Shear wave ($c_s=\sqrt{\mu /\rho }$)

A shear wave in an isotropic elastic material has displacement perpendicular to its wavevector, with zero divergence for a plane wave. The Navier-Cauchy equation with inertia then reduces to $\rho {\mathbf{u}}_{tt}=\mu \Delta \mathbf{u}$, giving the displayed wave speed. At a boundary it can be generated by mode conversion from a compressional wave, even when the incident displacement is purely longitudinal.