Thermoelastic plane waves without energy dissipation (Q1368317)

It is a known that the classical theory based on the parabolic heat equation leads to an infinite speed of propagation of thermoelastic waves. In the last years some new approaches providing a finite speed of propagation have been elaborated. Among these, the approach given by Green and Naghdi (GN) is of particular interest. In the paper harmonic plane wave propagation in an unbounded linear thermoelastic body is investigated by the use of GN theory. Two interesting facts stem from the developed calculations: a) there occurs neither dispersion nor attenuation; b) the speed of propagation of thermoelastic waves can be exactly determined. But, up to now, a key parameter of the GN theory, denoted by \(k^*\), is not yet experimentally determined for any material.