Wave splitting in linear viscoelasticity

The problem of transient propagation in a homogeneous linear viscoelastic solid is investigated by means of the wave splitting technique. Two mechanical viscoelastic models are considered in particular, corresponding respectively to a single Maxwell element and to the series of a Maxwell element plus a Kelvin element. Analytical solutions for the split field are evaluated in terms of the wave propagator via the Laplace transforms. The reflectivity of a viscoelastic half-space is explicitly for the two mechanical models and the corresponding inverse problem is approached. Finally, the reflection and transmission problem for a transient wave is solved for a viscoelastic layer.  Elsevier, Paris wave propagation in solids / linear viscoelasticity