Anomalous polarization in anisotropic media

Klaus Helbig , José M. Carcione

Elastic waves can, in principle, be classified according to their propagation velocity, e.g., through the values of the slowness or the group velocity surfaces along a given direction. We show that there are media with the same velocity distribution but drastically different polarization behaviour. Such media are kinematically identical but dynamically different. Therefore, classification according wave velocity alone is not sufficient, and the identification of the wave type should be based on both velocity and the polarization distribution.

Mots clés: Waves; Anisotropy; Slowness surface; Anomalous polarization; Monoclinic media

Klaus Helbig, José M. Carcione. Anomalous polarization in anisotropic media. European Journal of Mechanics - A/Solids, 2010, 28 (4), pp.704. ⟨10.1016/j.euromechsol.2009.02.010⟩. ⟨hal-00634692⟩