The general solution of the radiated field from a nonuniformly moving ramp
dislocation with general time-dependent ramp displacement function is obtai
ned. Special cases of it, for arctan displacement with certain constant or
time-dependent width and step function displacement, and for motions starti
ng from rest at time t=0 and moving thereafter nonuniformly, are presented.
The solution is in terms of quadratures which will be evaluated when the t
ime-dependent functions become known. A special case, the ramp dislocation
starting from rest and moving with a constant velocity thereafter, is analy
zed with particular emphasis on the wave-front and near-field behaviour. (C
) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.