The traditional method of solution to problems in linear viscoelasticity theory involves the direct application of the Laplace transform to the relevant field equations and boundary conditions. If the shape of the body under consideration or the type of boundary condition specified at a point or both vary with time then this method no longer works. In this paper we investigate the applicability of stress function solutions to this situation. It is shown that for time-dependent ablating regions a generalization of the Papkovich Neuber stress function solution of elasticity holds. As an example the stress and displacement fields are calculated for the problem of an infinite viscoelastic body with a spherical ablating stress free cavity and prescribed time-dependent stresses at infinity.

The paper describes an investigation of the terminal velocity of uniformly dispersed particles of various shapes, sizes and densities falling through water.

It is concluded that for concentrations above 0–5 per cent by weight, the suspension as a whole behaves as though it were viscous even though the individual particles lie well outside the Stokes range. The shape of the particles has a significant effect only when the concentration is less than 0·5 per cent, and for concentrations between 0·5 and 7·0 per cent, the relative changes in velocity of descent are adequately described for a range of particle shapes from highly angular to spherical and for sizes at least up to 0·65 mm. nominal diameter, by the power series

in which U is the velocity of the suspension, U0 that of a single particle, d the nominal diameter (i.e. that of a sphere having the same volume) and s the mean spacing of the particles.

If the concentration is lower than 4 per cent, the equation may be assumed linear in (d/s) without serious error.

In the case of Boolean matrices a given eigenvector may have a variety of eigenvalues. These eigenvalues form a sublattice of the basic Boolean algebra and the structure of this sublattice is investigated. Likewise a given eigenvalue has a variety of eigenvectors which form a module of the Boolean vector space. The structure of this module is examined. It is also shown that if a vector has a unique eigenvalue λ, then λ satisfies the characteristic equation of the matrix.

The distribution of stress in the neighbourhood of an infinite row of collinear cracks in an elastic body is calculated for general distributions of internal pressure. The case in which each of the cracks is opened out by the same constant pressure is considered in detail; the variation with the ratio of the width of the crack to the distance between two cracks of quantities of physical interest is shown in a series of diagrams.

The types of modes which may exist in an infinite parallel-plate waveguide with a centrally-placed unidirectionally conducting screen are studied. The effect of bifurcating an infinite parallel-plate waveguide by such a screen in the region x>O is investigated when a transverse electric mode is incident on the bifurcated region. The problem is solved by the Wiener-Hopf method, and expressions are derived for the amplitudes and phases of the reflected and transmitted modes. It is found that the transmitted field contains a hybrid wave and a slow wave, and the reflected field contains transverse electric and transverse magnetic waves.

The ellipsoidal wave equation is the name given to the ordinary differential equation which arises when the wave equation (Helmholtz equation) is separated in ellipsoidal co-ordinates. In this paper, solutions of the equation are expressed as Neumann series (series of Bessel functions of increasing order).