Generation of elastic waves in a laminated solid by a moving photothermal source

The steady state response of an elastic layered plate (laminate) which is subjected to a moving laser source illumination is studied. The response of the laminate is obtained using the transfer matrix approach. The application of the photo-thermal source (laser) to the upper surface of the laminate is formulated as equivalent stresses applied at the illuminated boundary. The equivalent stresses are derived with the use of the causality principle. It is shown that the generated displacement field is sensitive to the variations of the laminate inner structure and also to the variations of the elastic properties of a bonded elastic half-space.