Wave propagation in periodic buckled beams. Part II: Experiments

•Periodic buckled beams are dispersive and nonlinear structures.•Weakly-nonlinear long-wave propagation is described by the Boussinesq model.•Experiments are conducted on weakly-buckled, guided-supported beams.•Experimental results are used to validate analytical and numerical models.

Buckled periodic beams possess a geometrically nonlinear, load–deformation relation and intrinsic length scales such that stable, nonlinear waves are possible. In part I of this paper, a model has been derived that predict compressive/rarefaction, supersonic/supersonic solitary waves, varying the level of compression and the support type (guided or pinned). Although this work has been validated by simulating the structure with finite-elements, in the present paper, investigations are done experimentally, focusing on the guided-supported, slightly-buckled beam.