Contribution to 3D impact problems: collisions between two slender steel bars

This Note deals with the three-dimensional phenomenon of collision between two slender steel bars. The problem posed is whether the restitution concept developed in rigid-body theory is relevant in the case of such slender contactors. Some elements of an answer are provided through the use of two complementary approaches of collision, a theoretical one based on coefficients of restitution and series of experiments. Our main conclusion is that the alleged Newton coefficient of restitution varies according to the impact location on the rods. (C) 2003 Academie des sciences. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.