Elastodynamic potential method for transversely isotropic solid

A theoretical formulation is presented for the determination of the displacements, strains, and stresses in a three-dimensional transversely isotropic linearly elastic medium. By means of a complete representation using two displacement potentials, it is shown that the governing equations of motion for this class of problems can be uncoupled into a fourth-order and a second-order partial differential equation in terms of the spatial and time coordinate under general conditions. Compatible with Fourier expansions and Hankel transforms in a cylindrical coordinate system, the formulation includes a complete set of transformed displacement-potential, strain-potential, and stress-potential relations that can be useful in a variety of elastodynamic as well as elastostatic problems. As an illustration of the application of the method, the solution for a half-space under the action of arbitrarily distributed, time-harmonic surface traction is derived, including its specialization to uniform patch loads and point forces. To confirm the accuracy of the numerical evaluation of the integrals involved, numerical results are also included for cases of different degree of the material anisotropy, frequency of excitation, and compared with existing solutions. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9399(2007)133:10(1134) CE Database subject headings: Wave propagation; Half space; Elasticity; Isotropy; Displacement; Boundary element method.