Propagating waves in elastic material with voids subjected to electro-magnetic interactions

Abstract Constitutive relations and field equations are developed for an elastic solid with voids subjected to electro-magnetic field. The linearized form of the relations and equations are presented separately when medium is subjected to a large magnetic field and when it is subjected to a large electric field. The possibility of propagation of time harmonic plane waves in an infinite elastic solid with voids have been explored. It is found that when the medium is subjected to large magnetic field, there exist two coupled longitudinal waves propagating with distinct speeds and a transverse wave mode. However, when the medium is subjected to a large electric field, there may propagate five basic waves comprising of four coupled longitudinal waves propagating with distinct speeds and a lone transverse wave. The effect of magnetic and electric fields are observed on the propagation characteristics of the existing waves. Under the limiting cases of frequency and for different electric conductive materials, the speeds of various waves are investigated. The phase speeds of different waves and their corresponding attenuations are computed against the frequency parameter and depicted graphically for a specific material.