Past exam of the physics B course of the University of Cambridge / 2013 / Paper 2 / Section B / B8 / d

For a homogeneous isotropic solid with small displacement $\mathbf{u}$, linear elasticity gives ${\sigma }_{ij}={\lambda }_L(\nabla \cdot \mathbf{u}){\delta }_{ij}+2\mu e_{ij}$. Momentum balance becomesA plane wave with displacement parallel to its wavevector is longitudinal, whereas perpendicular displacement is transverse. Writing $K={\lambda }_L+2\mu /3$ for the bulk modulus and $\mu$ for the shear modulus, their bulk speeds areThere are two independent transverse polarizations. The bulk modulus supplies resistance to compression; shear rigidity supplies transverse restoring stress. An ordinary fluid has no static shear rigidity and cannot sustain these propagating bulk shear waves. A thin rod with freely contracting sides instead has longitudinal speed $\sqrt{Y/\rho }$, because its lateral boundary conditions differ from a bulk plane wave. Reflection, refraction and mode conversion occur at interfaces; a free surface also supports Rayleigh waves.