Evidence of emergent scaling in mechanical systems

In previous work, electrical networks of randomly distributed resistors and capacitors driven with a periodic voltage have shown emergent scaling behaviour: a logarithmic scaling rule is found to dictate the conductance of the bulk network as a function of frequency. This feature has also been shown in other bi-materials and is thought to be independent of the materials involved and, hence, “universal” in nature. The present article examines the potential universality of these scaling laws by considering a mechanically loaded random network. In particular, the mechanical network under consideration is a statically loaded truss. The mechanical system shows an emergent region and percolation paths, much like its electrical counterpart, further suggesting that random, networked systems may have a universal character.