Wave induced sliding at the interface between a layered elastic medium and a half-space

The sliding interface between an unrestrained elastic half-space and a grounded layered half-space excited by an incident harmonic wave is investigated. The problem is formulated considering various possible boundary conditions and boundary inequalities at the sliding interface. The Coulomb friction model without distinction between the static and kinetic coefficients of friction is considered to govern the sliding condition. Three possible bands at the interface, namely slip, stick, and separation, are considered. The interface is assumed to be preloaded under normal and shear stresses. The solution is developed by modifying the problem of welded interface, which then is reduced to a set of algebraic equations. The effects of the incident angle, layer thickness, friction coefficient and externally applied stresses on the drift velocity of the unrestrained half-space are studied numerically for a pair of materials. It is shown that the sliding interface, and hence the drift velocity of unrestrained half-space is noticeably influenced by the layered medium. These results are expected to be useful for the development of a new kind of ultrasonic drive in future.