Propagation and reflection of one-dimensional waves in ferroelectric ceramics

Employing a linearized version of the general constitutive equations for a homogeneous deformable dielectric material body with memory, we study problems of wave propagation and reflection. We formulate these problems so as to correspond to certain well-defined experiments appearing in the literature and involving the application of time-dependent mechanical loads or prescribed voltage differences. Employing asymptotic procedures based upon geometrical optics we are able to solve problems of reflection hitherto unsolved, produce numerical results in an efficient manner, and elicit some important implications of the theory that appear not to have been noted before.