STATE-SPACE APPROACH TO THERMOELASTICITY WITH 2 RELAXATION-TIMES

In this work the state space formulation for thermoelasticity with two relaxation times is introduced. The formulation is valid for problems with or without heat sources. The resulting formulation together with the Laplace transform technique are applied to a variety of problems. The solution to a thermal shock problem and to a problem of a layer m edia both without heat sources are obtained. Also a problem with a dis tribution of heat sources is considered. A numerical method is employe d for the inversion of the Laplace transforms. Numerical results are g iven and illustrated graphically for the problems considered. Comparis ons are made with the results predicted by the coupled theory and with the theory of generalized thermoelasticity with one relaxation time.