Rayleigh Wave
Definition - What does Rayleigh Wave mean?
Rayleigh wave is a surface wave in which the particles make an elliptical movement against the direction of wave propagation. It is named after John Willam Strut, Lord Rayleigh, who in 1985 predicted its existence. These waves are used in geotechnical investigation for non-destructive testing using spectral analysis of surface waves (SASW). Surface waves have a dispersive characteristic that is useful in determining shear wave velocity variation or stiffness of the soil layers with depth.
Trenchlesspedia explains Rayleigh Wave
Rayleigh waves are generated on the ground using a hammer impact for SASW test. The waves are picked up by two receivers placed on the surface and forward and reverse configurations are used to generate SASW profiles. Receivers placed at short intervals are used to shallow layers, while receivers placed at longer intervals are used to sample greater depths. The accessible surface at the investigation site limits the depth to which the test can be conducted.
