Energy propagation in 1D granular soft-stiff chain

Abstract

When a mechanical wave travels through a medium, its intensity diminishes with distance. The research focuses on the energy transfer with distance as well as across different wavenumbers, as the mechanical wave propagates. The diffusive characteristic of energy propagation has been discussed for one-dimensional chains composed of random, pre-stressed soft and stiff particles interacting through Hertzian repulsive forces, which can be solved analytically after linearization. The effect of soft-stiff ratio (disorder in property) on energy transfer across wavenumbers is examined using a standing sinusoidal wave initial condition (with a specific wavenumber). From the total energy signals in wavenumber space, as function of time, it is observed that stronger disorder leads to more rapid loss of energy of the signal and faster transfer of energy to other wavenumbers.