Frustrated Bearings: Exploring Minimum Energy Dissipation in Sphere Systems

Explore the fascinating world of frustrated bearings in this 53-minute lecture by Hans Herrmann from PoreLab. Delve into the concept of bearing states, where touching spheres roll on each other without slip, and discover how imposing different bearing states on opposite sides leads to intriguing configurations. Learn about the sharp line separating bearing states in two dimensions and the surprising emergence of intermediate bearing domains in three dimensions. Examine the novel state of minimum dissipation characterized by a spanning network of slip-less contacts. Investigate space-filling bearings and their mechanical properties, including their connection to solid turbulence and Kolmogorov scaling. Uncover the relationship between bearing states and networks of oscillators with asymmetrically weighted couplings, and explore how tuning local interaction strength affects synchronization properties. Gain insights into the optimal synchronization of space-filling bearings and the unexpected discovery that hollow bearings synchronize fastest.