Velocity of shear waves in an initially stressed incompressible anisotropic medium

The paper aims at the study of propagation of shear waves in an initially stressed anisotropic medium. The velocity equation is obtained and it is seen that the velocity of propagation depends upon the direction of propagation, the anisotropic factor and also on the initial stresses. Numerical computation indicates that the initial compressive stress diminishes the velocity of a shear wave which propagates along the direction 0° to 45° but increases it along the direction 45° to 90°. The reverse effect is obtained when initial stress is tensile. The anisotropy increases the velocity and even in the absence of initial stresses the velocity of the wave depends on the direction of propagation.