Converging spherical and cylindrical elastic–plastic waves of small amplitude

Converging spherical and cylindrical elastic–plastic waves in an isotropic work-hardening medium is investigated on the basis of a finite difference method. The small amplitude pressure is applied instantaneously and maintained on the outer surface of a spherical or a cylindrical medium. It is found that for undercritical loading, the induced wave structure is an elastic front followed in turn by an expanding plastic region and an expanding elastic region. For supercritical loading, the elastic front is followed in turn by an expanding plastic region, a narrowing elastic region and an expanding plastic region.After yielding is initiated, the strength of the elastic front is constant and equal to the critical loading pressure. The motion of the continuous elastic–plastic interface is discussed in detail. Spatial distributions of pressure near the axis show the strength of the converging wave is nearly doubled in the reflecting stage.