Reflection and Refraction of Plane Shear Waves in Viscoelastic Media

Abstract

The shear elasticity and viscosity of liquids have been measured at ultrasonic frequencies by utilizing plane shear waves in an elastic solid and measuring the reflection loss and phase shift caused by reflection at a plane in terface of the solid and a liquid. The first measurements of this type involved normal incidence. In a recent modification of the method, oblique incidence results in an enhanced effect. This paper derives the theoretical relations between the constants of the two media, the complex reflection coefficient and the angle of incidence. The theory describes some of the general properties of reflected and refracted shear waves in isotropic viscoelastic media.