The propagation of Rayleigh waves along an obliquely cut surface in a directional fiber-reinforced composite

A Rayleigh type-wave, the so called 'in-plane mode edge wave', has been ana lyzed as a characteristic problem. The stress-free edge guiding the edge wa ve is an obliquely cut cross-section of a fiber-reinforced composite plate. The cross-section is, therefore, a non-symmetric surface of anisotropy of the composite material. Numerical results reveal characteristic features of the edge-wave propagation. They are phase velocities of the wave, particle motion by the wave, and deviation of the propagation direction of body wav e components organizing the edge wave. Their characteristic features are il lustrated graphically. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.