Wave propagation in continuous bimodular media.

The paper studies wave propagation in 1 D bimodular media. Four cases are investigated: two cases with an external step load applied to a prestressed bimodular rod and two cases with a sign-alternating pulse applied to an unloaded bimodular rod. Shock wave formation and energy dissipation are observed in two cases. Analytical solutions showing the distortion of a wave profile due to shock wave formation for all cases are derived. A method of suppressing an arbitrary tensile pulse in a bimodular rod by creating a compressive pulse is proposed. Validation by numerical modeling using a Godunov-type explicit difference scheme is performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]