Past exam of the elasticity and plasticity course of the University of Oxford / 2011 / 2 / c / Solution

Divide the Navier-Cauchy equation by mass density. Since $\mu /\rho =c_T^2$ and $(\lambda +\mu )/\rho =c_L^2-c_T^2$, it becomesEquivalently, using the vector calculus identity $\Delta u=\nabla \mathrm{div}u-\nabla \times (\nabla \times u)$,The divergence and curl consequently propagate at $c_L$ and $c_T$, respectively.