Research on elastodynamic theory based on the framework of energy conservation

Abstract

Based on the analysis of establishing dynamic equations by using Newton's mechanics, Lagrange's, and Hamilton's mechanics, a new idea of establishing elastodynamic equations under the framework of energy conservation is proposed. Firstly, Newton’s second law is used to derive wave equations of motion. Secondly, Lagrange's equation, Hamilton's canonical equations, and the corresponding dynamical equations in a continuum medium are derived by using Hamilton’s variational principle. Thirdly, under the framework of energy conservation, Lagrange's equation, Hamilton's canonical equations, and the acoustic dynamic equations of the continuum are established, and the results are proved to be consistent with those derived from classical mechanics. Some fuzzy understandings when using Hamilton's variational principle to establish Lagrange’s equation and Hamilton’s canonical equation, are clarified. A series of dynamical equations established under the framework of energy conservation provides an alternative way to characterize and represent the propagation characteristics of wave motions in various complex media without involving the variational principle of functional extremum. Finally, as an application example, the differential equation of elastodynamics in a viscoelastic medium is given under the framework of energy conservation.