Introduction to Elastic Wave Propagation

This revised and updated edition expands on its explanations of methods used to analyze waves in solid materials, such as the waves created by earthquakes and the ultrasonic waves used to detect flaws in materials and for medical diagnoses. In addition to the traditional methods used to analyze steady-state and transient waves in elastic materials, the book contains introductions to advanced areas that no other single text covers. These topics include the use of finite elements to solve wave problems, the Cagniard-de Hoop method, the four-pole technique for analyzing waves in layered media, and the growth and decay of shock and acceleration waves. The authors explain the theory of linear elasticity through the displacement equations of motion, methods used to analyze steady-state and transient waves in layered media, and include an appendix on functions of a complex variable. Originally developed for a graduate course for which no suitable text existed, the new edition retains its classroom-tested treatment of the theories of linear elasticity and complex variables for students needing background in those subjects. 

Anthony Bedford is Professor Emeritus, Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, University of Texas at Austin. He has been on the faculty since 1968. He has industrial and consulting experience at Douglas Missiles and Space Systems Division, Sandia National Laboratories, and at TRW, where he worked on the Apollo program. His main professional activity has been education and research in engineering mechanics. His books include Hamilton’s Principle in Continuum Mechanics, Engineering Mechanics: Statics and Dynamics (with Wallace T. Fowler), and  Mechanics of Materials (with Kenneth M. Liechti).

Douglas S. Drumheller is a Distinguish Member of the Technical Staff (retired) of Sandia National Laboratories. He moved from Bell Telephone Laboratories to Sandia National Laboratories 1969, where he pursued extensive research into the behavior of shock waves in solids. He also has extensive consulting experience with the oil industry having developed the fundamental technology for the acoustic telemetry system, a commercial measurement-while-drilling technique. He holds 18 U.S. Patents in this area. His books include Introduction to Wave Propagation in Nonlinear Fluids and Solids.