The results of experimental estimates of the attenuation of Rayleigh waves
as a function of the surface stresses in gray iron are presented. A treatme
nt of the mechanism by which the attenuation of ultrasound depends on the s
tresses is proposed. The relations found indicate the possibility, in princ
iple, of designing instruments for estimating stresses, including residual
stresses, in the components of machines and mechanisms made of gray iron fr
om the value of the attenuation of ultrasonic Rayleigh waves.