Wave propagation in a pre-stressed anisotropic generalized thermoelastic medium

Abstract

Four attenuated waves propagate in a pre-stressed anisotropic generalized thermoelastic medium. The prop-agation phenomenon in this medium is explained through two systems. One of them, relating the temperature variation in the medium to the particle displacement, is free from the explicit effect of pre-stress. The other system defines Christoffel equations for the medium. These equations are modified with a matrix, which involves phase direction and pre-stress components. A propagation-attenuation plane is defined for given directions of propagation and attenuation of plane harmonic waves. A finite non-dimensional parameter defines the inhomogeneity strength of an attenuated wave. A complex vector is defined to calculate complex velocities of the four waves from the complex roots of a quartic equation. The complex slowness vector of the attenuated wave in the medium is resolved to calculate its propagation (phase) velocity, quality factor and angle of attenuation. Numerical example is considered to study the propagation characteristics of each of the four attenuated waves in the pre-stressed medium. The presence of anisotropic symmetries and anelasticity are also considered in the medium. Effect of pre-stress is analyzed on the propagation characteristics of each of the four attenuated waves. Copyright © The Society of Geomagnetism and Earth.