On surface wave propagation in incompressible, transversely isotropic, pre-stressed elastic half-spaces

The problem of surface wave propagation for a transversely isotropic incompressible pre-stressed halfspace is investigated in respect of a general in-plane fibre direction and a general angle of propagation. It is shown that the surface wave speed crucially depends on the normal static stress in the finite primary deformation. Some special cases leading to considerable simplification are pointed out. An important particular case of the fibres assumed almost inextensible is tackled both numerically and asymptotically to reveal an idealised fibre-reinforced material as a leading order approximation. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.