Similarity solutions and model constitutive laws to viscoelasticity with application to nonlinear wave propagation

Abstract

Nonlinear viscoelastic media are investigated within the framework of the group analysis. By requiring the governing system of equations to be invariant under the dilatation group, some classes of material response functions are characterized. Furthermore several sets of self-similar solutions to the model of interest are determined. Finally for the Maxwell media wave propagation into a non constant state described by a similarity solution is studied and the occurrence of a shock wave is considered.