Nonlinear and von neumann reflection of elastic shock waves in soft solids

Abstract

In soft solids, such as biological tissue, the low value of shear elasticity allows the propagation of transverse waves with a high particle velocity when compared to the wave speed. With such a large Mach number shock waves can develop over a few wavelengths. We study the reflection of shocked shear waves traveling through a tissue-like medium, incident at a small angle on a free surface analytically and with numerical simulations.