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.
