Elastic wave velocities in finitely pre-stretched soft fibers

Abstract: Elastic wave velocity in a soft fiber that varies depending on material constitution and axial stress level is an essential measure of mechanical signals in many technical applications. In this work, based on the small-on-large theory, we establish a model of linear elastic wave propagation in a finitely pre-stretched soft fiber. The formulas of longitudinal (Primary, P-) and transverse (Secondary, S-) wave velocities are provided and validated by numerical simulations as well as by experimental data on spider silk. The influences of material constitution, compressibility, and pre-stress on the wave propagation are investigated. We found that with increasing pre-stress, the variation of P-wave velocity highly relies on the concavity of the stress-strain curve. In contrast, an increase of S-wave velocity exhibits regardless of any constitutive model. For both P- and S-waves, the variation of the velocities is more significant in a compressible fiber than that in a nearly-incompressible one. Moreover, for minuscule pre-stress, we propose a modified formula for S-wave velocity based on the Rayleigh beam theory, which reveals the competition mechanism between "string vibration" and "beam vibration." This may provide a reliable theoretical basis for precise mechanical characterization of soft fibers and open a route for lightweight, tunable wave manipulation devices.