Propagation of torsional surface waves in an inhomogeneous layer over an initially stressed inhomogeneous half-space

Abstract

This paper has been framed to study the propagation of torsional surface waves in an inhomogeneous layer of finite thickness over an initially stressed inhomogeneous half-space. Rigidity, density and initial stress of the half-space are assumed to have linear variation, and in layers linear variation in rigidity and density are also considered. It has been observed that the inhomogeneity parameter and the initial stress play an important role for the propagation of the torsional surface wave. The method of separation of variables is applied to find the displacement field. The dispersion equation of phase velocity is derived. The velocities of torsional waves are calculated numerically as a function of kH and presented in a number of graphs, where k is the wave number, and H is the thickness of the layer. Graphical user interface has been developed using MATLAB to generalize the effect of the various parameters discussed. As a particular case it has been seen that the dispersion equation is in agreement with the classical result of the Love wave when the initial stresses and inhomogeneity parameters are neglected.