MECHANICAL SYSTEMS, CLASSICAL MODELS
We notice that the phenomenon of collision is characterized by the relative velocity
of two bodies and not by the absolute velocity of each one. If the support of the relative
velocity with which a body strikes another body (the collision line) is normal to the
surface of the latter one, then the collision is normal, while, otherwise, it is oblique (in
fact, the component of the relative velocity along the collision line intervenes); as well,
if the support of this velocity passes through the mass centre, then the collision is
central. For instance, the normal collision of two homogeneous spherical balls is a
central one.
For a mathematical modelling of the collision phenomenon, we make some
hypotheses which, taking into account the above considerations and the simplified
model studied, correspond sufficiently well to the physical reality. We assume thus that:
i) The principles of mechanics are applied in the conditions considered in Chap. 10,
Sect. 1.1.2; especially, the second principle of mechanics is applied in the form
(1.1.89), the differentiation being in the sense of the theory of distributions, using
generalized forces of the form (10.1.5), (10.1.5').
ii) The usual (non-percussive) forces are neglected with respect to the percussive
ones (as it was shown in Chap. 10, Sect. 1.2.3).
iii) It is assumed that, in the interval of percussion, the bodies have not rigid motions
(translation or rotation), but only deformations; the position vectors of the points of
contact are constant in this interval.
It is assumed that, for two given materials, the ratio between the magnitudes of the
normal components of relaxation and compression percussions, respectively, is constant
=
nr
nc
P
k
P
,
(13.1.7)
the constant
k being a restitution coefficient (coefficient of elasticity by collision).
Experimentally, it is seen that
<<01k , the magnitude of the normal collision in the
relaxation phase being smaller than the magnitude corresponding to the compression
phase; the respective collision is called elastic-plastic (natural) collision too. In the
ideal case
= 1k we have =
nr nc
PP, the collision being elastic (e.g., for steel, ivory
etc.), while for
= 0k it results = 0
nr
P and we have to do with a plastic collision (the
bodies, e.g., wax, plasticine, clay etc., remain in contact also after the phenomenon of
collision).
13.1.1.2 Collision Phenomenon in Case of a Single Particle
In case of a particle subjected to collision, the corresponding mathematical model is
based on the hypotheses in the preceding subsection and the fundamental equation
which replaces Newton’s one is the jump relation (10.1.41); the Theorem 10.1.11 of the
momentum may be thus considered as a basic principle. Unlike Newton’s equation,
which is a differential equation, the relation (10.1.41) is an algebraic (finite) relation,
which implies the jump of the momentum (in fact, of the velocity) at the theoretic
moment
0
t of collision and the percussion at that moment. Assuming that the particle is
subjected to constraints too, we can write this relation (or the relation (10.1.43)) in the
form
134