Finite amplitude waves in jammed matter.

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Materials Science
• Complex Systems

Background:

• Granular materials exhibit complex behaviors near the jamming transition.
• Understanding wave propagation in these systems is crucial for various applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the formation and evolution of waves in granular media close to the jamming point.
• To characterize the non-linear dynamics and propagation regimes of these waves.

Main Methods:

• Utilized computational simulations to model granular media behavior.
• Employed theoretical analysis to understand wave dynamics.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated the induction of forward and backward non-linear finite amplitude waves from arbitrary initial distortions.
• Identified two distinct wave evolution regimes: near-field (complex interactions) and far-field (self-similar propagation).
• Observed power-law attenuation in the far-field regime, with weak dependence on initial pressure.

Conclusions:

• Non-linear wave interactions dominate early granular media dynamics near jamming.
• Self-similar wave evolution with power-law attenuation characterizes the far-field regime.
• Wave linearity is recovered with decreased initial distortion or increased confining pressure.