Expedited Award for Novel Research: Preliminary Investi- gation of Solitons in Solid Mechanics

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The objective of this proposal is to conduct a preliminary analytical/experimental investigation on the effects of solitons in solid materials. Soliton is a single isolated wave pulse which propagates at a constant velocity without change in shape or amplitude in a nonlinear elastic medium. Since its discovery in 1834, it has been studied theoretically but to date it has never been recorded experimentally in solids. This is an Expedited Award for Novel Research in which the PIs will attempt to detect the solitons indirectly by impacting a one dimensional sandwich model which is fabricated with alternating metal and rubber plates. Successive spallation of the metal plates will be an indirect and simple evidence of the existence of solitons. In addition to its academic interest, this soliton study will provide an insight to the dynamic fracture of elastomeric spring and in the design of shock isolation devices.