Energy transfer through chains of impacting rods

A solution has been formulated, which allows one to analyse all the major performance characteristics in a chain of impacting elastic ‘rods’. By allowing one end of the elastic chain to impact against a surface which resists penetration according to a specified penetration law it is possible to analyse the impact system of a variety of mechanical devices such as percussive tools and squeeze film dampers. Virtually, unlimited variety in the number and geometry of the impacting rods, and virtually unlimited complexity in the form of the reaction of the terminal face is permitted. A computer program for treating one or two elastic rods has been developed. The program prints out all important stresses as well as the stress history at several selected points. It also prints out the depth of penetration, the energy transferred from rod to rod, the overall energy transfer into the receiver, rebound velocities and times of separation between rods and between rod and 4receiver. Agreement with exact solutions and experiments is demonstrated.