The momentum of waves and their effect on the motion of lumped objects along one-dimensional elastic systems

Abstract Taking the example of the small longitudinal oscillations of a rod, it is shown that, in order to answer the question concerning wave momentum and its action on an obstacle, the problem of the wave motion in the medium has to be solved in a non-linear formulation. The variational formulation of problems in the dynamics of one-dimensional elastic systems with moving clampings and loads is improved taking account of non-linear factors. The equations of motion and the natural boundary conditions are obtained. The small longitudinal-transverse oscillations of a string and the motion of a bead sliding along it are considered.