Finite amplitude one-dimensional wave propagation in a thermoelastic half-space

The problem of finite wave propagation in a nonlinearly thermoelastic half-space is considered. The surface of the half-space is subjected to a time-dependent thermal and normal mechanical loading. The solution is obtained by a numerical procedure, which is shown to furnish accurate results, and linear dynamic thermoelastic problems are obtained as special cases. The accuracy of the results is checked by comparison with some known analytical solutions which can be obtained in some special cases of both the linear and the nonlinear problems. In those cases where the solution contains shocks, it is shown that the numerical results satisfy the necessary jumps conditions which need to hold across such discontinuities.