A Physical Interpretation of Elastic Guided-Wave Reflection from Normal Ends of a Waveguide

Studied in this paper are two-dimensional guided wave reflections from normal boundaries in an isotropic elastic media. By making use of the transverse resonance concept, the reflections of the waveguide modes from normal interfaces are interrogated. A general condition is obtained under which the guided waves in an isotropic medium will undergo no mode conversion when interaction occurs with a normal traction free or fixed end. Under some circumstances, similarities are obtained between waveguide modes and bulk-wave modes, for example, doubling of the displacement field at a free end and doubling of the stress field at a fixed end. The results obtained are applicable to all two-dimensional, guided-wave modes, along one waveguide direction with lossless boundaries on the surface(s) parallel to the waveguide direction, including all possible guided-wave modes, propagating and nonpropagating, in plates, one half space, interface of two different half spaces, layers on a half space, multilayer structures, and all axisymmetric modes in cylindrical structures. In addition, the function of displacement potentials is analyzed in the course of guided-wave mode conversion at a normal end.