Impact of a bead on a rotating wall

We study experimentally the impact of a plastic bead on a rotating wall made of steel (velocity Ω; radial position x₀). The results show that the restitution coefficient is directly function of the impact velocity x₀Ω and is invariant by changing frame reference. The influence of the height of release of the particle on its angular velocity after impact is also studied. We observe an increase of the angular velocity with height followed by a saturation. We propose an interpretation for this evolution considering that the particle may roll without sliding during all the impact. This physical feature is not always taken into account in existing models of impact between rigid bodies. To cite this article: F. Rioual et al., C. R. Mecanique 336 (2008).