  The systematic errors due to the practical implementation of the Contact
Dynamics method for simulation of dense granular media are examined. It is
shown that, using the usual iterative solver to simulate a chain of rigid
particles, effective elasticity and sound propagation with a finite velocity
occur. The characteristics of these phenomena are investigated analytically and
numerically in order to assess the limits of applicability of this simulation
method and to compare it with soft particle molecular dynamics.
