Dynamic response of a half-space to radial shear surface loadings

Summary The axisymmetric response of an elastic half-space to the sudden application of radial shear surface loadings is investigated in this paper. Exact expressions for the surface displacement components are developed by means of integral transforms and complex functions. Numerical results are presented in diagrams to show the wave propagation on the surface due to the dynamic loadings, and the wave front singularities in the displacement components are particularly discussed. It is found that, for a given point on the half-space surface, Rayleigh surface waves issued from the nearest and farthest disturbances give rise to a jump or a two-sided logarithmic singularity in the displacement components.