Viscoelastic Rayleigh waves

Abstract

A general analysis is given of the propagation of surface waves over a half-space of homogeneous isotropic linearly-viscoelastic material. Particular emphasis is placed on the properties of the particle paths. The detailed examination of particular models shows that (in contrast with elastic materials) (i) more than one surface wave may be possible; (ii) the waves may be either direct or retrograde at the surface; (iii) the motion may change sense at many or no levels below the surface; (iv) the wave speed may be greater than the body-wave speeds.