Observation of shock transverse waves in elastic media.
We report the first experimental observation of a shock transverse wave propagating in an elastic medium. This observation was possible because the propagation medium, a soft solid, allows one to reach a very high Mach number. In this extreme configuration, the shock formation is observed over a distance of less than a few wavelengths, thanks to a prototype of an ultrafast scanner (that acquires 5000 frames per second). A comparison of these new experimental data with theoretical predictions, based on a modified Burger's equation, shows good agreement.
Catheline
S
S
Laboratoire Ondes et Acoustique, ESPCI, Université Paris VII, U.R.A. CNRS 1503, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France.
Gennisson
J-L
JL
Tanter
M
M
Fink
M
M