Exact solutions of the hierarchical Korteweg-de Vries equation of microstructured granular materials

The problems under consideration are related to wave propagation in microstructured materials, characterized by higher-order nonlinear and higher-order dispersive effects; particularly, the wave propagation in dilatant granular materials. In the present paper the model equation is solved analytically by exact methods. The types of solutions are defined and discussed over a wide range of material parameters (two dispersion parameters and one microstructure parameter). The dispersion properties and the relation between group and phase velocities of the model equation are studied. The diagrams are drawn to illustrate the physical properties of the exact solutions. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.