Abstract

A highly nonlinear solitary wave is generated by impacting a dry chain of beads on one of its ends. Its speed depends on the speed vo of the striker and the details of the contact force. The force on the bead at the site n = 7 and the end of the chain, as well as the time-of-flight (ToF) of both, the incident and reflected waves, is measured as a function of vo. This study was performed on a chain of stainless steel beads in two general cases: the dry chain and wet chains having three different types of oil on and around the contact points between the beads. The ToF displays a complex dependence on the fluid's rheological properties not seen in previous studies. Power-law dependencies of the ToF on vo in both, dry and wet, cases were found. It turned out that the Hertz plus viscoelastic interactions are not enough to account for the measured data. Two phenomenological models providing a unified and accurate account of our results were developed. Published under license by AIP Publishing.