Wave Propagation in Materials and Structures

This book focuses on basic and advanced concepts of wave propagation in diverse material systems and structures. Topics are organized in increasing order of complexity for better appreciation of the subject. Additionally, the book provides basic guidelines to design many of the futuristic materials and devices for varied applications. The material in the book also can be used for designing safer and more lightweight structures such as aircraft, bridges, and mechanical and structural components. The main objective of this book is to bring both the introductory and the advanced topics of wave propagation into one text. Such a text is necessary considering the multi-disciplinary nature of the subject. This book is written in a step-by step modular approach wherein the chapters are organized so that the complexity in the subject is slowly introduced with increasing chapter numbers. Text starts by introducing all the fundamental aspects of wave propagations and then moves on to advanced topics on the subject. Every chapter is provided with a number of numerical examples of increasing complexity to bring out the concepts clearly The solution of wave propagation is computationally very intensive and hence two different approaches, namely, the Finite Element method and the Spectral Finite method are introduced and have a strong focus on wave propagation. The book is supplemented by an exhaustive list of references at the end of the book for the benefit of readers.

Dr. Srinivasan Gopalakrishnan is a professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Professor Gopalakrishnan works in the area of wave propagation in complex mediums, structural health monitoring, and modeling of nanostructures, wherein he has made seminal contributions.