To　develop　a　new　nondestructive　test　method　based　on　high　nonlinear　solitary　waves　(HNSWs),　the　propagation　properties　of　HNSWs　in　one-dimensional　granular　chain　were　simulated.　HNSWs　can　form　and　travel　in　highly　nonlinear　systems,　such　as　one-dimensional　granular　chain.　In　the　present　study,　a　granular　chain　which　was　composed　of　twenty-one　spherical　particles　and　a　coupled　cylinder　were　modeled　in　the　commercial　software　of　Abaqus.　The　influence　of　mesh　setup　on　the　results　of　finite　element　calculation　was　discussed,　and　the　optimal　meshing　grade　was　selected.　The　propagation　and　reflection　behavior　of　the　HNSWs　in　the　coupled　system　were　simulated　by　using　the　contact　pair　algorithm.　The　formation　of　HNSWs　was　discussed　and　the　speed　of　the　HNSWs　was　determined　by　using　the　extracted　time-force　profiles　at　the　contact　points.　The　good　agreement　between　the　simulated　and　theoretical　speed　verifies　the　feasibility　of　the　proposed　finite　element　simulation　method.　The　reflection　of　HNSWs　at　the　particle-cylinder　interface　can　also　be　simulated　and　observed　as　the　reflected　solitary　wave　signal.　Having　the　developed　model,　the　characteristics　of　the　reflected　solitary　wave　signal　can　be　investigated　for　specific　cases　to　develop　NDE　method.　©　2018,　Editorial　Department　of　Journal　of　Beijing　University　of　Technology.　All　right　reserved.