Interaction of Bursts as a Detector of Material Inhomogeneity

The nonlinear propagation and interaction of one-dimensional counterpropagating harmonic bursts in the elastic material is studied on the basis of the five constant nonlinear theory of elasticity. The proper choice of bursts parameters leads to the effect by which the oscillations evoked by counterpropagating bursts in the homogeneous material disappear. This effect facilitates qualitative nondestructive determination of the inhomogeneity in material properties. The results of numerical simulations illustrate this possibility for the exponentially graded materials.