Paper 2, Section II, A

Waves
Part II, 2009

An elastic solid of density ρ\rho has Lamé moduli λ\lambda and μ\mu. From the dynamic equation for the displacement vector u\mathbf{u}, derive equations satisfied by the dilatational and shear potentials ϕ\phi and ψ\psi. Show that two types of plane harmonic wave can propagate in the solid, and explain the relationship between the displacement vector and the propagation direction in each case.

A semi-infinite solid occupies the half-space y<0y<0 and is bounded by a traction-free surface at y=0y=0. A plane PP-wave is incident on the plane y=0y=0 with angle of incidence θ\theta. Describe the system of reflected waves, calculate the angles at which they propagate, and show that there is no reflected PP-wave if

4σ(1σ)1/2(βσ)1/2=(12σ)24 \sigma(1-\sigma)^{1 / 2}(\beta-\sigma)^{1 / 2}=(1-2 \sigma)^{2}

where

σ=βsin2θ and β=μλ+2μ\sigma=\beta \sin ^{2} \theta \quad \text { and } \quad \beta=\frac{\mu}{\lambda+2 \mu}