 Maxwell start-up shear layer

For a half-space initially at rest and a wall given a step velocity $U$, momentum conservation and the Maxwell fluid stress law give $\tau u_{tt}+u_t=(G_0\tau /\rho )u_{yy}$. The displayed decaying Laplace transform solution obeys the wall condition. Inverting on a right-half-plane Bromwich contour yields a shear signal of speed $\sqrt{G_0/\rho }$. The limit $\tau \to 0$ at fixed $G_0\tau =\eta$ gives viscous error-function penetration; $\tau \to \infty$ at fixed $G_0$ gives a sharp elastic front.