Abstract: The equations of generalized thermoelasticity with one relaxation time with variable modulus of elasticity and the thermal conductivity were used to solve a problem of an infinite material with a spherical cavity.The inner surface of the cavity was taken to be traction free and acted upon by a thermal shock to the surface. Laplace transforms techniques were used to obtain the solution by a direct approach.The inverse Laplace transforms was obtained numerically.The temperature,displacement and stress distributions are represented graphically.

Key words: thermoelasticity, generalized thermoelasticity, modulus of elasticity, thermal conductivity