Generation of flexural waves in plates by laser-initiated airborne shock waves

Results of the semi-analytical modelling of the interaction of laser-initiated airborne shock waves with an infinite horizontally positioned elastic plate are presented. The impact of the airborne shock waves on the plate is approximated by a cylindrically diverging surface force resulting from the pressure of the incident and reflected shock waves. This force is then represented in the wavenumber–frequency domain by means of Hankel and Fourier transforms that are carried out numerically so that the interaction problem can be solved using the Green’s function method. The resulting frequency spectra and time histories of generated flexural wave pulses are calculated for different values of laser pulse energy and for different heights of the laser beam focusing above the plate surface. The theoretical results obtained are compared with the results of laboratory measurements of the interaction of laser-generated acoustic shocks with a large plastic plate. The comparison shows reasonably good agreement between the semi-analytical predictions and data.