WAVE PROPAGATION IN VISCOELASTIC SOLIDS

Abstract

An important aspect in the prediction of the dynamic behavior of solid viscoelastic materials concerns the ability to characterize their response to large dynamic loads. This chapter presents a series of interrelated studies that include theoretical work involving waves in a general class of viscoelastic materials, some specific constitutive models contained within this class, and a comparison of the predicted results with those of experimental studies. The analytical studies were concerned with the propagation of both steady and unsteady shock and acceleration waves in a general class of simple materials with fading memory, and included determination of wave speeds and conditions on the amplitude behavior. More specific models were used in studying conditions on the propagation of steady waves and for use in modeling the results from experimental studies of steady and unsteady shock and acceleration waves in a particular nonlinear viscoelastic solid.