Wave propagation in anisotropic generalized thermoelastic media

The wave propagation phenomenon in anisotropic thermoelastic media is represented by two systems of equations. One of them represents modified Christoffel equations for the medium and the other relates the temperature of the medium to the displacement of its particles. The frequency and thermal coefficients are grouped together to de. ne three thermal parameters that steer the whole effect of thermodynamics on the wave propagation. The procedure is presented for the exact evaluation of the velocities and attenuations of four quasi-waves propagating in such a medium. Reduced cases are obtained for isotropic thermoelastic propagation and anisotropic elastic propagation. Analogy is established between thermoelastic propagation and poroelastic propagation of waves in the presence of general anisotropy. The variations of phase velocities and attenuation factors with the direction of phase propagation are computed, for a realistic numerical model. The effect of frequency, thermal conductivity, relaxation time, specific heat and anisotropic symmetries on the velocities and attenuations of quasi-waves are exhibited numerically through the three thermal parameters defined in the study.