Highly nonlinear solitary waves in chains of cylindrical particles

We study the dynamic response of uniform granular chains composed of short cylindrical particles excited by an impulse. The particles in the chains are arranged with their axes orthogonal to the chain’s axis, and the particles maintain a constant relative orientation angle. We study the formation and propagation of solitary waves in the chains varying the orientation angle (α) between particles, and show tunability of the stress transfer as a function of α. We use the general Hertzian contact theory to model the interaction between particles. We compare experimental findings with theoretical predictions based on the long wavelength approximation, and with numerical predictions based on a one-dimensional discrete particle model, and on a three-dimensional finite element approach, finding good agreement.