cases of perfectly rigid spheres and spheres deformable at contact. A theoretical expression is also derived in a similar way for the bulk or compressibility modulus. In this case, an atomistic approach has been followed based on the analogy with noble gas solids and colloidal crystals. Also in this case, disordered spatial distribution of the spheres is described statistically. For the case of colloidal aggregates, a total two-body mean-field interaction potential is used which includes the Born repulsion energy. This latter contribution plays an essential role in determining the compression behavior of systems of particles aggregated in the primary minimum of the potential well and, therefore, must not be neglected. Both the expression of the Young's modulus and that of the compressibility modulus derived in this work are found to be consistent with two distinct sets of experimental data which recently appeared in the literature. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.