Propagation of Discontinuities in Coupled Thermoelastic Problems

Abstract

The character and magnitude of traveling discontinuities in one-dimensional coupled transient thermoelastic problems are studied. For this purpose, 16 different fundamental problems are considered in detail, by examination of the nature of the solutions in the Laplace-transform domain. These problems correspond to various combinations of applied strain or stress as mechanical variables, and of applied temperature or heat flux as thermal variables. A system of classification of discontinuities is devised, which permits the results of the 16 problems to be extended to some general conclusions as to the character of the discontinuities in cases of arbitrary boundary conditions.