Generation of rayleigh-type waves on plate edges by laser-initiated airborne shock waves

The present paper describes the results of the semi-analytical modelling of the interaction of laser-initiated air shock waves with the edge of an infinite vertically mounted elastic plate. The impact of the shock wave on the plate edge is approximated by an equivalent edge force resulting from the combined pressure of the incident and reflected shock waves. This force is then represented in the wavenumber-frequency domain by means of Fourier transforms that are carried out numerically. After that the problem is solved using the Green’s function method. The resulting frequency spectra and time histories of generated Rayleigh-type wave pulses propagating along the plate edge are calculated for different heights of the laser beam focusing above the plate edge. The obtained theoretical results are compared with the results of the laboratory experiments on laser-initiated air shock wave interaction with an edge of a large vertically mounted Perspex plate that is used for reduced-scale modelling of blast wave interaction with the ground surface. The resonant properties of the accelerometer have been taken into account to describe the received signals. The comparison shows that the obtained semi-analytical results are in good agreement with the experiments.