Shock dynamics in granular chains: numerical simulations and comparison with experimental tests.

The aim of this paper is to simulate the nonlinear wave propagation in granular chains of beads using a recently introduced multiple impact model and to compare numerical results to experimental ones. Different kinds of granular chains are investigated: monodisperse chains, tapered chains and stepped chains. Particular attention is paid to the dispersion effect, and the wave propagation in tapered chains, the interaction of two solitary waves in monodisperse chains, and the formation of solitary wave trains in stepped chains. We show that the main features of the wave propagation observed experimentally in these granular chains are very well reproduced. This proves that the considered multiple impact model and numerical scheme are able to encapsulate the main physical effects that occur in such multibody systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]