Waveform evolution for nonlinear surface acoustic waves (Q1092703)

A new nonlinear analysis is given for the propagation of surface waves on a homogeneous, elastic half-space of general anisotropy. Avoiding the need for a multiple scale analysis, it yields the evolution equation for the Fourier transform of the surface elevation as a criterion ensuring that corrections to the displacements within linear theory are everywhere sufficiently small. For second-order elasticity, this equation is similar to that of \textit{R. W. Lardner} [J. Elasticity 16, 63-73 (1986; Zbl 0575.73032)]. For periodic waveforms it reduces to an infinite set of ordinary differential equations governing the Fourier coefficients. The behaviour of special solutions is illustrated by numerical integration for a particular isotropic material. This confirms that initially sinusoidal waveforms steepen until the vertical velocities develop a singularity within each wavelength. However, waveforms which are initially close to be `nondistorting waveforms' of Parker and Talbot [see \textit{P. Chadwick}, ibid. 6, 73-80 (1976; Zbl 0332.73034)] may travel large distances without significant alteration to their dominant feature, which is one sharp peak per wavelength.