Experimental study of sound propagation in a chain of spherical beads

In this paper are described experimental observations which are concerned by the propagation of pulsed ultrasonic waves transmitted through a limited one dimensional periodic granular medium submitted to a static force. This study-which is limited to a time domain analysis-exhibits experimental results which depend on the polarization of the acoustic excitation. In the case of compressional excitation, spherical Rayleigh type surface waves propagate around the beads. In the case of shear excitation, the experimental recordings point out the existence of a very low signal, the frequency of which is equal to the cut-off frequency of the chain. Moreover it is established that the frequency value varies with the radius of the bead, the normal force applied to the beads, and the mechanical properties of the material. (C) 2000 Acoustical Society of America. [S0001-4966(00)01610-6].