Extensional waves in strongly anisotropic elastic plates (Q1058341)

This article examines extensional waves propagating in an infinite plate of transversely isotropic material with the axis of transverse isotropy lying in the plane of the plate. Attention is restricted to waves propagating in the direction of transverse isotropy and an equation is derived for the phase velocity as a function of wavelength. Expressions are also obtained for the variation of stress through the thickness of the plate. Corresponding results are obtained for the idealized material which is inextensible in the direction of transverse isotropy. These two materials provide possible models for an elastic matrix reinforced by a family of parallel fibres. A comparison of the results shows that the inextensible material behaves quite differently from the anisotropic material in the long-wavelength region.