The shear modulus of metastable amorphous solids with strong central and bond-bending interactions

We derive expressions for the shear modulus of deeply-quenched, glassy solids, in terms of a Cauchy-Born free energy expansion around a rigid (quenched) reference state, following the approach due to Alexander [Alexander, Phys. Rep. 296, 1998]. Continuum-limit explicit expressions of the shear modulus are derived starting from the microscopic Hamiltonians of central and bond-bending interactions. The applicability of the expressions to dense covalent glasses as well as colloidal glasses with strongly attractive and adhesive bonds is discussed

Shear-Driven Solidification of Dilute Colloidal Suspensions.

We show that shear-induced solidification of dilute charge-stabilized colloids is due to the interplay between shear-induced formation and breakage of large non-Brownian clusters. While their size is limited by breakage, their number density increases with shearing time. Upon flow cessation, the dense packing of clusters interconnects into a rigid state by means of grainy bonds, each involving a large number of primary colloidal bonds. The emerging picture of shear-driven solidification in dilute colloidal suspensions combines the gelation of Brownian systems with the jamming of athermal systems. 2011 American Physical Societ