Symmetric low-frequency motion in incompressible transversely isotropic elastic plates

The problem of long-wave low-frequency extensional (symmetric) motion in a layer composed of incompressible, transversely isotropic elastic material is investigated. Motivated by appropriate approximations of the dispersion relation, a hierarchy of asymptotically approximate boundary value problems is set up and solved. A leading order system of equations is obtained for the governing extensions, together with a refined system for their second order counterparts. A one-dimensional model problem, involving impact edge loading, is set up and solved in order to illustrate the derived theory. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.