On the orthogonality of the normal modes for multilayered elastic solids (Q1108851)

We consider herein a ``general multilayered elastic solid'', where the shape and curvature of the external boundary is arbitrary, as are the curvatures of the layer interfaces. The number of layers that comprise the solid is arbitrary, as are the varying layer thicknesses, while the materials that comprise the individual layers are anisotropic and are independent of one another. The only restrictions are that the layer materials are linearly elastic, and that the layers are bounded at the interfaces. It will be seen that the conditions for the mutual orthogonality of the modal functions are a function of the boundary conditions imposed on the structure.