Cubically non-linear effects of plane waves in isotropic soft solid materials

In this paper we analyze mathematical properties of an isotropic soft solid model which is characterized by three elastic constants. The model was proposed to interpret measurements of weakly non-linear shear waves in gel-like and tissue-like media. In our analysis we are particularly interested in third order non-linear terms. We present for the first time the full equations of elastodynamics, as well as the equations for plane waves for this model, with cubically non-linear terms. Next, the interaction coefficients for non-linear interactions of three plane waves to produce the fourth wave are explicitly calculated. These coefficients show which of the three waves interact with each other and determine how strong the effect of interaction is on the produced fourth wave. It turns out that these coefficients are expressed in terms of some combinations of three elastic constants. The obtained results can be helpful in experimental determination of elastic constants which describe the model. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.