Abstract
In this paper several variations of a simple theory of dynamic compaction of porous solids are presented and discussed. This theory elaborates the conventional theory of shock propagation in such a way that the shock structures observed to propagate in these materials can be described. Steady‐wave profiles are calculated for several compaction models, and the inference of constitutive equations from experimental data is discussed. It is shown that the theory can be made to reproduce steady‐wave profiles observed in the usual plate‐impact experiments exactly.