On the effects of stress-wave diffraction on ground-shock measurements : part I

Presentation of an exact solution of the response of a rigid spherical object (inclusion) embedded in an elastic medium subjected to ground shock. It was found that the inclusion motion differs substantially from the free-field motion, both in acceleration and velocity. A slight change in displacement was also observed. The Memorandum also briefly investigates the effect of geometry on the response of an inclusion, and shows that the frequency response of a cylindrical inclusion is quite similar to that of the spherical. These studies indicate that a substantial eror could occur in shock measurements caused by stress-wave-diffraction phenomena.