Propagation of Transverse Waves in Viscoelastic Media

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In calculating elastic constants of viscoelastic media from transverse wave propagation, it has been customary heretofore to assume a plane disturbance in a medium of infinite extent. Equations have now been derived for conditions which approach much more closely the experimental arrangement, namely, propagation from a finite source plate in a rectangular cell, and representative numerical calculations have been made. The new theory shows that the finite dimensions of cell and source should have very little influence on the wave‐length as determined from observations of strain double refraction, but the attenuation should be perceptibly different from that of the plane wave case. Experimental data confirm these conclusions. Nevertheless, the simple plane theory is adequate within present experimental error for the majority of cases. Only in certain specified ranges of mechanical consistency will it be necessary to apply corrections taking into account the sizes of the cell and source.