On the viscoelasticity of diatomic solids

Abstract

Abstract Extending the continuum theory of diatomic solids, developed by us in previous papers, to dissipative materials the balance laws and the constitutive relations of a viscoelastic diatomic solid are systematically studied. After linearization of the constitutive relations, both for elastic and dissipative parts, the propagation of longitudinal waves is studied and the dispersive and dissipative character of acoustical and optical branches is shown.