Generalized Love waves

Abstract

We present a generalized dispersion equation for shear horizontally polarized acoustic waves in a system of a finite-thickness substrate covered by a finite-thickness solid layer having a lower shear acoustic speed. The solutions to the equation describe both layer-guided Love waves and resonant acoustic plate modes. We identify higher-order mode Love waves as continuations from the lowest-order acoustic plate mode associated with the previous Love wave mode. Experimental results are presented that confirm the relationship between the multiple Love wave modes and the acoustic plate modes.