In this monograph I record those parts of the theory of transverse
isotropic elastic wave propagation which lend themselves to an exact
treatment, within the framework of linear theory. Emphasis is placed on
transient wave motion problems in two- and three-dimensional unbounded
and semibounded solids for which explicit results can be obtained,
without resort to approximate methods of integration. The mathematical
techniques used, many of which appear here in book form for the first
time, will be of interest to applied mathematicians, engeneers and
scientists whose specialty includes crystal acoustics, crystal optics,
magnetogasdynamics, dislocation theory, seismology and fibre wound
composites. My interest in the subject of anisotropic wave motion had
its origin in the study of small deformations superposed on large
deformations of elastic solids. By varying the initial stretch in a
homogeneously deformed solid, it is possible to synthesize aniso- tropic
materials whose elastic parameters vary continuously. The range of the
parameter variation is limited by stability considerations in the case
of small deformations super- posed on large deformation problems and
(what is essentially the same thing) by the of hyperbolicity (solids
whose parameters allow wave motion) for anisotropic notion solids. The
full implication of hyperbolicity for anisotropic elastic solids has
never been previously examined, and even now the constraints which it
imposes on the elasticity constants have only been examined for the
class of transversely isotropic (hexagonal crystals) materials.