Further investigations on Rayleigh waves in piezothermoelastic materials

The present paper is devoted to extend the study on propagation of Rayleigh surface waves in homogeneous, transversely isotropic, piezothermoelastic semi-space subjected to stress free, open or closed circuit, thermally insulated/isothermal boundary conditions, in the context of non-classical (generalized) theories of thermoelasticity. Secular equations for surface wave propagation in the considered media are derived from a coupled system of governing partial differential equations of linear generalized piezothermoelasticity. The surface amplitudes, specific loss factor, and surface particle motion are also investigated. The surface particle paths during the motion are found to be elliptical which degenerate into straight lines in case there is no phase difference between horizontal and vertical components of surface displacements. The results in the context of coupled theory of thermoelasticity can be obtained from the present analysis by setting thermal relaxation parameters equal to zero. Finally, in order to illustrate and verify the analytical developments, the numerical solution of secular equations, specific loss factor, eccentricities, and inclination of particle paths with wave normal is carried out for cadmium-selenide (6 mm class) material with the help of Descartes’ algorithm and functional iteration method. The computer simulated results are then presented graphically in order to illustrate and compare them in the context of coupled and generalized theories of thermoelasticity.