Solitary SH waves in two-layered traction-free plates

A solitary wave, resembling a soliton wave, is observed when analyzing the linear problem of polarized shear (SH) surface acoustic waves propagating in elastic orthotropic two-layered traction-free plates. The analysis is performed by applying a special complex formalism and the Modified Transfer Matrix (MTM) method. Conditions for the existence of solitary SH waves are obtained. Analytical expressions for the phase speed of the solitary wave are derived.