Primary pulse transmission in coupled steel granular chains embedded in PDMS matrix: Experiment and modeling

• We examine two rows of granular chains embedded in PDMS matrix.
• Propagation of a solitary-like pulse is observed in an embedded granular chain.
• The propagating pulse is transferred to the neighboring chain through the matrix.
• The closer the two chains, the greater the energy transfer.
• Parametric study gives a predictive design for energy equi-partition in the system.

We present an experimental study of primary pulse transmission in coupled ordered steel granular chains embedded in poly-di-methyl-siloxane (PDMS) elastic matrix. Two granular one-dimensional chains are considered (an ‘excited’ and an ‘absorbing’ one), each composed of 11 identical steel beads of 9.5 mm diameter with the centerline of the chain spaced at fixed distances of 0.5, 1.5 or 2.5 mm apart. We directly force one of the chains (the excited one) by a transient pulse and measure, by means of laser vibrometry, the primary transmitted pulses at the end beads of both chains and at the first bead of the absorbing chain. It is well known that the dynamics of this type of ordered granular media is strongly nonlinear due, (i) to Hertzian interactions between adjacent beads, and (ii) to possible bead separations in the absence of compressive forces and ensuing collisions between neighboring beads. Accordingly, we develop a strongly nonlinear theoretical model that takes into account the coupling of the granular chains due to the PDMS matrix, with the aim to model primary pulse transmission in this system. After validating the model with experimental measurements, we employ it in a predictive fashion to estimate energy transfer between chains as a function of the interspatial distance between chains. Furthermore, based on this model we perform predictive matrix design to achieve maximum energy transfer from the excited to the absorbing chain, and provide a theoretical explanation of the nonlinear dynamics governing energy transfer (including energy equi-partition) in this system.