We present experimental and numerical results for displacement response functions in packings of rigid frictional disks under gravity. The central disk on the bottom layer is shifted upwards by a small amount, and the motions of disks above it define the displacement response. Disk motions are measured with the help of a still digital camera. The responses so measured provide information on the force-force response, that is, the excess force at the bottom produced by a small overload in the bulk. We find that, in experiments, the vertical-force response shows a Gaussian-like shape, broadening roughly as the square root of distance, as predicted by diffusive theories for stress propagation in granulates. However, the diffusion coefficient obtained from a fit of the response width is ten times larger than predicted by such theories. Moreover we notice that our data is compatible with a crossover to linear broadening at large scales. In numerical simulations on similar systems (but without friction), on the other hand, a double-peaked response is found, indicating wave-like propagation of stresses. We discuss the main reasons for the different behaviors of experimental and model systems, and compare our findings with previous works.
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