Plane waves in thermo-elastic material with voids

The possibility of plane wave propagation in an infinite thermo-elastic medium with voids has been explored using the theory developed by Iesan [Iesan, D., 1986. A theory of thermo-elastic material with voids. Acta Mech. 60-69]. It has been found that three sets of coupled longitudinal waves and a transverse wave can exist in an infinite thermo-elastic medium with voids. Each set of coupled longitudinal waves consists of displacement, void volume fraction and thermal properties. These coupled longitudinal waves are found to be dispersive in nature. The reflection phenomenon of a set of coupled longitudinal waves from a free plane boundary of a thermo-elastic half-space with voids has been investigated. The formulae for amplitude and energy ratios of various reflected waves have been obtained in closed form. It is found that if the thermal effect of the medium is neglected then the expressions of the amplitude ratios are similar to those that already exist in classical elasticity. The case of a plane transverse wave incident at a free plane boundary, is also considered. The amplitude and energy ratios of various reflected waves are computed and presented graphically for a specific model. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.