Interaction of highly nonlinear solitary waves with linear elastic media

TL;DR

This study explores how highly nonlinear solitary waves interact with linear elastic media, analyzing reflection phenomena through experiments, theory, and simulations to enable potential nondestructive evaluation methods.

Contribution

It provides a combined experimental, theoretical, and numerical analysis of solitary wave interactions with linear media, highlighting the influence of interface properties on wave reflection.

Findings

Reflected wave velocity and amplitude depend on media properties.

Experimental results agree with theoretical and numerical models.

Reflected solitary waves can serve as information carriers for nondestructive testing.

Abstract

We study the interaction of highly nonlinear solitary waves in granular crystals, with an adjacent linear elastic medium. We investigate the effects of interface dynamics on the reflection of incident waves and on the formation of primary and secondary reflected waves. Experimental tests are performed to correlate the linear medium geometry, materials, and mass with the formation and propagation of the reflected waves. We compare the experimental results with theoretical analysis based on the long-wavelength approximation and with numerical predictions obtained from discrete particle models. Studying variations of the reflected wave's velocity and amplitude, we describe how the propagation of primary and secondary reflected waves responds sensitively to the states of the adjacent linear media. Experimental results are found to be in agreement with the theoretical analysis and numerical simulation. This preliminary study establishes the foundation for utilizing reflected solitary waves as novel information carriers in nondestructive evaluation of elastic material systems.