Mesoscopic approach to granular crystal dynamics

TL;DR

This paper introduces a mesoscopic modeling approach combining finite-element and contact models to analyze granular crystal dynamics, emphasizing vibrational-energy trapping effects and validated against experimental data.

Contribution

It presents a novel mesoscopic modeling framework that accurately captures dissipative effects in granular crystals using minimal input data.

Findings

Model accurately predicts vibrational-energy trapping effects.

Validation shows good agreement with experimental data.

Provides a first-principles description of dissipative losses.

Abstract

We present a mesoscopic approach to granular crystal dynamics, which comprises a three-dimensional finite-element model and a one-dimensional regularized contact model. The approach investigates the role of vibrational-energy trapping effects in the dynamic behavior of one-dimensional chains of particles in contact (i.e., granular crystals), under small to moderate impact velocities. The only inputs of the models are the geometry and the elastic material properties of the individual particles that form the system. We present detailed verification results and validate the model comparing its predictions with experimental data. This approach provides a physically sound, first-principle description of dissipative losses in granular systems.