LONG ELASTIC-WAVES IN A PERIODIC COMPOSITE

A COMPOSITE elastic solid of periodic structure can transmit harmonic waves of relatively long wavelength as if it were a purely homogeneous body. The effective elastic moduli can be identified in the appropriate propagation condition, and can be calculated theoretically in an elastostatic context. Dispersive effects can be assessed as well by a perturbation expansion to a higher order. The procedure is illustrated here in a particular application to a composite of homogeneous, arbitrarily anisotropic. elastic layers.