Reflection of Nonlinear acoustic waves from the mechanically free surface of an unconsolidated granular medium

The problem of the nonlinear reflection of acoustic waves from a mechanically free surface of an unconsolidated granular layer under gravity is solved analytically using the successive approximations method. The theory revealed specific dependencies of the characteristics of the generated acoustic harmonics of longitudinal and shear waves on frequency and the thickness of the granular layer, which are related to a power-law gravity-induced depth stratification of linear and nonlinear mechanical properties of the granular layer. The developed theory could be useful for the analysis of the acoustic experiments directed to the investigation of fundamental mechanical properties of unconsolidated granular media near the jamming transition taking place at zero confining pressure.