Pulse generation in an elastic half-space by the uniform normal loading of a circular surface segment

Abstract

In this paper we consider the generation of an elastic pulse in a semi-infinite, homogeneous, isotropic elastic solid by the application of a uniform time-dependent normal pressure over a circular portion of the surface of the half-space. Formal expressions are presented for the Laplace transforms of the displacement components which describe the axisymmetrical poloidal pulse. The pattern of wavefronts which develops consists of a direct wavefront, edge dilatational and rotational wavefronts, and head wavefronts. The discontinuous behaviour associated with the arrival of the various wavefronts is examined with the aid of approximate representations of the displacement field.