Small but finite amplitude waves in a two-layered incompressible elastic medium

Propagation of small but finite amplitude shear horizontal waves in a two-layered elastic plate of uniform thickness is considered. By employing a perturbation expansion it is shown that the wave field is governed asymptotically by a modified Korteweg-de Vries equation. Then the effects of nonlinear material properties on the propagation characteristics of the asymptotic waves are discussed. It is remarked that solitons may exist depending on the constitution of the layered media.