Measurements of impact properties of small, nearly spherical particles

The authors report impact properties for collisions of small, nearly spherical particles that present interesting experimental challenges. They consider difficulties arising with surface reflectivity, slight asphericity, surface damage and collisions with particles affixed to a rigid plate. To measure these impact properties, the authors refine the experimental technique of Foerster et al. To permit straightforward incorporation in rapid granular theories, the impacts are described with three coefficients. The first is the Newtonian coefficient of normal restitution. The second represents the frictional properties of the contact surfaces. The last characterizes the restitution of the tangential component of the contact point velocity for impacts that involve negligible sliding.