ABSTRACT
It is necessary to have a good understanding of the fundamentals of mechanics to appreciate the physics of elastic wave propagation in solid and ¢uid materials. With this in mind, this chapter is divided into two focus areas. The œrst part is devoted to the theory of elasticity and continuum mechanics, and, in the second part, the basic equations of elastic wave propagation in materials are derived. It is very important to fully comprehend the œrst chapter before progressing to the rest of the book.
