Wave propagation in a thermorheologically simple solid slab

The complete coupled nonlinear equations of a thermorheologically simple material are applied to investigate the response of a solid slab to impulsive mechanical and thermal loads. The numerial method of solution is described together with its stability and convergence and its reliability is checked in three special cases in which analytical salutions could be obtained. The effects of the thermomechanical coupling, the temperature dependence of the mechanical properties and the dissipation of the material on the resulting stress waves and temperature distribution within the slab are shown.