The Characteristic of Thermoelastic Waves in Transversely Isotropic Finite Cylinders

A theoretical as well as a numerical investigation of the propagation of thermoelastic waves and vibration of transversely isotropic cylinders of finite length is discussed. Lord-Shulman theory is adopted here to model the thermoelastic deformation of cylinders. A semi analytical finite element (SAFE) method is employed to study dispersion of thermoelastic waves and natural frequencies of vibration of finite cylinders with traction free curved surfaces having both ends insulated and constrained by frictionless rigid walls. Numerical results obtained by the SAFE method for the frequencies of vibration of a sapphire rod are found to be in excellent agreement with published results. Natural frequencies of vibration for first three axisymmetric and asymmetric modes are presented graphically for a silicon nitride thermoelastic cylinder. Also, numerical results showing dispersion of both propagating and evanescent circumferential waves in infinite and finite cylinders are presented also.