Small displacements u(x,t) in a homogeneous elastic medium are governed by the equation
ρ∂t2∂2u=(λ+2μ)∇(∇⋅u)−μ∇∧(∇∧u)
where ρ is the density, and λ and μ are the Lamé constants.
(a) Show that the equation supports two types of harmonic plane-wave solutions, u=Aexp[i(k⋅x−ωt)], with distinct wavespeeds, cP and cS, and distinct polarizations. Write down the direction of the displacement vector A for a P-wave, an SV-wave and an SH-wave, in each case for the wavevector (k,0,m).
(b) Given k and c, with c>cP(>cS), explain how to construct a superposition of P-waves with wavenumbers (k,0,mP) and (k,0,−mP), such that
u(x,z,t)=eik(x−ct)(f1(z),0,if3(z))
where f1(z) is an even function, and f1 and f3 are both real functions, to be determined. Similarly, find a superposition of SV-waves with u again in the form (∗).
(c) An elastic waveguide consists of an elastic medium in −H<z<H with rigid boundaries at z=±H. Using your answers to part (b), show that the waveguide supports propagating eigenmodes that are a mixture of P - and SV-waves, and have dispersion relation c(k) given by
atan(akH)=−btan(bkH), where a=(cP2c2−1)1/2 and b=(cS2c2−1)1/2
Sketch the two sides of the dispersion relationship as functions of c. Explain briefly why there are infinitely many solutions.