Oscillating collision of the granular chain on static wall

Collision of the granular chain on static wall is investigated by discrete element method. Collision time and traveling time are proposed on the basis of the characteristics of the collision of a single grain with a wall and the propagation of interaction force wave in a granular chain to explain the collision process. Simulation results show that an oscillating collision force is generated when the force waves successively arrive at the wall. For the collision of a mono-dispersed chain, the simulation data are in good agreement with the predicted relationship between the maximum chain length of nmax and the first maximum collision force FA. Rigid wall and soft wall are defined as nmax=1 and nmax≥2, respectively. Two similar processes of oscillating collisions occur when a light or a heavy impure grain is introduced. In these processes, two maximum collision forces, namely, FA and FB, are observed, respectively. The simulation results about the influence of the mass and position of light impure grain on the collision force FB further confirm our theoretical predictions.