Dispersive wave propagation in disordered flexible fibers enhances stress attenuation

TL;DR

This study investigates how dispersive wave propagation in disordered flexible fiber packings leads to significant stress attenuation, with implications for improving damping technologies.

Contribution

It provides new experimental and computational insights into how fiber aspect ratio and flexibility influence wave dispersion and energy trapping in disordered fiber systems.

Findings

Dispersive wave propagation is more prevalent with larger fiber aspect ratios.

Moderate fiber flexibility enhances stress attenuation.

Microstructural properties influence energy trapping and wave behavior.

Abstract

We experimentally and computationally analyze impact-shock-induced stress wave propagation in packings of disordered flexible fibers. We find that dispersive wave propagation, associated with large stress attenuation, occurs much more prevalently in systems with larger fiber aspect ratios and moderate fiber flexibility. We trace these features to the microstructural properties of fiber contact chains and the energy-trapping abilities of deformable fibers. These findings provide new insights into physics of the shock-impacted flexible fiber packings and open the way towards an improved granular-material-based damping technology.